Chip off the old block
Teacher: You have a ‘poco rallentando’ here. Do you know that that means?
Student: No.
Teacher: Well you know what ‘poco’ means.
Student: Little.
Teacher: Yes. Good! Now the rallentando – that means very gradually slowing down.
Student: Well then why isn’t it ritardando?
Teacher: Good question! Ritardando means gradually slowing down. But rallentando is a bigger gradual slowing down.
Student: So, rallentando is like, … ritardando’s dad?
Teacher: (laughs)
Student: Yeah! Ritardando’s pops!
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