The Complete Idiot''s Guide to Music Theory

Marking
Equals …
86
You can also use
note repeats on dot-
ted notes. When
you put a single
slash on a dotted note,
you play three notes of the
next-higher value; when
you put a double slash on
a dotted note, you play
six
notes of the second-
higher value.
Tip
Repeating Rests
There’s one last bit of repeat notation you need to know—and it concerns rest-
ing; not playing. In much orchestral music, each individual instrument spends a
lot of time not playing. While the composer could indicate all this inactivity by

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Chapter 7:
Tempo, Dynamics, and Navigation
writing lots of individual measures full of whole rests, it is more common (and a
lot easier) to indicate the total number of measures the instrument will rest.
This is done by using a multiple-measure rest sign in a single measure, with a
number written above the rest. The number indicates how many measures of
rest there are. For example, a multiple-measure rest with the number 6 written
above indicates that that instrument is supposed to rest for six measures.
87
Use a multiple-measure rest sign to indicate multiple measures of rest; in this example, six measures.
The Least You Need to Know
◆
The tempo of a piece of music can be indicated by traditional Italian
markings or by a specific “beats per minute” instruction.
◆
You indicate changes in tempo by using Italian markings such as ritardano
(slow down) and accelerando (speed up).
◆
The volume level of a piece of music is typically indicated by the use of
traditional Italian dynamic markings, from pianissimo (
pp
) to fortissimo (
ff
).
◆
You indicate changes in dynamics by using crescendo (get louder) and
decrescendo (get softer) markings.
◆
When you want a single note played louder than normal, use an accent
mark.
◆
You navigate an entire piece of music using repeat signs and various Italian
markings. (For example, D.C. al Coda means to go back to the beginning,
play to the Coda sign; then jump to the Coda section.)
Exercises
Exercise 7-1
Play the following piece of music, paying strict attention to the tempo markings.

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