- Definition
Tempo is how fast or slow the music is played. Think of it like the speed limit for a song.
A lullaby has a slow tempo to help you feel calm and sleepy.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Tempo is like how fast or slow you walk — sometimes you stroll, and sometimes you run.
Ask your child: Is this song walking, running, or skipping?
Common mix-up: Kids often mix up tempo (speed) with loudness. A song can be fast and quiet, or slow and loud.
Examples
- Music for a chase scene in a cartoon usually has a fast tempo to feel exciting.
- Marching music has a steady, medium tempo that is easy to walk to.
tempo is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
