Piano (p): Soft
Pianissimo (pp): Very soft
Pianississimo (ppp): As soft as possible
Mezzo piano (mp): Medium soft
Mezzo forte (mf): Medium loud
Forte (f): Loud
Fortissimo (ff): Very loud
Fortississimo (fff): As loud as possible
Sforzando (sfz): A sudden strong accent
Crescendo: Gradually getting louder
Decrescendo: Gradually getting softer
Diminuendo: Gradually getting softer
Subito: Suddenly
Fortepiano (fp): Loud then immediately soft
Largo: Very slow and broad
Lento: Slow
Adagio: Slow and at ease
Andante: At a walking pace
Moderato: At a moderate speed
Allegretto: Fairly fast, a little slower than allegro
Allegro: Fast and lively
Vivace: Lively and fast
Presto: Very fast
Prestissimo: As fast as possible
Accelerando: Gradually getting faster
Ritardando (rit.): Gradually getting slower
Rallentando: Gradually slowing down
Ritenuto: Immediately slower
A tempo: Return to the original speed
Rubato: Flexible tempo, speeding up and slowing down expressively
Tempo primo: Return to the first tempo
Legato: Smooth and connected
Staccato: Short and detached
Marcato: Marked, with emphasis
Tenuto: Held for its full value
Pizzicato: Plucked with the finger on a string instrument
Arco: Played with the bow
Cantabile: In a singing style
Dolce: Sweetly
Espressivo: With expression
Maestoso: Majestically
Grazioso: Gracefully
Giocoso: Playfully
Scherzando: Playfully, jokingly
Agitato: Agitated, restless
Con brio: With spirit
Con fuoco: With fire
Sostenuto: Sustained
Poco: A little
Molto: Very, much
Meno: Less
Più: More
Poco a poco: Little by little
Sempre: Always
Assai: Very
Non troppo: Not too much
Tutti: All performers together
Solo: One performer alone
Da capo (D.C.): Go back to the beginning
Dal segno (D.S.): Go back to the sign
Fine: The end
Coda: An ending section
Tacet: Be silent
Mezzo: Half or medium
Alla breve: Cut time, two beats in a measure
Metronome: A device that clicks a steady beat
BPM: Beats per minute
Con sordino: With a mute
Senza: Without
Morendo: Dying away
Calando: Growing softer and slower
Animato: Animated, with life

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