General
C – do
D – re
E – mi
F – fa
G – sol
A – la
B – si
a sharp – yon dyèz
a flat – yon bemòl
a natural – yon beka
Accidentals – yon siy dalterasyon
Key signature – amati
Time signature – chif endikatè
Note Values
Whole note – wond
Half note – blanch
Quarter note – nwa
Eighth note – kwòch
Sixteenth note – double kwòch
Dotted quarter note – nwa pwente
Dotted half note – blanch pwente
Rests
Rest – silans / siy de repo
Whole rest – poz
Half rest – demi poz
Quarter rest – soupi
Eighth rest – demi soupi
Sixteenth rest – ka de soupi
Clefs
Treble clef – kle (de) sòl
Alto clef – kle dit twazyem liy
Tenor clef – kle dit katryem liy
Bass clef – kle (de) fa
C clef – kle d ut / kle de do
Other Terms
Staff – pòte
Line – liy
Space – entèliy
Measure – mezi
Bar line – ba de mezi
Repeat – pwen de repriz
Slur – lyezon (lyezon pou aksan)
Tie – lyezon de pwolongasyon
Fermata – pwen dòg
Key of piece – ton / tonalite
Scale – gam
Major / minor scale – gam majè / minè
“A” major scale – gam “la” majè
Stand – kampe
Sit – chita
Tempo – mouvman (tenmpo)
Interval – entèval
Unison – inison
A 2nd – yon segond
A 3rd – yon tyès
A 4th – yon kat
A 5th – yon kent
A 6th – yon sikst
A 7th – yon setyèm
Octave – oktav
Major – majè
Minor – minè
A whole step – yon ton
A half step – yon demi-ton
Too high – twò egi
Too low – twò grav
Fingering – dwate
Finger – dwèt
Tonguing – kout lang
Key (of an instrument) – kle
Voice – vwa
Tongue – lang
Conductor – chèf dòkès
(the) baton – bagèt (la)
Violin – vyolon
Viola – alto / vyola
Cello – vyolonsèl
Bass – kontrebas
Flute – flit
Piccolo – ti flit la / pikolo
Oboe – obwa
English Horn – kò anglè
Clarinet – klarinèt
Bass Clarinet – klarinèt bas
Bassoon – bason
French Horn – kò
Trumpet – twompèt
Trombone – twombòn
Tuba – tiba
Euphonium – bariton
Drum – tambou
Snare Drum – kès / snè a
Bass Drum – gwos kès
Cymbals – senbal
Timpani – tenbal / tenmpani
Drum Stick – bagèt
Reed – anch
Double reed – anch doub
Single reed – anch senp
Cane – wozo
Bell (of instrument) – paviyon
Mouthpiece (or mouth position) – anbouchi
Kreyòl String Teacher Terms
Parts of the Violin
Scroll – tèt vyolon / koki
Pegs – kle
Neck – manch
Fingerboard – touch la
Bridge – chevalè
Tailpiece – kòdiye
Chin rest – mantonye
End pin – pin
String – kòd
Bow – achè
Bowings – kou dachè
Parts of the Bow
Stick – bwa achè a
Tip – pwent
Frog – talon
Screw – vis
Hair – kren
Down bow – tirè
Up bow – pouse
Heel of the bow – talon
Tip of the bow – pwent
Rosin – kolofàn
Various
Loose – lach
Middle – nan mitan
Use all the hair. – Itilize tout kren an.
Stand well. – Kampe byen.
Sit well. – Chita byen.
Put your feet on the ground. – Mete pye ou sou tè a.
Take your violin. – Pran vyolon ou.
Left hand / thumb – men / pous gòch
Right hand / thumb – men / pous dwat
Curve your thumb. – Koube pous ou.
Is your thumb curved? – Èske pous ou koube?
Pull the string. – Tire kòd la.
Put weight into the string. – Mete pwa nan kòd la.
