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Quizzes > Entertainment & Pop Culture > Music

Musical Terminology Quiz - Can You Master Theory Terms?

Take this music theory quiz and conquer articulation terms now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art music symbols on golden yellow background for quiz on staccato legato accelerando and more

Use this musical terminology quiz to practice core music terms like staccato, legato, accelerando, dynamics, and tempo by answering clear prompts and checking for weak spots in your theory. It's scored, quick, and great for a warm-up before class, rehearsal, or an exam.

What does the musical term 'staccato' instruct the performer to do?
Maintain the same tempo
Play notes short and detached
Gradually get louder
Play the notes smoothly and connected
Staccato indicates that each note should be performed short and detached, creating a distinct separation between notes. This articulation marking is represented by a dot above or below the note head. It contrasts with legato, where notes are smoothly connected. For more details, see .
What does the term 'legato' mean in music notation?
Play notes short and detached
Play with strong accent
Play notes smoothly and connected
Play at a slower tempo
Legato indicates that notes should be played smoothly and connected, with no perceptible break between them. It's often marked by a slur over or under the notes. This is the opposite of staccato articulation. See for more information.
What dynamic marking is indicated by the term 'forte'?
Moderately soft
Loud
Soft
Very soft
The term 'forte' (abbreviated f) directs the performer to play loudly. It is one of the primary dynamic markings in classical notation. Dynamics range from pianissimo (very soft) up to fortissimo (very loud). More on dynamics: .
What does the dynamic marking 'piano' instruct the musician to do?
Play loudly
Play moderately loud
Play softly
Play with emphasis
The dynamic marking 'piano' (abbreviated p) directs the performer to play softly. It is one of the basic dynamic markings in Western music notation. It contrasts with forte, which indicates loud playing. For further reading, see .
What does 'fortissimo' indicate in musical notation?
Very soft
Very loud
Moderately loud
Moderately soft
Fortissimo, abbreviated 'ff', directs the musician to play very loudly. It is stronger than 'forte' (loud). Dynamic levels in classical music use these Italian terms to communicate volume. More details at .
What does the term 'crescendo' instruct a performer to do?
Play slower
Gradually get louder
Play faster
Gradually get softer
Crescendo, often shown as 'cresc.' or with a hairpin opening to the right, indicates a gradual increase in volume. It allows composers to shape musical phrases dynamically. This is opposite of diminuendo or decrescendo. Reference: .
What instruction does 'diminuendo' (or 'decrescendo') give?
Hold the note longer
Gradually get softer
Accelerate the tempo
Gradually get louder
Diminuendo, also called decrescendo and abbreviated 'dim.' or shown with a hairpin closing, means to gradually decrease volume. It's used to create dynamic contrast within a phrase. This marking is opposite of crescendo. More at .
What tempo marking does 'allegro' denote?
Moderate walking pace
Extremely fast
Fast and lively
Slow and stately
Allegro indicates a brisk and lively tempo, typically ranging between 120 - 168 BPM. It is one of the standard Italian tempo markings. This contrasts with slower tempi such as adagio. For more, visit .
Which tempo marking instructs musicians to play slowly and stately?
Andante
Vivace
Adagio
Presto
Adagio indicates a slow and stately tempo, typically around 66 - 76 BPM. It is commonly used to express peaceful or solemn character. It is slower than andante but faster than largo. See .
What does the marking 'mezzo forte' instruct a musician to do?
Play extremely loud
Play moderately loud
Play with sharp accents
Play very softly
Mezzo forte, abbreviated 'mf', means moderately loud. It sits between piano (soft) and forte (loud) in the dynamic scale. This helps composers fine-tune expression. More details: .
What does the term 'accelerando' instruct the performer to do?
Maintain steady tempo
Return to original tempo
Gradually slow down
Gradually speed up
Accelerando, often abbreviated 'accel.', directs the performer to gradually increase the tempo. It is used to build excitement or tension within a piece. This marking contrasts with ritardando. For more information, see .
Which instruction does 'ritardando' give?
Return to main theme
Play with rhythmic flexibility
Gradually slow down
Gradually speed up
Ritardando, abbreviated 'rit.', indicates a gradual decrease in tempo. It is used to signal a relaxed or concluding feel to a phrase. It is opposite of accelerando. More at .
What does the term 'a tempo' direct a performer to do?
Play slowly
Hold the note
Return to the original tempo
Increase volume
'A tempo' signals the performer to return to the initial tempo after a deviation (such as a ritardando or accelerando). This ensures consistency in performance. It is a common instruction in classical scores. See .
What does the marking 'l'istesso tempo' indicate?
Play in strict time
Play in free rhythm
Maintain the same tempo despite meter change
Slightly speed up
'L'istesso tempo' directs the musician to keep the same tempo even if the meter or notation changes. This helps maintain forward momentum across sections. The term is Italian for 'the same tempo.' More on this at .
What is the function of a 'fermata' in a musical score?
Repeat the preceding passage
Return to the start
Hold the note longer than its written value
Play the note staccato
A fermata, shown as a dot with an arc above, instructs performers to sustain a note or rest beyond its notated duration at the performer's discretion. It is often used for expressive effect or to signal a pause. More details: .
What does 'marcato' indicate in musical performance?
Play the notes detached
Play with strong, marked accents
Gradually get louder
Play very softly
Marcato, indicated by a small wedge or caret above/below a note, tells the performer to play that note with emphasis and a marked accent. It is stronger than a normal accent mark. Learn more at .
