What does Poco indicate?

• A. Very little
• B. Little by little
• C. A little
• D. Little

Answer: (D)

Poco signals a small amount or degree in music. It acts as an adverb that tempers a dynamic or tempo, telling you to apply the change only slightly. Because of that, the closest single-word translation is "Little." For example, poco cresc. means a gentle, modest crescendo; poco rit. means a light slowing. Phrases like poco a poco mean gradually little by little, which is a different construction that indicates progression rather than the initial small amount itself. The other options point to meanings that aren’t conveyed by the standalone term poca, which is all about a modest, subtle adjustment.