Some Kreyòl Teaching Phrases
I am a *** teacher. – Mwen se pwofesè ***.
How old are you? – Ki laj ou genyen?
How was your day? – Ki jan jounen ou te ye?
How are you feeling? – Ki jan ou santi ou?
Show me the music you worked on. – Montre m mizik ou te travay la.
You’re not tuned. – Ou pa akòde.
You sound good. – Ou sonnen byen.
You play well. – Ou jwe byen.
Begin here. – Kòmanse isit.
Always stand straight, please. – Kampe dwat toujou, souple.
Hold your instrument like this. – Kenbe enstriman ou konsa.
It’s very important. – Se enpòtan anpil.
Do what I do. – Fè mem jan avem.
Watch me. – Gade mwen.
Follow my tempo. – Swiv tempo pam.
Wait for me. – Tann mwen.
Don’t be afraid. – Pa pè.
I’ll be there. – M’ap la.
Breathe well. – Respire byen.
Tap your foot on the beat. – Frape pye ou sou tan an.
Put your hand like this. – Mete men ou konsa.
Hold your instrument well. – Kenbe enstriman byen.
Would you like to play a solo? – Èske ou vle jwe yon solo?
Begin here. – Kòmanse isit.
Learn this by heart. – Aprann sa a pa kè.
Play this 10 times. – Jwe sa a dis fwa.
Don’t rush. – Pa kouri.
Don’t slow down. – Pa ralenti.
Don’t put on the brakes! – Pa mete fren!
Follow what I do. – Suiv sa m fè.
Repeat after me. – Repete aprè mwen.
I’m happy (pleased). – Mwen kontan.
What do you think? – Ki sa ou panse?
It’s time for us to take a break. – Li lè pou nou pran yon ti break (poz).
It’s time for you to go. – Li lè pou nou ale.
Take the chair. – Pran chèz la.
Take the stand. – Pran pipit la.
Where is the chair? – Kote chèz la ye?
Do you have a pencil? – Èske ou genyen yon kreyon?
What do you know in Kreyòl? – Ki sa ou konnen an Kreyòl?
Silence, please. – Silans, souple.
I don’t see your eyes. – Mwen pa we je ou.
How we stand is very important. – Fason nou kampe extrèman enpòtan.
How we sit is very important. – Fason nou chita extrèman enpòtan.
Let your body go. – Lache tout kò ou.
Release your shoulders. – Lage zepòl ou.
Go down. – Desann.
I think. – Mwen panse.
Out of tune – pa jis
Rhythm – ritm
Intonation – jistès
Tune – akòde
More – plis
Nothing – anyen
Before – anvan
After – apre
Because – paske
This/that – sa/a
Every day – chak jou
Here – isit
Busy – okipe
Fix – fikse
Change – chanje
Before the end – anvan la fen
Strong – fò
Solid – solid
Explain – eksplike
Feel (or smell) – santi
Need – bezwen
Too fast – twò vit
Time – lè
Funny – komik
Remember – sonje
Before the end – anvan la fen
Fermata – pwen dòg
Grace note – ti nòt
Trill – twil
Heavy – lou
Light – leje
Intense – entans
Together/ensemble – ansanm
Too loud – twop fò
Shy – timid
Fear – pè
Energetic – enèjetik
Pretty – bèl
Ugly – lèd
Watch – gade
Look for – chache
Hit – frape
Give – bay/ban/ba
A lot (much) – anpil
To help – ede
Slow – dousman
Sick – malad
Church – legliz
Maybe – petèt
Conduct – dirije
Only – sèlman
Morning – maten
Day – jou
Evening – aswè
Night – nuit
Hurts – fè mal
Word – mo
Motor – mote
Move – bouje
Alone – sèl
Emotion – emosyon
Weight – pwa
Collect – ramase
Folder – katab
Better – miyò
Nice – janti
Happy – kontan
Sad – tris
Anpil mèsi to Janet Anthony for all of her wonderful translations!