Music signs
accent
a stressed note
breath mark
take a breath, and/or a slight pause or lift
common time
a symbol for 4/4
crescendo
bexoming louder
dal segno, D.S.
from the sign
decrescendo, diminuendo
becoming softer
double bar line
indicates the end of a piece
down bow
on a bowed string instrument, play the note while drawing the bow downward
fermata (pause)
home the note or rest longer than its written value
glissando, gliss.
continuous slide upward or downward between two or more pitches
ottava, 8va (over)
play one octave above written pitch
ottava, 8va (below)
play one octave below written pitch
pedal marking (line or Ped.)
use the damper pedal (on the piano)
repeat sign
repeat the music within the two signs, or between the South and the beginning of the piece
slur
okay the notes smoothly (legato)
staccato
detached
tenuto
held, sustained
tie
hold for the combined value of the tied notes
up bow
on a bowed string instrument, play the note while drawing the bow upward