What technique does 'pizzicato' refer to for string players?
Play with a muted bow
Use the bow very lightly
Slide finger along the string
Pluck the strings with fingers
Pizzicato instructs string players to pluck the strings with their fingers rather than using the bow. It creates a short, percussive sound. This term comes from Italian and is widely used in orchestral and chamber music. See .
What does the term 'glissando' describe?
A slide smoothly between two pitches
A fast upward run
A sudden accent on a note
Rapid alternation of two notes
Glissando indicates a continuous glide from one pitch to another, sounding all intermediate pitches. It is notated with a straight or wavy line between the notes. It differs from portamento, which is a subtler slide effect. More at .
What is 'portamento' in musical context?
A smooth, subtle slide from one note to another
A repeated rhythmic pattern
A rapid run through all intermediate pitches
A type of staccato articulation
Portamento refers to a smooth, connected slide between two notes without articulating all intermediate pitches fully. It is often used in vocal and string performances to add expressiveness. It differs from glissando, which covers every semitone in between. Read more at .
Which tempo marking indicates the fastest traditional speed?
Prestissimo
Vivace
Presto
Allegro
Prestissimo is the fastest traditional tempo marking, often exceeding 200 BPM. It instructs the musician to play extremely quickly. Presto is slightly slower, and vivace and allegro are progressively slower. See .
What does 'meno mosso' instruct musicians to do?
Play very softly
Play with more motion (slightly faster)
Play with less motion (slightly slower)
Return to original tempo
Meno mosso, meaning 'less moved,' indicates a slight decrease in tempo, creating a more relaxed pace. It is less drastic than a full ritardando. It helps shape phrasing. More at .
What does 'da capo al fine' instruct performers to do?
Jump to the 'coda' after the sign
Repeat from the beginning until the 'fine' marking
Play quietly until the end
Skip the repeat and play only once
Da capo al fine (D.C. al fine) directs performers to go back to the beginning of the piece and play until reaching the 'fine' marking, which indicates the end. It is a common structural repeat sign in Baroque and Classical music. More at .
What instruction is given by 'dal segno al coda'?
Play the coda section immediately
Skip the sign and continue normally
Go back to the sign, play until the coda symbol, then jump to the coda
Repeat the first section twice
Dal segno al coda (D.S. al coda) instructs musicians to return to the 'segno' sign, continue until the 'to coda' marking, then jump to the coda section. This helps structure repeats in longer works. For more, see .
In musical terms, what is a 'coda'?
An introduction before the main theme
A concluding passage that brings the piece to an end
A sudden change in key signature
A repeated section in the middle
A coda, Italian for 'tail,' is a concluding passage that wraps up a musical composition. It often follows a D.S. or D.C. instruction to jump to this final section. Codas are used from Baroque through modern works. Learn more at .
What does the musical term 'tremolo' indicate?
A sudden accent on a note
Rapid repetition of a single note or alternation between two notes
A slow slide between pitches
A sustained muted note
Tremolo signifies rapid repetition of a single note or rapid alternation between two notes to create a trembling effect. In orchestral strings, it often uses the bow tip. It is distinct from a trill, which alternates two adjacent pitches. More at .
What is a 'trill' in classical music ornamentation?
A long, sustained note
A fast scale run
Rapid alternation between a main note and its upper neighbor
A short, detached note
A trill, or trillo, is an ornament involving rapid alternation between a given note and the one immediately above it in the scale. It adds expressiveness and embellishment in Baroque, Classical, and Romantic music. For more, see .
What does 'legatissimo' instruct a musician to do?
Alternate rapidly between notes
Play with strong accents
Play very detached
Play very smoothly, even more than legato
Legatissimo is an extreme form of legato, directing the performer to connect notes in the smoothest possible manner. It often appears in Romantic and modern scores to emphasize lyrical lines. It is notated with a slur plus the term. More at .
What does the marking 'morendo' signify in music?
Dying away in volume and tempo
Return to the opening theme
Sudden loud accent
Play with harsh tone
Morendo, Italian for 'dying away,' tells the performer to gradually diminish both volume and speed until the sound fades. It is used for dramatic, expressive endings. This term appears in many Romantic-era works. See .
What does 'scordatura' refer to in string playing?
A rapid slide between notes
A decorative trill
A technique of plucking with nails
Alternate tuning of strings to nonstandard pitches
Scordatura is an alternative tuning method where string instruments are tuned differently from the standard tuning, often to facilitate special chords or timbres. It was popular in Baroque and modern music for coloristic effects. See for more details.
In vocal technique, what is 'messa di voce'?
A sudden change in vocal register
A rapid alternation between two notes
A gradual crescendo then diminuendo on a single sustained note
A slide up to the next pitch
Messa di voce is a vocal exercise and expressive technique involving a single sustained note that crescendos and then decrescendos. It showcases control of breath and dynamic shading. It originated in early vocal pedagogy. Further reading: .
What does the term 'fioritura' describe in ornamentation?
Elaborate decorative figuration added to a melody
A slow slide between notes
A sudden accent on a downbeat
A repeated rhythmic pattern
Fioritura refers to elaborate, florid ornamentation of a melodic line, typically in Baroque and bel canto vocal music. It involves rapid runs, trills, and embellishments. The term comes from Italian meaning 'flowering.' More at .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Articulation Terms -

