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 April 13, 2019 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.