DYNAMICS and TEMPI
DYNAMICS
Dynamics are instructions that tell a musician how loudly they should play a particular passage of music. The terms we use most often come from Italian, because of the importance of Italian Opera in the late Baroque period (18th Century). They are usually written in shorthand directly underneath the note(s) they effect. For this exam, you are expected to know the following dynamic terms, and their symbols and abbreviations:
DYNAMICS EXERCISE 1
For each of the musical extracts below, write a description explaining how the player should interpret the dynamics .
For example:
"The first four bars of the piano part should be played very quietly (pianissimo). In the fifth bar there is a short crescendo, and the sixth bar should be played medium-loud (mezzo-forte).
EXTRACT 1
INFLUENZA BLUES
EXTRACT 2
UNKNOWN
EXTRACT 3
RACING AGAINST THE SUNSET
EXTRACT 4
POKEMON THEME
EXTRACT 5
SWAN LAKE
DYNAMICS EXERCISE 2 - WORKSHEET
DynamicsWorksheet.pdfTEMPO MARKINGS
Introduction to tempo
If you're unfamiliar with reading tempo markings in music, or you're not sure how they work, this is a great introduction to this subject.
Below is a list of some of the more common tempo markings in music. You will be expected to know all of these for this exam.
These terms can also be roughly translated into BPM (Beats Per Minute) markings. Here is an approximate guide:
