In musical terminology, tempo refers to the speed or pace of a given composition, and is usually measured in beats per minute (BPM) . It is typically indicated with an instruction at the start of a piece, often using conventional Italian terms such as largo, presto, or allegro. In modern classical compositions, a "metronome mark" in beats per minute may supplement or replace the normal tempo marking, while in modern genres like electronic dance music, tempo will typically simply be stated in BPM.
While the ability to hold a steady tempo is a vital skill for a musical performer, tempo is changeable. Depending on the genre of a piece of music and the performers interpretation, a piece may be played with slight tempo rubato or drastic variances.
In addition to its musical definition, "a tempo" is a direction in music that means to return to the original tempo after a deviation, such as a ritardando (gradual slowing down) or accelerando (gradual speeding up) .
