There is more to the note than just the sound or the tone it represents. Music can be played or sung at varying levels of volume and in music there is a simple system for indicating how loud or soft music should be performed. In music theory these indications are known as dynamics. Dynamics are represented primarily by the letter symbols; F and P. These letters stand for Italian music terms; forte meaning loud, and piano meaning soft.
Common Dynamics
When these specific symbols appear below the staff in a piece of music, they indicate that the specific notes in a given section should be played at the respective volume, loud or soft. Dynamics however can also indicate to what degree of volume the notes may be played. For instance, if you wish for a part to be moderately loud, you would indicate this with the letters “mf” which stands for mezzo forte. In the same fashion, you could have a part be moderately soft by indicating the letters “mp” which stands for mezzo piano. Therefore, volume can be played to multiple levels instead of simply loud or soft.
Another form of dynamics can be used to indicate that a transition from a degree of volume can occur. This is done by using symbols know as crescendo, meaning gradually louder and decrescendo, meaning gradually softer. This allows for parts of the piece to build or diminish in volume between specific sections and can be used to accentuate a grand or subtle part of the song .
Crescendo to loud, and decrescendo to a softer volume
