Dynamics
You can help make a performance more interesting by adding a range of dynamics - how loudly or quietly you play. Some pieces of music have specific dynamics marked and these should be followed with care.
The various types of dynamics are described using Italian words. These are almost always abbreviated into a shorter letter form to fit onto the sheet music.
The table below shows the main range of dynamics you would use in a performance:
You may come across a piece of music with no dynamics marked. In this case, you are free to add them appropriately.
Consider varying the dynamics in sections of your music which feature repetition, eg a loud section could be repeated quietly.
Some instruments, like the classical guitar, are naturally quiet and may need amplification to make them heard in a large ensemble.
Louder instruments, like the trumpet, may be used with mutes in order to play more quietly in passages that require a different tone colour.
Listen to the examples of a trumpet played without and with a mute to hear how the dynamics are affected.
Unmuted trumpet
Muted trumpet