What does the tempo marking andante indicate?

• A. Very fast tempo
• B. Very slow tempo
• C. Fast, walking pace
• D. Moderately slow, walking pace

Answer: (D)

Tempo markings tell you how fast to play. Andante means at a walking pace—steady, relaxed, not rushed. It sits between the slower adagio and the quicker moderato, giving music a natural, human feel. That’s why the best description is moderately slow, walking pace. In practical terms, you’ll often hear andante around roughly 80 to 100 beats per minute, though exact speeds can vary a bit by piece. The other options describe speeds that don’t fit andante: very fast is a hurry-up tempo, very slow is well below a walking pace, and fast, walking pace would imply moving quicker than andante.