Which tempo marking indicates a tempo change where speed gradually increases?

Which tempo marking indicates a tempo change where speed gradually increases?

• A. Andante
• B. Accelerando
• C. Grave
• D. A tempo

Answer: (B)

Tempo markings guide how fast to play, and a change that means speed is increasing gradually is marked accelerando. This tells you to speed up little by little across the passage, rather than jumping to a faster tempo all at once. The other options describe different steady speeds or returning to an earlier tempo: Andante is a moderate pace, not a speed-up; Grave is very slow; A tempo signals a return to the original tempo after a deviation, not a gradual increase. Accelerando might appear at the start of a section or during a passage to indicate a smooth, progressive increase in tempo, sometimes followed by a new tempo like piu mosso or allegro.

Tempo markings guide how fast to play, and a change that means speed is increasing gradually is marked accelerando. This tells you to speed up little by little across the passage, rather than jumping to a faster tempo all at once. The other options describe different steady speeds or returning to an earlier tempo: Andante is a moderate pace, not a speed-up; Grave is very slow; A tempo signals a return to the original tempo after a deviation, not a gradual increase. Accelerando might appear at the start of a section or during a passage to indicate a smooth, progressive increase in tempo, sometimes followed by a new tempo like piu mosso or allegro.