Preschoolers and the Dynamics of Forte & Piano!

Parenting Tip: Sing favorite songs in piano (quiet) and forte (loud) ways!

 

Why?

In music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a sound or note.  The term is also applied to the written or printed musical notation used to indicate dynamics.  Dynamics are important to the expressive power of music.  You do not need to be a musician to recognize that quiet lullabies evoke different emotions than a rousing march.

 The preschool child can experience dynamics through exposure to the opposing dynamics of loud ('forte') and quiet ('piano').  Listening to live and recorded quiet and loud sounds and music, moving in loud and quiet ways, and speaking and singing in loud and quiet voices will capture your child's attention and build a foundation for future musical understanding and expression using dynamics. 

 

How?

Ask your preschooler 'what is your favorite song to sing?'  Once they've answered, sing the song in both piano and forte ways.  Which does your child prefer?

Play a garden listening game!  After each sound, discuss whether that sound was 'forte' or 'piano.'  Once you've made a decision about that, sing the Kindermusik Hello song to that animal with a matching dynamic (quietly if 'piano,' and loudly if 'forte').

Play the Hickety Pickety Buttercup game (from Kindermusik's 'In My Garden' CD)!  Using a household noisemaker, or a musical instrument, play the game together.  (use dice or number cards to decide how many times to play the instrument, and use 'forte' and 'piano' cards to decide whether the player will use a piano or a forte dynamic to play the instrument).

Note: Consider only using the word "quiet" to describe a dynamic that would be considered "piano".  By avoiding the use of the word "soft" to describe what we also know to be "quiet", we are helping children differentiate concepts.  The word "soft" is often better reserved for texture, rather than sound.

 

Want to Learn More?

On our blog:  Read tips for Using Music to Engage Children in Mathematics (with advice on why dynamics can be an important part of that!)

 

Kindermusik 7-year Continuum:

As a baby, your child relied on you to play the instrument in loud and quiet ways, and to make loud and quiet vocal sounds to match musical cues.  In toddler classes, she began to find her own ways to be loud and quiet with her voice, her body, and classroom instruments.  Now, in preschool Kindermusik class, he is listening to musical cues to find out when to play loud or quiet, and she is making judgements about whether animals in our Kindermusik garden make loud or quiet sounds.  Also, they are learning the specific musical terms for quiet ('piano') and loud ('forte').  In Young Child classes, big kids use their knowledge of piano and forte to play their instruments with correct dynamics.  They also expand on that knowledge when they discover the terms 'crescendo' (getting louder) and 'decrescendo' (getting quieter).