The term Legato indicates which articulation?

• A. Detached and separated
• B. Smooth and connected
• C. Very slow
• D. Play in the octave written

Answer: (B)

Legato is about smooth, connected phrasing. When you see legato, the goal is to make notes flow into each other with continuous air and minimal separation between attacks. On wind instruments, this means keeping the air steady and avoiding a noticeable rearticulation between notes; use a light touch on the tongue and rely on the breath to connect notes so the line feels like a single, flowing gesture. Legato lines are often indicated by a slur in notation, signaling that the notes should be played as one continuous phrase. This is why smooth and connected best describes the articulation. Detached and separated would imply short, separated attacks; very slow is a tempo instruction rather than articulation; playing in the octave written relates to pitch range, not how notes are connected. In practice, practice scales and passages with continuous air and minimal tonguing to cultivate a true legato feel.