What does a tempo mean in music?

a tempo means "return to the original speed".

What type of musical term is a tempo?

a tempo is a tempo term — see the Theory Practice glossary for the rest of the tempo word list.

What grade is a tempo tested in?

a tempo first appears at Grade 2 in ABRSM, AMEB and Trinity music theory exams, and stays in the syllabus for every grade above that.

Music theory · Musical terms · Tempo

a tempo — meaning in music

a tempo is a musical term meaning return to the original speed. It is a tempo marking, first tested at Grade 2 in ABRSM, AMEB and Trinity music theory exams. From that grade on, every written paper expects you to know it on sight.

Definition

return to the original speed

TempoFirst tested: Grade 2

Translations

French	revenir à la vitesse d'origine
German	Rückkehr zur ursprünglichen Geschwindigkeit
Italian	tornare alla velocità originale
Spanish	volver a la velocidad original
Chinese	恢复到原来的速度

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All tempo terms

a tempo accelerando adagio allegretto allegro andante andantino doppio movimento incalzando l’istesso tempo larghetto largo lento moderato prestissimo presto rallentando ritardando ritenuto stringendo tempo primo vivace