Tempo Markings

A metronome marking indicates the exact speed of a piece of music, usually expressed in beats per minute (BPM). It guides performers in maintaining a consistent tempo throughout a composition.

Andantino is an Italian tempo marking indicating a speed slightly faster than andante, though interpretations vary. It guides performers on a moderately brisk pace, often used in Classical and Romantic repertoire.

Tempo Primo is an Italian musical instruction meaning “the original tempo.” It tells performers to return to the initial speed after a temporary change such as a ritardando or accelerando.

Andante is an Italian tempo indication meaning “walking pace,” commonly used in Western classical music to denote a moderate, steady speed. It lies between slower tempos such as Adagio and faster ones like Allegro, and is often specified with metronome markings ranging from 76 to 108 beats per minute.

Allegretto is a musical tempo indication meaning a moderately fast, light, and graceful speed, positioned between Andante and Allegro.