Dynamics & Musical Terms

What are dynamics?

Poll

What do you know about DYNAMICS?

• Everything

• Something

• Nada

• ...what are dynamics?

Dynamics:

• In life: Characterized by constant change, energetic and active

• In music: the volume of a sound or note

• Also can and will change

Poll

Would you rather:

• Listen to a teacher talk in the same volume and speed?

• Listen to a teacher who energetically speaks?

Four Main Dynamic Terms in Music

• Piano

• Forte

• Mezzo

• -issimo

Piano

Soft

Forte

Strong, loud.

-issimo

Suffix (end of word) that means "very"

Ex: Pianissimo means very soft.

Pianissimo

"Very Soft"

Fortissimo

"Very Strong"

Multiple Choice

Piano (p) means

• Soft

• Very soft

• Very very soft

Multiple Choice

Pianissimo (pp) means

• Soft

• Very very soft

• Very soft

Multiple Choice

Pianississimo (ppp) means

• Very very soft

• Very soft

• soft

Multiple Choice

Forte (f) means

• Loud

• Very loud

• Very very loud

Multiple Choice

Fortissimo (ff) means

• Loud

• Very loud

• Very very loud

Multiple Choice

Fortississimo (fff) means

• Loud

• Very loud

• Very very loud

Mezzo

Half, middle, or medium

Mezzo Piano

Medium Soft

Mezzo Forte

Medium Strong

Multiple Choice

Mezzo piano (mp) means

• Very soft

• Medium soft

• Soft

Multiple Choice

Mezzo forte (mf) means

• Very loud

• Medium loud

• Loud

To make it more interesting....

• We use symbols to express changes in the music WHILE we are playing.

• These symbols require us to change volumes while playing!

Crescendo

• Start at certain volume and get stronger!

• 
  

Decrescendo

Start at marked volume and get softer

Multiple Choice

Crescendo (cresc.) means

• (Gradually) getting louder

• (Gradually) getting lower

• (Gradually) getting softer

Multiple Choice

Decrescendo (decresc.) means

• (Gradually) getting louder

• (Gradually) getting softer

• (Gradually) getting faster