What does accent mean in musical direction?

• A. End the phrase
• B. Emphasize the note
• C. Play the piece faster
• D. Increase tempo gradually

Answer: (B)

Accent in musical direction signals you should make the note stand out with a stronger, crisper attack. It’s about emphasis and articulation: you push a bit more air, engage a sharper tongue or rebound, and raise the dynamic just for that note so it clearly cuts through the surrounding notes. The goal is a defined onset that gives the phrase its rhythmic shape, not to end the phrase or to change how fast the music is played. In wind playing, this means a focused attack on the accented note while keeping the overall tempo and phrasing intact.