Following The Score

Text

these are hyphenated to match the notes above

Piano Part

this is always found below the vocal line and is marked with a curvy bracket

SATB

soprano, alto, tenor, bass

Treble Clef

often female voices and unchanged voices sing notes written here

Bass Clef

the left hand plays here on the piano

The Musical Staff

the series of lines and spaces on which notes are organised

Bar Lines

vertical lines that separate the music into measures

Time Signature

indicates the groupings of beats for a song

Measure

the section between bar lines. Usually numbered for easy reference.

System

a set of staves connected with a line and/or bracket.

Key Signature

this tells you what scale the song is based upon and, therefore, which note is "doh". The symbols are found after the clef and before the time signature.

Tempo Markings

tells you the speed at which the song should be played. They are usually in Italian.

Dynamics

indicates the degree of loudness

Phrase Markings (Arc)

indicates a group of notes that should be sung connected without break; like a sentence

Articulations

indicates how notes should be attacked

Slur

play/sing connecting notes smoothly

Accent

play/sing by hitting note strongly

Staccato

play/sing note short and detached