| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | a tempo | return to original speed |
| 2. | accelerando | gradually speeding up |
| 3. | accent | extra stress on a note |
| 4. | accidental | temporary pitch-altering sign |
| 5. | action | mechanism linking keys and hammers |
| 6. | allegro | fast and lively |
| 7. | andante | walking pace |
| 8. | arpeggio | notes of a chord played separately |
| 9. | balance | relative loudness of parts |
| 10. | bass clef | low-range clef sign |
| 11. | beat | basic pulse of music |
| 12. | bench | seat used at the piano |
| 13. | bridge | part transmitting string vibration |
| 14. | broken chord | chord played note by note |
| 15. | cadence | phrase-ending harmonic pattern |
| 16. | chord | three or more notes together |
| 17. | clef | sign showing pitch range |
| 18. | coda | closing section of a piece |
| 19. | concerto | solo instrument with orchestra |
| 20. | crescendo | gradually getting louder |
| 21. | da capo | go back to the beginning |
| 22. | dal segno | go back to the sign |
| 23. | damper | part that stops string vibration |
| 24. | decrescendo | another term for getting softer |
| 25. | dynamics | degrees of loudness and softness |
| 26. | etude | study piece for technique |
| 27. | exercise | technical practice pattern |
| 28. | expression | emotional shaping of music |
| 29. | fallboard | cover over the keys |
| 30. | fermata | hold longer than written |
| 31. | fine | the end point |
| 32. | fingering | choice of fingers for notes |
| 33. | flat | note lowered a semitone |
| 34. | forte | loud |
| 35. | fortissimo | very loud |
| 36. | glissando | rapid slide across notes |
| 37. | grace note | small ornamental note |
| 38. | grand staff | paired treble and bass staves |
| 39. | hammer | felted part striking strings |
| 40. | hands separate | practice each hand alone |
| 41. | hands together | both hands playing at once |
| 42. | harmony | combined notes and chord movement |
| 43. | interval | distance between two notes |
| 44. | inversion | chord with different bass note |
| 45. | key | one lever on the keyboard |
| 46. | keyboard | the set of piano keys |
| 47. | largo | broad and slow |
| 48. | left hand | the lower-hand part |
| 49. | legato | smoothly connected playing |
| 50. | lid | top cover of a grand piano |
| 51. | major | bright-sounding key or chord type |
| 52. | measure | group of beats in notation |
| 53. | melody | main tune of a piece |
| 54. | meter | grouping of beats |
| 55. | mezzo forte | moderately loud |
| 56. | mezzo piano | moderately soft |
| 57. | minor | darker-sounding key or chord type |
| 58. | modulation | change from one key to another |
| 59. | motif | short recurring musical idea |
| 60. | music rack | support for sheet music |
| 61. | natural | sign canceling sharp or flat |
| 62. | note | a musical pitch symbol or sound |
| 63. | octave | interval spanning eight notes |
| 64. | pedal | foot lever changing the sound |
| 65. | performance | public playing of music |
| 66. | phrase | musical sentence-like unit |
| 67. | phrasing | shaping of musical phrases |
| 68. | pianissimo | very soft |
| 69. | piano | a keyboard string instrument |
| 70. | practice | regular work to improve playing |
| 71. | presto | very fast |
| 72. | recital | formal solo performance |
| 73. | repeat | play a section again |
| 74. | repertoire | pieces a player can perform |
| 75. | rest | symbol for silence |
| 76. | rhythm | pattern of durations and accents |
| 77. | right hand | the upper-hand part |
| 78. | ritardando | gradually slowing down |
| 79. | rubato | flexible timing for expression |
| 80. | scale | ordered series of notes |
| 81. | semitone | smallest common pitch step |
| 82. | sharp | note raised a semitone |
| 83. | slur | mark for smooth connection |
| 84. | soundboard | wood panel amplifying sound |
| 85. | staccato | short detached playing |
| 86. | staff | five lines for music notation |
| 87. | string | wire producing pitch when struck |
| 88. | tempo | speed of the music |
| 89. | tenuto | held for full value |
| 90. | theme | main musical idea |
| 91. | thumb | first finger of the hand |
| 92. | tie | mark joining same pitches |
| 93. | time signature | symbol showing beat grouping |
| 94. | transposition | moving music to another key |
| 95. | treble clef | high-range clef sign |
| 96. | tuning pin | pin used to tune strings |
| 97. | vivace | lively and brisk |
| 98. | voicing | arrangement of chord tones |
| 99. | warm-up | preparatory playing before practice |
| 100. | whole step | interval of two semitones |