Poco a poco indicates which?

• A. A little gradually
• B. Slowly
• C. Gradually speeding up (tightening)
• D. Maintains tempo

Answer: (C)

Poco a poco signals a gradual change in tempo, literally meaning “little by little.” In performance, it tells you to speed up in small steps, a slow but steady increase as the music unfolds. This is why the best description is gradually speeding up, with the idea of the tempo tightening as you go and often leading into an accelerando or a new quicker tempo. It isn’t simply “a little” or “slowly,” and it isn’t about keeping the same tempo. You’d use poco a poco when you want a gentle push toward a faster pace, evolving the tempo rather than holding it constant.