Which term means 'little by little'?

• A. Moderato
• B. Più mosso
• C. Prestissimo
• D. Poco a Poco

Answer: (D)

In music, tempo markings guide how fast to play and how a tempo might change. Poco a poco means little by little, signaling a gradual, incremental change in tempo over a passage. It tells you to ease into or out of a tempo step by step, rather than sticking to a constant speed.

The other terms indicate more specific, standalone speeds rather than gradual changes. Moderato is a steady, moderate tempo. Più mosso means more movement, i.e., faster. Prestissimo means as fast as possible. None of these convey the idea of gradually changing tempo, which is why poco a poco is the best choice.