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!