Dynamics with Björk!

Dynamics - Forte/Piano: Teacher Notes

Earlier this year I talked with my students about dynamics and the different vocabulary words that we use to describe what we hear:  piano, mezzo piano, mezzo forte, forte, etc.  Kids loved learning the terms and so this video is a way for them to test out their knowledge and describe what they hear.

What I share with kids:

You might remember that earlier this year we talked about the vocabulary word Dynamics. We use the word dynamics to explain the volume of a sound:  how loud or soft it is.  Piano means quiet and Forte means lous.  Mezzo is a word that means something like "a little bit."  When you add mezzo to piano you mean a little quiet.  And when you add mezzo to forte you get a little loud.  Here are some of the dynamics we talked about:

Fortissimo - Very loud
Forte - Loud
Mezzo Forte - A little loud
Mezzo Piano - A little quiet
Piano - Quiet
Pianissimo - Very Quiet

Watch the video below to listen for changes in dynamics.

What changes in dynamics did you hear in this video?  The singer, Björk, would change from one dynamic to another.  Which dyanmics do you think best describe the way that she sang?  Did you hear a pattern?  Use the space below to describe what you heard.