What follows a fermata in music notation?

In music notation, a fermata indicates that the note or rest should be held longer than its usual duration. Following a fermata, the performer typically returns to the normal duration of the note or rest. This practice allows for a moment of pause and emphasis, after which the music resumes its standard flow.

While the other options might seem plausible in certain contexts, they do not universally apply after a fermata. For instance, indicating a rest after a fermata would typically only occur if the fermata was placed over a rest. Similarly, a dynamic change, such as a sudden crescendo or diminuendo, is not a required consequence of a fermata; it simply implies a sustained length. A tempo increase would also not directly follow a fermata, as the fermata itself signifies a suspension of tempo. Therefore, returning to the normal duration of the note following a fermata is the most accurate representation of what occurs after this notation.