Tempo – Italian terms

There are many different ways to express yourself in music. Whether it is through the use of the tempo you

play the music at or the style in which you interpret the music while

performing it.

Fast Tempo Markings

• Allegretto – not as fast as Allegro

• Allegro – Fast

• Vivo or Vivace – lively and brisk

• Presto – very fast

• Prestissimo – very, very fast

Slow Tempo Markings

• Grave – very slow and solemn

• Largo – slow and broad

• Larghetto – not as slow as Largo

• Adagio – slow

• Lento – slow

• Andante – medium slow or walking

• Moderato – medium or moderate

Added words for Tempos

• Un poco – a little

• Molto – a lot

• Piu – more

• Meno – less

• Mosso – moved or with motion or movement

Combining the Terms:

• Your assignment will be to combine the musical terms for Fast and Slow with the added words and see how many combinations of musical terms you can make for tempos.

• You will have 15 minutes to do the assignment before the class discussion.

• I’ll list the terms on the whiteboard from the session.

Shifting Techniques to work on:

• Individual Assignments – work and learn the Rhythmic Reading session songs for your instrument.

• Shifting – work on shifting into the different position with a familiar song.

• Shifting Books to use – Essential Elements 2000 Book 3 for your instrument and/or Advanced Technique Books

• The Rhythmic Reading and Familiar Shifting Songs can be found at www.nastrings.org website listed for String Technique Class – November 2007.

Solo Piece Assignment:

• Individually – each of you should pick a song that you would like to perform and work on as a solo piece. Pick a song that will challenge you on your skills on the instrument. If you need some suggestions or if you need music to be sent to you to help with this assignment, please ask.

• The music will be required assignment for practice and learning musicality. You will be taping your progress as you learn the music and keeping a journal for reflection purposes and learning purposes.

Ways to Tape:

• Practice Rooms have Sonar – computer based taping system where you can keep a file of your progress and then burn to a CD when the piece is completely learned.

• Tape player in my office – you can use a cassette tape to tape your progress with the use of a microphone hooked into the tape player.

• I’ll email Mr. Felix about this and see what we can set up for the tapings – starting next week.

• All pieces should be picked by Thursday of this week.

Closure:

• Standards worked on today 9.1 A, B, & C• In your journals answer the following exit

questions:• Name the tempo word that means very very fast.• Name the tempo words that means a little

medium.• Keep reviewing the tempo markings so that you

know them and understand them.• German Terminology on Thursday!!