Beginner Piano Lesson #23
Playing with Expression: Dynamics and Feeling
By Lesson 23, you’ve likely learned basic notes, simple chords, and reading music. Now it’s time to make your playing sound more musical.
Today’s Focus: Dynamics
Dynamics are the volume changes in music.
Common symbols:
- p (piano) = soft
- mp (mezzo-piano) = moderately soft
- mf (mezzo-forte) = moderately loud
- f (forte) = loud
- < (crescendo) = gradually get louder
- > (diminuendo) = gradually get softer
Exercise 1: Five-Finger Scale
Place your right hand on C-D-E-F-G.
Play:
C – D – E – F – G – F – E – D – C
- Play softly (p).
- Play loudly (f).
- Start soft and gradually get louder to G.
- Start loud and gradually get softer back to C.
Exercise 2: Chord Practice
Play these chords slowly:
- C Major (C-E-G)
- F Major (F-A-C)
- G Major (G-B-D)
- C Major (C-E-G)
Try each chord:
- Softly
- Loudly
- With a smooth crescendo
Simple Song Exercise
Play:
C C G G
A A G
F F E E
D D C
(This is the opening of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.)
Play it once normally, then:
- First phrase soft
- Second phrase louder
- End softly
Practice Tip
A pianist doesn’t just play the correct notes—they tell a story. Even simple songs become beautiful when you vary the volume and expression.
Weekly Challenge
Play a familiar tune and use at least:
- One crescendo
- One diminuendo
- One soft section
- One loud section
Goal: Make the music sound expressive, not mechanical.
🎹 Happy practicing! Lesson #24 will introduce simple left-hand accompaniment patterns to make your songs sound fuller