title: Musical Terms taxonomy: category: [dance, technique, terms, music, musical, technical]

Musical Terms

Bar

Literally means the vertical line in written music that separates one measure from the next. For dancing purposes, bar is synonymous with measure.

Beat

• A steady and continuous pulse in the music, within which rhythms are formed.
• A single pulse of music. Beats are usually arranged into groups of 2, 3, or 4 to form a measure. The first beat in a measure is usually more pronounced than the others.

Beat Value

The number of beats of music for each step (weight change or action). For example, in Waltz, the count is 123, with a beat value of 1-1-1. In Foxtrot a count of SSQQ has a beat value of 2-2-1-1.

Count

Also called timing, this allows dancers to keep their dancing in time to the music. Each dance has its own specific count which helps define its feel and character.

Counting in Beats and Bars

A method of keeping track of how many measures (bars) of music are used in a particular figure or amalgamation.

Downbeat

• In music terminology, the downbeat is every beat in a measure (bar). If a measure is counted 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &, the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 are considered to be the downbeats.
• In dancing, the term downbeat generally refers to the first beat of every measure.

Measure

In sheet music, the space between two bar lines in which there are a specific number of beats that repeat throughout the music.

Musicality

Used to describe how well a dancer hears, feels, and expresses the music in his or her body.

Phrase

A specific number of measures that make up a complete 'thought' of music.

Phrasing

Dancing or choreographing a figure or group of figures (amalgamation) to fit the phrases in a piece of music.

Quick

A term used in counting which usually indicates one beat of music.

Rhythm

• In music, the regular recurrence of accented beats that give character to music.
• In dancing, when someone has 'good rhythm,' they are typically relaxed, well-coordinated, and precisely on time with the music.

Slow

A term used in counting which usually indicates two beats of music.

Syncopation

(1) In music terminology, upsetting or changing the meter or pulse of a piece of music by shifting of the accent to a weaker beat. (2) In dancing, to deviate from the basic timing of a dance by dividing a beat of music into two or more parts.

Tempo

The speed of the music, determined by the number of measures in one minute of music.

Time/Time Signature

Indicates the number of beats in each measure of music.

Timing

• Synonymous with count and rhythm, timing refers to the commonly used numbers or words used to count a particular dance to music.
• Refers to the ability of the dancer to stay with the count designated for a particular dance.

Upbeat

• In music terminology, the upbeat is the second half of each beat and is referred to as 'and.'
• In dancing, the upbeats are the whole beats that follow the downbeat(s).