ΓÇ£Little by littleΓÇ¥. As in, for example, ΓÇ£crescendo poco a pocoΓÇ¥. Getting louder little by little. (This is the instruction in RossiniΓÇÖs famous crescendo overtures.) Singers and instrumentalists tend to get too excited too soon. Composers and conductors do everything they can to hold them back.
