Dynamics Lesson

Dynamics
loud and soft

In music 'Dynamics' are differences in volume that you can hear.  Musicians use dynamics to know how loud of soft they should be singing or playing their instrument. Watch the video below to become a dynamics expert!


Click on the link below to watch video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f96k2siTTpA&t=201s



Lets review what we learned in the video:

'Piano' means soft. It is usually written like this: p

'Mezzo-Piano' means medium-soft. It is usually written like this: mp

'Mezzo-forte' means medium loud. It is usually written like this: mf

'Forte' means loudIt is usually written like this: 
f


Lets use our new knowledge! Try singing the song 'Yankee Doodle' below.  Notice each line has a different dynamic written above it, which means each line will be a different volume.  Good luck!

                                                               
Yankee Doodle came to town riding on a pony

mp                                                                 
Stuck a feather in his hat and called it macaroni

mf                                                                 
Yankee Doodle keep it up, Yankee Doodle dandy

                                                                            
Mind the music and the step and with the girls be handy


Did you start the song softly and then get louder?  Do you remember from the video what thats called, when you gradually get louder? I wrote the correct answer at the bottom of this page, so think about it and then scroll down to check your answer. Now try singing the song this way: (its a little bit trickier)


                                                                
Yankee Doodle came to town riding on a pony

mp                                                                 
Stuck a feather in his hat and called it macaroni

mf                                                                 
Yankee Doodle keep it up, Yankee Doodle dandy

p                                                                            
Mind the music and the step and with the girls be handy


Just for fun:

Pick your favorite song that you learned in music class this year.  Write the words down.  Now write dynamics into it and experiment until you find a way you like to sing it!



The answer to the question was 'crescendo.'