Accidentals - Symbols that alter the pitch of a note by raising or lowering it by a half step. The sharp (#) raises the pitch of a note by a half step, while the flat (♭) lowers the pitch of a note by a half step.
Cadence - A musical phrase or passage that marks the end of a section or piece of music.
Chord - A group of notes played together that sound pleasing together.
Counterpoint - The simultaneous combination of two or more independent melodies.
Dynamics - The loudness or softness of a piece of music. Dynamics are often indicated by Italian words such as piano (soft), forte (loud), and crescendo (gradually getting louder).
Harmony - The pleasing combination of different pitches or chords.
Melody - A succession of musical notes that form a distinctive tune.
Meter - The regular pattern of strong and weak beats in a piece of music.
Modulation - The change from one key to another during a piece of music.
Ornamentation - The addition of embellishments or decorations to a melody.
Phrase - A short, distinct musical passage.
Rhythm - The regular pattern of beats and accents in a piece of music.
Tempo - The speed at which a piece of music is played. Tempo is often indicated by Italian words such as allegro (fast), andante (moderate), and adagio (slow).
Texture - The overall sound of a piece of music, including the number of voices or instruments playing, the dynamic levels, and the orchestration.
Timbre - The unique sound quality of a particular voice or instrument.
Transposition - The process of changing the key of a piece of music while maintaining the same relationship between the notes.
Trill - A rapid alternation between two adjacent notes.
Vibrato - A slight, regular variation in the pitch of a note, produced by the natural oscillations of the human voice or the strings of a bowed instrument.