Academic Vocabulary

1. Staff: the five lines that we use to organize our notes
2. Pitch: the highness or lowness of a sound (the letter names on the staff: A B C D E F G)
3. Rhythm: timing and the duration of sound (note and rest values: quarter note, half note, eighth rest, etc.)
4. Beat: pulse of music
5. Clef: the symbol at the very beginning the staff that we use to organize the pitches
6. Key Signature: the space after the clef that tells us which notes we will be using
7. Meter/Time Signature: the stacked numbers after the clef and key signature (4/4, 6/8, cut-time)
   1. Top number: tells us how many beats in a measure
   2. Bottom number: tells us what note/rest value earns one beat
8. Body format: refers to bow holds, right and left arm technique, posture, positioning, etc. while playing
9. Technique: the way in which you perform
10. Articulation: how a note(s) are performed (example: staccato or legato)
11. So much more!