Slide 1

Musical Dynamics
By
Mr. Jeffrey Loren VanderKooi, M. Ed.

Musical Dynamics
• Dynamics are indicators of the relative
intensity or volume of a musical line.

Pianissimo
• Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a
piece of music.

Piano
• Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used
indication.

Mezzo-piano
• Mezzo-piano
Literally, half as soft as piano

Mezzo-forte
• Mezzo-forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. More
commonly used than mezzo-piano. Note: if
no dynamic appears, mezzo-forte is assumed
to be the prevailing dynamic level.

Forte
• Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate
contrast.

Fortissimo
• Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in
a piece.

Summary of Musical Dynamics
slide
1
 Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a
piece of music.
 Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used indication
Mezzo-piano
Literally, half as soft as piano

Summary of Musical Dynamics
slide 2
Mezzo-forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. More
commonly used than mezzo-piano
Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate
contrast.
Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in a
piece.


Slide 2

Musical Dynamics
By
Mr. Jeffrey Loren VanderKooi, M. Ed.

Musical Dynamics
• Dynamics are indicators of the relative
intensity or volume of a musical line.

Pianissimo
• Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a
piece of music.

Piano
• Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used
indication.

Mezzo-piano
• Mezzo-piano
Literally, half as soft as piano

Mezzo-forte
• Mezzo-forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. More
commonly used than mezzo-piano. Note: if
no dynamic appears, mezzo-forte is assumed
to be the prevailing dynamic level.

Forte
• Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate
contrast.

Fortissimo
• Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in
a piece.

Summary of Musical Dynamics
slide
1
 Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a
piece of music.
 Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used indication
Mezzo-piano
Literally, half as soft as piano

Summary of Musical Dynamics
slide 2
Mezzo-forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. More
commonly used than mezzo-piano
Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate
contrast.
Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in a
piece.


Slide 3

Musical Dynamics
By
Mr. Jeffrey Loren VanderKooi, M. Ed.

Musical Dynamics
• Dynamics are indicators of the relative
intensity or volume of a musical line.

Pianissimo
• Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a
piece of music.

Piano
• Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used
indication.

Mezzo-piano
• Mezzo-piano
Literally, half as soft as piano

Mezzo-forte
• Mezzo-forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. More
commonly used than mezzo-piano. Note: if
no dynamic appears, mezzo-forte is assumed
to be the prevailing dynamic level.

Forte
• Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate
contrast.

Fortissimo
• Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in
a piece.

Summary of Musical Dynamics
slide
1
 Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a
piece of music.
 Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used indication
Mezzo-piano
Literally, half as soft as piano

Summary of Musical Dynamics
slide 2
Mezzo-forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. More
commonly used than mezzo-piano
Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate
contrast.
Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in a
piece.


Slide 4

Musical Dynamics
By
Mr. Jeffrey Loren VanderKooi, M. Ed.

Musical Dynamics
• Dynamics are indicators of the relative
intensity or volume of a musical line.

Pianissimo
• Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a
piece of music.

Piano
• Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used
indication.

Mezzo-piano
• Mezzo-piano
Literally, half as soft as piano

Mezzo-forte
• Mezzo-forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. More
commonly used than mezzo-piano. Note: if
no dynamic appears, mezzo-forte is assumed
to be the prevailing dynamic level.

Forte
• Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate
contrast.

Fortissimo
• Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in
a piece.

Summary of Musical Dynamics
slide
1
 Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a
piece of music.
 Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used indication
Mezzo-piano
Literally, half as soft as piano

Summary of Musical Dynamics
slide 2
Mezzo-forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. More
commonly used than mezzo-piano
Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate
contrast.
Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in a
piece.


Slide 5

Musical Dynamics
By
Mr. Jeffrey Loren VanderKooi, M. Ed.

Musical Dynamics
• Dynamics are indicators of the relative
intensity or volume of a musical line.

Pianissimo
• Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a
piece of music.

Piano
• Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used
indication.

Mezzo-piano
• Mezzo-piano
Literally, half as soft as piano

Mezzo-forte
• Mezzo-forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. More
commonly used than mezzo-piano. Note: if
no dynamic appears, mezzo-forte is assumed
to be the prevailing dynamic level.

Forte
• Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate
contrast.

Fortissimo
• Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in
a piece.

Summary of Musical Dynamics
slide
1
 Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a
piece of music.
 Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used indication
Mezzo-piano
Literally, half as soft as piano

Summary of Musical Dynamics
slide 2
Mezzo-forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. More
commonly used than mezzo-piano
Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate
contrast.
Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in a
piece.


Slide 6

Musical Dynamics
By
Mr. Jeffrey Loren VanderKooi, M. Ed.

