Grade 5 Music Theory Performance Directions

By Jade Bultitude
Last Update:

The ABRSM Grade 5 exam requires pupils to learn a lot of performance directions. The Grade 5 Music Theory performance directions list is super long because it adds together all the terms from Grade 1-4 and then new Italian and German musical terms specific to Grade 5.

Whenever I am teaching my own students I recommend practising directions little and often. To do this it helps to break down the the words into manageable chunks, such as by type or language. There are a lot of words so learn, so take your time!

Want to know what else you need to know to ace your exam? Have a look at our complete guide to ABRSM Grade 5 Theory.

Performance Direction Quiz

To help you practice we have a performance directions for each of grades 1-5. The questions are always different so you can take them as many times as you like. Check the Grade 5 Quiz below.

grade 5 music theory performance directions, pochettino

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Below is an alphabetical list of all the Grade 5 Music Theory Performance Directions you need to know.

Grade 5 Italian Terms

Alla misurain strict time
Attaccago straight on to next section
Dolentesad, mournful
Doloregrief
Dolorososorrowful
Doppio movimentotwice as fast
Estintoas soft as possible, lifeless
Incalzandogetting quicker
Lacrimososad
Locoat a normal pitch
Lungalong
Lunga pausalong pause
Lusingandosweet and persuasive
Misurameasure (bar)
Ossiaor, alternatively
Piacevolepleasant
Piangevoleplaintive, in the style of a lament
Pochettino, pochrather little
Rinforzando, rf, rfzreinforcing
Seguego straight on
Senza misurain free time
Smorzando, smorz.dying away in tone and speed
Teneramente, tenerezzatenderly, tenderness
Tostoswift, rapid
Volanteflying, fast

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Grade 5 German Terms

Aberbut
Ausdruckexpression
bewegtwith movement, agitated
breitbroad, expansive
Eina, one
Einfachsimple
Etwassomewhat, rather
Fröhlichcheerful, joyful
Immeralways
Langsamslow
Lebhaftlively
Mässigat a moderate speed
Mitwith
Nichtnot
Ohnewithout
Ruhigpeaceful
Schnellfast
Sehrvery
Süsssweet
Traurigsad
Undand
Vollfull
Weniglittle
Wiederagain
Zarttender, delicate
Zuto, too

What about Grades 1-4?

Remember that as part of Grade 5 you can be tested on all of the performance directions from grades 1-4. Enter your email below to get our complete list of all the performance directions you could be asked about.

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Ways to Memorise Performance Directions

  1. Use our free quizzes to practise all the grade 1 to 5 terms.
  2. Focus on performance directions in your exam pieces and in your instrument lessons.
  3. Use flashcards to remember specific terms.

Try a Grade 5 Exam

Ready for the real thing? Why not try our free Grade 5 Theory sample paper.

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AUTHOR
Jade is an experienced musician and teacher as well as being the founder of Music Theory Foundations. She has been helping people learn music theory for more than 10 years from pre school children all the way to degree level studies.