Poco accelerando

As Printed on a Score

Usually printed as poco accel. above the staff where the slight quickening begins; it often lasts only a bar or two and is cancelled by a rit., a tempo or a new tempo word.

Abbreviations: poco accel.

How Composers Use It

A small, local push in tempo — the kind of breathing a singer or pianist does inside a phrase — written down. It is common in songs, where it helps a line move toward its high point before a rit. relaxes it. Keep it short and pair it with its release; a long poco accel. without a goal tends to turn into a general rush.

Example

Lili Boulanger, Clairières dans le ciel, “Demain fera un an”, piano, m. 3: “poco accel.”, answered by “rit.” in the next bar and “a tempo” in the bar after.

Related Terms