Glossary of Music Terms

Performance- performance includes the creation and study of all aspects of instrumental and written music in the classroom, in the practice room and in concert

Traditional Counting- 1 e & a

Mnemonic Counting- Syllables represent note values: i.e. ta ti ti; du de du de; Mis sis sip pi

Contemporary- includes music from the 20th and 21st century

Perform- is a classroom plus concert environment assessment tool

Major Scale Pattern- WWHWWWH or 1 2 3^4 5 6 7^8

Minor Scale Pattern-

Natural – WHWWHWW or 1 2^3 4 5^6 7 8 Harmonic- WHWWHW+ H or 1 2^3 4 5^6 +7^8 Melodic- WHWWWWH-WWHWWHW or 1 2^3 4 5 6 7^8 - 8 7 6^5 4 3^2 1

Arpeggio- 1, 3, 5, 8, 5, 3, 1

Basic Melodic Phrase- a musical thought or sentence

Counterpoint (Contrapuntal Music)- Note against note. The combination of two or more melodic lines played simultaneously. A horizontal structure of melody against melody rather than chords.

String Bowings

Detache- alternating bow strokes (pull-push or down-up)

Slur- two or more pitches played on one bow stroke

Staccato- notes played with a separation created by stopping the bow on the string

Slurred staccato- two or more pitches played in the same bow direction with a stop between notes

Hooked bowings- slurred staccato bowing on notes with uneven rhythms

Legato- play smoothly

Tenuto- hold note for the full value

Marcato- perform notes with strong attacks (lower half of the bow)

Martele- perform notes with strong attacks (upper half of the bow)

Spiccato- a bowing that begins and ends off the string using a brush stroke

Fast spiccato- a rapid spiccato that uses the rebound of the bow against the string as opposed to carrying the bow for each stroke

Loure- two or more notes played slightly detached in the same bow stroke (articulation by bow weight and bow speed)

Portato- two or more notes played slightly detached in the same bow stroke (articulation between staccato and legato)

Col legno- play with the stick (wood) part of the bow

Sul tasto- play over the fingerboard

Sul ponticello- play on or next to the bridge

Ricochet- a direction to throw the bow against the string in such a way that it will bounce several times on the down-bow

Ornamentations- (mordents, trills, turns, etc.) refer to any standard music dictionary for specific definitions and applications

Fundamental Finger Patterns

Pattern 1 (Major tetrachord)

Violin & viola 1 2 3 4

Cello 1 3 4

Bass 1 4

Pattern 2 (minor tetrachord)

Violin & viola 1 2 3 4

Cello 1 2 4

Bass 1 2

Pattern 3

Violin & viola 1 2 3 4

Cello 1 2 4

Pattern 4

Violin & viola 1 2 3 4