Hobbies Playing Music Alla Breve Italian Musical Terms Share PINTEREST Email Print Jamie Grill/Getty Images Playing Music Playing Piano Tutorials Piano Chords Buying Advice Music Education Playing Guitar Home Recording By Brandy Kraemer Updated on 04/13/19 The Italian musical phrase alla breve (lit. “to the breve” - where breve refers to a half-note) is an indication to play in cut time. Alla breve has the 2/2 time signature, in which one beat = half-note. The effect of alla breve is to change the pace slightly while retaining the song's rhythmic integrity. Also Known As: cut time; half time; "playing in 2" à deux temps rapide; à la blanche (Fr) Allabreve; Takt in Halben Noten (Ger) Pronunciation ah'-lah BRAY-vay Helpful Info For Owning a Piano Learn How to Safely Whiten Your Piano KeysLearn ivory-safe methods for brightening up your acoustic piano keys, and find out what you can do to prevent keyboard yellowing.Know When to Tune a PianoFind out when (and how frequently) you should be scheduling a professional piano tuning to keep your piano healthy, on-pitch, and lengthen its playing life.Ideal Piano Temp & Humidity LevelsLearn how to maintain sound quality and piano health by monitoring the temperature, humidity, and natural light in your piano room.