Violin Online: Violin Lesson Six - Dynamics and Violin Music

Dynamics and the Violin

How do you play louder or softer on the violin? The same three elements discussed in lesson four about how to produce a good tone on the violin are also involved in dynamics. Experiment with the following three things to achieve the dynamics you want.

Bow placement
Bow pressure
Bow speed

Here are some ideas you can try as you experiement with dynamics:

If you want a Loud sound, place the bow close to the bridge and use heavy bow pressure. Experiment with how fast you need to pull the bow across the string to achieve the desired loudness.
If you want a Soft sound, place the bow closer to the fingerboard and use light bow pressure. Experiment with how fast you need to pull the bow across the string to achieve the desired softness.
If you want a Medium sound, place the bow on the string at the middle point between the bridge and the fingerboard and use medium bow pressure. Experiment with how fast you need to pull the bow across the string to achieve the desired medium level of sound.
As you're experimenting with dynamics, make sure your violin bow remains parallel to the bridge. This is called drawing the bow in a straight line.
Be sure to keep the level of your arm and bow constant while playing on different strings.

See the dynamics chart below for a brief overview of common dynamic symbols:

Dynamics Chart

Notation	Name	Definition
	Dynamics	Dynamics is a term that indicates the degree of loudness or softness in music. The following commonly used dynamic terms are listed in the order of softest to loudest.*
	Pianississimo	As soft as possible
	Pianissimo	Very soft
	Piano	soft
	Mezzo piano	Moderately soft
	Mezzo forte	Moderately loud
	Forte	loud
	Fortissimo	Very loud
	Fortississimo	As loud as possible

*Although dynamics softer than ppp or louder than fff are theoretically possible, in actual practice, they are rarely used.

Additional Dynamics

Notation	Name	Definition
	Crescendo	Crescendo (cresc.) means to gradually become louder.
	Diminuendo	Diminuendo (dim.) means to gradually become softer. The term decrescendo (decresc. or decr.) also means to become softer.
	Accent	Emphasize the note by playing forcefully.
	Sforzando	Play loudly with a sudden, forced emphasis.

LET'S TRY IT! The following piece, an arrangement of Spring from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, has the following dynamic symbols and terms: f = forte (loud); mf = mezzo forte (moderately loud); mp = mezzo piano (moderately soft); p = piano (soft); cresc.= crescendo (gradually become louder); dim. = diminuendo (gradually become softer). Notice how at the start of the piece, the first 6 measures should be played forte (loud), and the next 6 measures, featuring the same melody, should be played piano (soft). As you explore following the dynamic markings in the piece, see how they can enhance the musicality of this piece. Need to review how to finger the music? Visit our Violin Fingering - Lesson Two. To play more of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, visit our free sheet music section and to find out more about Vivaldi, visit our Violin Class.