Hurdy Gurdy:
An instrument similar to a violin but played by a rosined wheel turned by a crank. Notes are changed by pressing keys that depress the strings. Multiple drone strings make it sound similar to bagpipes.
Scale Degree:
A name for each note in the scale.
Tonic:
The first note in each octave of the scale. Also called the “root” or “center”.
Supertonic:
The second note in the scale. The name comes from the note being above or “super” the tonic.
Mediant:
The third note in the scale. It gets its name from being half-way between the tonic and the dominant.
Subdominant:
The fourth note in the scale. So called, because it is below, or “sub”, the dominant.
Dominant:
The fifth note of the scale. It is considered second in importance only to the tonic, hence “dominant.”
Submediant:
The sixth note in the scale. Its name comes from being halfway between the upper tonic and the subdominant.
Leading Tone:
The seventh note in the scale in major, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales. When played, it always sounds like it should “lead into” the tonic.
Subtonic:
The seventh note in the natural minor scale (identical to the Aeolian mode). The name is changed because it has less of a “leading” feel than the seventh note in major scales.
Falsetto:
Singing in a range that is one octave into the modal voice and above the modal voice.
Modal Voice:
The normal speaking register, based upon the pitches of various vowels. This means that modal voice and, thereby, falsetto differ by the spoken language of the song.
Bracket and Brace:
Visible structures used to combine multiple staves on sheet music, joining the staves together to signify they are to be played at the same time. Brackets are used to combine separate parts or instruments, as in an orchestral score combining all the different instruments on one sheet. Braces are used to combine different multiple parts for a single instrument, such as the right and left hand staves for a piano score.
Sources: http://www.musictheory.net/lessons/23 and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degree_(music)
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