Learn how to speak Italian! (so you can follow the directions in the book)

In addition to learning how to read music, students also get to learn some fun and very important Italian words! Traditionally in music, instructions for the speed (tempo), bow style, dynamics (loudness/softness), etc., are in Italian. Some composers later on use French and German, depending on their nationality, but for the most part, Italian instructions are used. And for the entire Suzuki Book 1, Italian is used.

Below is a list of commonly used Italian words as well as symbols broken up by the type of instruction they give. This is by no means a comprehensive list - there are as many symbols and terms to fill up an entire encyclopedia of music (these exist) but this will cover you through Book 1.

Tempo (speed)

• Allegro - fast, lively, 'perky'
• Allegro giocoso - fast and playful
• Allegro moderato - moderately fast
• Allegretto - fairly brisk tempo but slower than Allegro
• Andante - walking speed
• Andantino - slightly slower than Andante
• Grazioso - gracefully
• Moderato - moderately; moderate speed

Dynamics (how loud or soft)

• forte (f) - loud; 'strong'
• piano (p) - soft
• mezzoforte (mf) - medium loud
• mezzopiano (mp) - medium soft
• cresc./crescendo/ < - gradually get louder
• dim./diminuendo/ > - gradually get softer
• decresc./decrescendo/ > - gradually get softer
• meno mosso - much less

Bow Articulation Marks (what kind of sound does it make)

• legato - smoothly; French Folk Song
• staccato - short, crisp; marked with a dot above the note; Song of the Wind 
• tenuto - to hold; marked with a dash above the note; Allegretto
• marcato - strongly articulated; marked with a > or ^; 
• related to martelé, or an attack with the bow that is forceful and then released; think Rigadoon. 
• detaché - connected, on the string; back and forth bow; long bow Twinkle

Other Directions

• pizzicato or pizz. - pluck with the finger
• arco - use the bow
• rit./ritardando - slow down
• poco rit. - slow down a lot
• dolce - sweetly
• a tempo - return to the original speed
• sempre - always

Commonly Used Symbols

Wikipedia has a great glossary of terms & symbols for any additional terms or symbols you may need going forward.