So far you have concentrated on the right notes at the right time. Now it is time to think about how they sound. Playing the same phrase loudly and then softly can turn a simple exercise into music. The markings that tell you how loud to play are called dynamics, and you will start with the two most important ones: p and f.
p and f
Dynamics are written as letters, usually in bold italic, and they come from Italian words:
- p stands for piano, which means soft.
- f stands for forte, which means loud (or strong).
The instrument itself takes its name from these words: its full name, pianoforte, describes an instrument that can play both soft and loud. Earlier keyboard instruments such as the harpsichord could not change their volume much with the touch of a finger, so this was a big deal.
A dynamic mark is written by the note where it starts. In piano music it usually sits just below the staff, as in the examples on this page. It stays in force until the next dynamic mark. If a piece starts with f, every note is loud until you see a p.
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How to play loudly
Loudness on a piano comes from how fast the key goes down, and the easiest way to make it go down faster is to use the weight of your arm rather than pushing with your fingers alone.
For f, let your arm be relaxed and heavy, and let its weight sink into the key through a firm fingertip. The finger acts like a strong support, not a hammer. Your shoulder and wrist stay loose. A good forte sounds full and rich, not harsh.
Avoid jabbing or hitting from high above the keys. That makes a hard, ugly sound and can strain your hand. Start with the fingertip touching the key, then let the weight drop.
How to play softly
For p, press the key gently and slowly, with only a little weight. Keep your fingertips in contact with the keys and use less movement. Think of stroking the key down rather than dropping into it.
The tricky part with soft playing is that if you press too gently, the note may not sound at all. Every note still needs to speak clearly; it just speaks quietly. Practise finding the softest sound that still sounds every time.
Echoes
An echo is the perfect way to practise dynamics: a loud phrase, then the same phrase repeated softly, as if it were bouncing back from far away.
The notes and rhythm are identical in both halves. Only the dynamic changes. Make the difference big enough that someone in the next room could tell which half was which.
Echo Song
The Academy piece for this lesson is Echo Song, which is built entirely from loud phrases and soft replies:
The second half of the piece starts loudly on G, steps down and back up, and ends with a soft answer that comes home to C.
How to practise
- Play middle C as softly as you can while still making a sound. Then as loudly as you comfortably can. Listen to the difference.
- Play the phrase C D E D C loudly, using arm weight. Then play it softly, with gentle fingertips.
- Play the echo exercise. Before the soft half, pause briefly in your mind and imagine how quiet it should be.
- Play Echo Song, a phrase at a time. Exaggerate the contrast at first; you can refine it later.
- Record yourself on a phone and listen back. The difference between f and p often sounds smaller on a recording than it felt while playing.
A note about keyboards
On an acoustic piano and on most digital pianos and MIDI keyboards, the key responds to how fast you press it. Some very cheap keyboards are not touch-sensitive and play every note at the same volume. If yours is like that, you can still practise the arm and finger movements, and you will be ready when you play a touch-sensitive instrument. The guide to using a MIDI keyboard explains how to check whether yours responds to touch.
Common mistakes
- Notes disappearing in p. If you press too slowly, some notes will not sound. Keep each one clear.
- A difference too small to hear. Beginners often play "a bit loud" and "a bit soft". Make it obvious.
- Changing speed with volume. Keep the beat steady from f to p.
- Tense shoulders. Loud playing should still feel relaxed. If your shoulders rise, start again with less effort.
Try it in Pianuvo
This lesson sits in Unit 3: Hands together, eighth notes, p and f. You hear a phrase played f and then p, play it both ways yourself, try echo phrases and then learn Echo Song. With a touch-sensitive MIDI keyboard the Academy measures how hard you press each key; with the on-screen keys or a real piano and microphone you practise the same phrases and judge the contrast by ear.