Which term indicates tempo should slow down progressively?

Which term indicates tempo should slow down progressively?

• A. Ritardando
• B. Accelerando
• C. Poco a poco
• D. Forte

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how tempo changes are notated in music. Ritardando tells you to slow the tempo gradually, easing the pace over a span of beats or measures rather than letting it drop abruptly. This creates a flexible, expressive lead-in to the next section by widening the tempo reduction step by step as you play. That gradual slowing is exactly what ritardando specifies, which is why it’s the best match for a progressively slower tempo. Accelerando, in contrast, means to speed up. Forte refers to volume, not tempo. Poco a poco means “little by little,” but on its own it doesn’t dictate direction; it describes gradual change and needs to be paired with a tempo instruction to indicate whether you’re speeding up or slowing down.

The idea being tested is how tempo changes are notated in music. Ritardando tells you to slow the tempo gradually, easing the pace over a span of beats or measures rather than letting it drop abruptly. This creates a flexible, expressive lead-in to the next section by widening the tempo reduction step by step as you play. That gradual slowing is exactly what ritardando specifies, which is why it’s the best match for a progressively slower tempo.

Accelerando, in contrast, means to speed up. Forte refers to volume, not tempo. Poco a poco means “little by little,” but on its own it doesn’t dictate direction; it describes gradual change and needs to be paired with a tempo instruction to indicate whether you’re speeding up or slowing down.