VERY basic dynamic signs

ff = Very Loud
f = Loud
mf = Moderately Loud
mp= Moderately Soft
p = Soft
pp = Very Soft

Simple hey?

I ignore those and play with my own dynamics! lmaooooo.

Jesse wrote:I ignore those and play with my own dynamics! lmaooooo.

lol well I wouldn't suggest that if you ever play in a competition! ^_^ unless you play only baroque music

When I first started, I tended to ignore them as well. Well I was just playing those easy baroque pieces back then. Though they still did have those dynamic markings. lol

I started working on more Romantic pieces this year. And boy, it's hard to just ignore the dynamics. My prof also taught me that unlike in Baroque I can put more of my own interpretations in Romantic pieces. Like making certain phrases into crescendos even if the sheet music doesn't have the marking. (You talked about this in one of your lessons Andrew) Making the accompaniment (left hand) sound softer than the melody. (i.e. playing the left hand piano and right hand mezzo piano) This also goes not just for Romantic pieces but also some pop, game, etc. music.

It might be pain to some adding in these little details in to their playing. But it all adds up and you can actually hear the difference. If you have a keyboard that records your playing or if you can record yourself in some way try playing your piece with both hands in the same loudness throughout the whole song. Then trying to play the same song with dynamics, and such. Or listen to like an official recording of it or something

Dalirus wrote:I first started I tended to ignore them as well. Well I was just playing those easy baroque pieces back then. Though they still did have those dynamic markings. lol

I started working on more Romantic pieces this year. And boy, it's hard to just ignore the dynamics. My prof also taught me that unlike in Baroque I can put more of my own interpretations in Romantic pieces. Like making certain phrases into crescendos even if the sheet music doesn't have the marking. (You talked about this in one of your lessons Andrew) Making the accompaniment (left hand) sound softer than the melody. (i.e. playing the left hand piano and right hand mezzo piano) This also goes not just for Romantic pieces but also some pop, game, etc. music.

It might be pain to some adding in these little details in to their playing. But it all adds up and you can actually hear the difference. If you have a keyboard that records your playing or if you can record yourself in some way try playing your piece with both hands in the same loudness throughout the whole song. Then trying to play the same song with dynamics, and such. Or listen to like an official recording of it or something

Yup you're right, you want to have proper Melody vs Accompaniment balance. The RH usually gets the melody or in other words the interesting part. We want to draw the listeners to hear this part, so we make it slightly louder than the accompaniment. There are times when it's actually better to make the LH stand out more, as the LH gets the melody as well. This isn't just a classical rule, this is a general music rule, if you were listening to a Britteny Spears pop song, and they blasted the base guitar so loud and muffled britteny's voice so you couldn't even really hear it, that would get some complaints from people right? That's because Britteny would be singing the melody line in the piece, and the base would be playing the accompaniment. So it applies to all music everywhere today ^_^

Sorry for those who are Britney fans but I think it would just do a lot of good not hearing her...

But seriously ... how can you learn to control these strengths?? I think I am mostly hitting the piano with the same strong force. If I dont hit it enough than the piano might not even give a sound... I push down and nothing...
What am I doing wrong? Is it the piano's fault? (Poor little thing is like a 100 years old)
A little different question... can you change the dynamics on a keyboard?

maggiekedves wrote:Sorry for those who are Britney fans but I think it would just do a lot of good not hearing her...

But seriously ... how can you learn to control these strengths?? I think I am mostly hitting the piano with the same strong force. If I dont hit it enough than the piano might not even give a sound... I push down and nothing...
What am I doing wrong? Is it the piano's fault? (Poor little thing is like a 100 years old)
A little different question... can you change the dynamics on a keyboard?

Yes, you can control the sound of the keys, but the quality of the piano will effect how well you can control them. You just need to remember that the speed at which the hammer strikes the string inside the piano is what controls the volume of the note. You don't necessarily have to push HARDER just faster.

About playing two different dynamic levels, try standing up, put ALL your weight on your right foot, and then just softly drag your left foot across the floor, as you can it's a lighter feeling, now try jumping up and landing SOFTLY with your left foot at the same time you land hard with your right foot, so that your weight is 10% LF and 90% RF. It's the same idea on the piano. You want to feel like you're heavier on one side.

My keyboard suffers the "loss of dynamics", but I use to push keys harder when the song is supposed to become louder...
I just think it sound better, but it doesnt..

Atleast I'll be able to transfer my dynamics to the ProKeys 88 when I get it.

VictorCS wrote:My keyboard suffers the "loss of dynamics", but I use to push keys harder when the song is supposed to become louder...
I just think it sound better, but it doesnt..

Atleast I'll be able to transfer my dynamics to the ProKeys 88 when I get it.

Yea, keyboards can be tough like that!

Once you get your new one you'll cry with happyness (happy tears)

Admin Andrew wrote:Yes, you can control the sound of the keys, but the quality of the piano will effect how well you can control them. You just need to remember that the speed at which the hammer strikes the string inside the piano is what controls the volume of the note. You don't necessarily have to push HARDER just faster.

About playing two different dynamic levels, try standing up, put ALL your weight on your right foot, and then just softly drag your left foot across the floor, as you can it's a lighter feeling, now try jumping up and landing SOFTLY with your left foot at the same time you land hard with your right foot, so that your weight is 10% LF and 90% RF. It's the same idea on the piano. You want to feel like you're heavier on one side.

This weight image is very descriptive although I feel like it is harder to execute it for the hands. I know practice makes master... so I will try to use the idea. Thanks

i just want to ask somethin about this legato?
there are two notes lets say 2 "C" and they are
chained with this legato stuff ^_^
how do i play this notes?
will i press it 2times or just hold it like for example
they are both quarter notes and play it like half notes?

tnx..

asumarione wrote:i just want to ask somethin about this legato?
there are two notes lets say 2 "C" and they are
chained with this legato stuff ^_^
how do i play this notes?
will i press it 2times or just hold it like for example
they are both quarter notes and play it like half notes?

tnx..

Legato means "smoothly connected" or "tied together", which notes are to be played smoothly while transitioning to another note, ascending or descending. In musical notation the Slur symbol is what indicates Legato playing, which looks like:

thanks for answering the question jordan!

asumarione wrote:i just want to ask somethin about this legato?
there are two notes lets say 2 "C" and they are
chained with this legato stuff ^_^
how do i play this notes?
will i press it 2times or just hold it like for example
they are both quarter notes and play it like half notes?

tnx..

If the same note is connected by the line you're talking about, yes you do hold it for an equivalent of 2 quarter notes which is also equivalent to a half note.

tnx guys.

im now at lesson# 10
woooooohoooooo!

asumarione wrote:tnx guys.

im now at lesson# 10
woooooohoooooo!

Yay!

Admin Andrew wrote:ff = Very Loud
f = Loud
mf = Moderately Loud
mp= Moderately Soft
p = Soft
pp = Very Soft

Simple hey?

ff=fortzado
f=forte
mf=mesoforte
mp=mesopiano
p=piano
pp=piamisismo(?)
They all are italin acronynms if I am not mistaken. Vital to music and are some of the most commonly seen sign in the world of sheet music.

We got

fff's and ppp's to

Thomandy wrote:We got

fff's and ppp's to

Extremly loud as loud as possible!

asumarione wrote:tnx guys.

im now at lesson# 10
woooooohoooooo!

hahaha whoohooo? you stole my line