First-time bar (prima volta)
The first bracket at repeats.
What it means
Prima volta (Italian for "first time") is the first bracket at repeats. The bars under this bracket, which is numbered "1.", are played only on the first pass. On the second pass they are skipped and one goes directly to the second bracket, the seconda volta ("2."), which ends the section.
In the notation
Above the staff stands a square bracket with the numeral 1. At the end of the first bracket stands the repeat sign, which leads back to the beginning of the section. The second bracket "2." follows it and has no repeat sign. Sometimes there are further brackets for a third or fourth pass.
Musical use
The brackets avoid having to write out the section twice when only the ending is different. They are found in songs, dances, marches, piano pieces and jazz standards. The first bracket often ends with an open turn that leads into the repeat, the second with a real close.
The prima volta should be distinguished from the simple repeat sign, in which the whole section is repeated identically, and from da capo or dal segno, which refer back to another place in the piece.
Performance practice
On the first pass you play the prima volta, on the second you skip it. Memorise before playing which bars belong to which bracket so that you turn off together in the ensemble.