ABRSM Music Theory Grade 1 - Performance Directions (Terms) with verified correct answers

1. forte loud 2. mezzo forte moderately loud ('half' loud) 3. fortissimo very loud 4. piano soft 5. pianissimo very soft 6. mezzo piano moderately soft ('half' soft) 7. crescendo (cresc.) getting louder 8. decrescendo (or decresc.) getting softer (same as diminuendo) 9. diminuendo (dim.) getting softer (same as decrescendo) 10. allegro fast (lively, cheerful) 11. allegretto rather fast (but not as fast as allegro) 12. allegro moderato moderately fast 13. adagio slow 14. lento slow 15. accelerando (accel.) getting faster 16. rallentando (rall.) getting slower (same as ritardando) 17. ritardando (ritard. or rit.) getting slower (same as rallentando) 18. ritenuto (riten.) hold back