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Grade 2 - Musical Terms (Part 2)

Grow your Grade 2 music vocabulary. Learn tenuto and other markings, read dynamic changes with confidence, and perform pieces with accurate articulation, steady tempo, and expressive detail.

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Fascinating Fact:

Tenuto means hold the note for full value, slightly stressed. The mark is a short line above or below the notehead.

In Specialist Music Theory Grade 2 Musical Terms Part 2, you will explore symbols and words that guide performance. You will recognise articulation marks, follow dynamic changes, and use them to play more expressively and accurately.

Key Terms

Tenuto: Hold a note for its full value with slight emphasis; shown by a short line above or below the note.
Fermata: A hold sign (curved arc with a dot) telling you to sustain a note longer than written until released.
Crescendo: Get gradually louder; shown by < or the word cresc.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What does tenuto mean in music?

Tenuto tells you to hold a note for its full length with a gentle stress. It is marked by a short horizontal line above or below the notehead.

How is tenuto different from staccato and legato?

Staccato is short and detached; legato is smooth and connected. Tenuto is neither short nor overly smooth; it sustains fully with a slight emphasis.

Which symbols should I know for Grade 2 musical terms?

Know tenuto, staccato, legato, accent, marcato, crescendo, diminuendo, ritardando, and fermata. These markings guide articulation, volume, and tempo changes.