Dynamics. We all know the markings: pp, p, mp, mf, f, ff. As young musicians we are taught that pp means to play at the softest level while ff means to play at the loudest, along with all the levels in between. It wasn’t until I was into my late 20’s that I realized, most of the time, dynamic markings had very little to do with volume.
Whether you’re a wind player in a band or a string player in an
When playing a solo such as a sonata or concerto, a chamber work, or even a solo in a large ensemble, you must look at dynamic markings in a different light. When confronted with any dynamic marking, consider how you are playing the notes, instead of how loud you are playing them. Younger musicians often struggle with piano. I coach my students to refrain from looking at a piano marking as a restriction or ceiling on their interpretation. You can do anything in piano that you can do in forte as long as it’s done with a “piano quality”. Here are some things to think about when playing piano other than playing soft:
Band directors often chastise soloists in their bands with the quip, “A solo does not mean to play so low it can‘t be heard.” Younger musicians often play too softly during solos marked piano. This is completely understandable considering most of the time students are told to blend and balance their tone and volume with the rest of their section. If students are taught early in their instruction that solo dynamics are entirely different than ensemble dynamics, it will go a long way towards their advancement as confident performers.
I’ve arrived at the point where I no longer have a fixed response to dynamic markings. Every piece of music is different. Forte in one piece can sound completely different than forte in another. I challenge myself to experiment with the various qualities that dynamic markings imply aside from volume. When you next encounter a “p” or an “f” in a piece, I encourage you stop thinking of how loud you are playing and instead start thinking of how are you are playing.
By Joe Pinto, Clarinet Instructor at Hunterdon Academy of the Arts