    Recognize common articulations such as staccato, legato, and accelerando when presented in musical notation.

  2. Distinguish Articulation vs. Expression -

    Differentiate between articulation markings and broader musical expressions like dynamics and tempo changes.

  3. Apply Terminology in Context -

    Interpret articulation symbols accurately within melody snippets during the musical terminology quiz.

  4. Enhance Music Theory Vocabulary -

    Reinforce key terms from the music theory quiz to build a stronger foundation in articulation and expression.

  5. Assess Proficiency with Quiz Feedback -

    Use instant scoring and feedback to evaluate your understanding of legato, staccato, and other articulation terms.

  6. Improve Notation Reading Skills -

    Develop sharper sight-reading abilities by applying articulation knowledge to unfamiliar musical passages.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Staccato vs. Legato Articulations -

    Staccato notes, marked with dots, are played short and detached, while legato passages, marked with slurs, require smooth, connected tones. To remember, think "dot means stop" and "slur means sure flow" (Oxford University Press). Practicing scales alternating staccato and legato at a slow tempo solidifies the tactile difference.

  2. Accelerando and Ritardando -

    Accelerando (often abbreviated "accel.") signals a gradual speed-up, while ritardando (or "rit.") indicates slowing down. The University of Southern California Thornton School recommends marking metronome markings at start and end to quantify the change: e.g., quarter note = 80→100 bpm. Use a metronome's tempo range function for consistent practice.

  3. Crescendo, Decrescendo, and Accents -

    Crescendo (<>) and decrescendo (><) define gradual volume changes, and accents (>) add emphasis on individual notes. According to Juilliard's music theory curriculum, dynamic shading builds expressivity - practice long tones with hairpin dynamics to internalize control. For accents, try the mnemonic "push the note" by emphasizing the attack with a slightly heavier bow or keystroke.

  4. Common Ornamentation Marks -

    Trills (tr), mordents, and turns add decorative flair to melodies. The Royal Conservatory of Music advises practicing each ornament slowly with a metronome, then gradually integrating into the piece. A quick mnemonic: "Time Really Rests" to remember Trill, Mordent, and Turn in order of complexity.

  5. Integrating Articulations into Phrasing -

    Combining staccato, legato, dynamics, and ornaments within a phrase creates musical storytelling. Stanford's music theory guide suggests mapping phrasing on the score with colored pencils, linking articulation marks to emotional intent. Regularly take short "expression breaks" during practice to review your markings as part of your articulation terms quiz preparation.

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