Musical Dynamics
• Dynamics are indicators of the relative
intensity or volume of a musical line.

Pianissimo
• Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a
piece of music.

Piano
• Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used
indication.

Mezzo-piano
• Mezzo-piano
Literally, half as soft as piano

Mezzo-forte
• Mezzo-forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. More
commonly used than mezzo-piano. Note: if
no dynamic appears, mezzo-forte is assumed
to be the prevailing dynamic level.

Forte
• Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate
contrast.

Fortissimo
• Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in
a piece.

Summary of Musical Dynamics
slide
1
 Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a
piece of music.
 Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used indication
Mezzo-piano
Literally, half as soft as piano

Summary of Musical Dynamics
slide 2
Mezzo-forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. More
commonly used than mezzo-piano
Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate
contrast.
Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in a
piece.


Slide 7

Musical Dynamics
By
Mr. Jeffrey Loren VanderKooi, M. Ed.

Musical Dynamics
• Dynamics are indicators of the relative
intensity or volume of a musical line.

Pianissimo
• Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a
piece of music.

Piano
• Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used
indication.

Mezzo-piano
• Mezzo-piano
Literally, half as soft as piano

Mezzo-forte
• Mezzo-forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. More
commonly used than mezzo-piano. Note: if
no dynamic appears, mezzo-forte is assumed
to be the prevailing dynamic level.

Forte
• Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate
contrast.

Fortissimo
• Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in
a piece.

Summary of Musical Dynamics
slide
1
 Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a
piece of music.
 Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used indication
Mezzo-piano
Literally, half as soft as piano

Summary of Musical Dynamics
slide 2
Mezzo-forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. More
commonly used than mezzo-piano
Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate
contrast.
Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in a
piece.


Slide 8

Musical Dynamics
By
Mr. Jeffrey Loren VanderKooi, M. Ed.

Musical Dynamics
• Dynamics are indicators of the relative
intensity or volume of a musical line.

Pianissimo
• Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a
piece of music.

Piano
• Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used
indication.

Mezzo-piano
• Mezzo-piano
Literally, half as soft as piano

Mezzo-forte
• Mezzo-forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. More
commonly used than mezzo-piano. Note: if
no dynamic appears, mezzo-forte is assumed
to be the prevailing dynamic level.

Forte
• Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate
contrast.

Fortissimo
• Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in
a piece.

Summary of Musical Dynamics
slide
1
 Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a
piece of music.
 Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used indication
Mezzo-piano
Literally, half as soft as piano

Summary of Musical Dynamics
slide 2
Mezzo-forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. More
commonly used than mezzo-piano
Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate
contrast.
Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in a
piece.


Slide 9

Musical Dynamics
By
Mr. Jeffrey Loren VanderKooi, M. Ed.

Musical Dynamics
• Dynamics are indicators of the relative
intensity or volume of a musical line.

Pianissimo
• Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a
piece of music.

Piano
• Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used
indication.

Mezzo-piano
• Mezzo-piano
Literally, half as soft as piano

Mezzo-forte
• Mezzo-forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. More
commonly used than mezzo-piano. Note: if
no dynamic appears, mezzo-forte is assumed
to be the prevailing dynamic level.

Forte
• Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate
contrast.

Fortissimo
• Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in
a piece.

Summary of Musical Dynamics
slide
1
 Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a
piece of music.
 Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used indication
Mezzo-piano
Literally, half as soft as piano

Summary of Musical Dynamics
slide 2
Mezzo-forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. More
commonly used than mezzo-piano
Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate
contrast.
Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in a
piece.


Slide 10

Musical Dynamics
By
Mr. Jeffrey Loren VanderKooi, M. Ed.

Musical Dynamics
• Dynamics are indicators of the relative
intensity or volume of a musical line.

Pianissimo
• Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a
piece of music.

Piano
• Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used
indication.

Mezzo-piano
• Mezzo-piano
Literally, half as soft as piano

Mezzo-forte
• Mezzo-forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. More
commonly used than mezzo-piano. Note: if
no dynamic appears, mezzo-forte is assumed
to be the prevailing dynamic level.

Forte
• Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate
contrast.

Fortissimo
• Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in
a piece.

Summary of Musical Dynamics
slide
1
 Pianissimo
Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a
piece of music.
 Piano
Soft. Usually the most often used indication
Mezzo-piano
Literally, half as soft as piano

Summary of Musical Dynamics
slide 2
Mezzo-forte
Similarly, half as loud as forte. More
commonly used than mezzo-piano
Forte
Loud. Used as often as piano to indicate
contrast.
Fortissimo
Very loud. Usually the loudest indication in a
piece.