Answer key

Dynamics & Accents

Every answer, with the reason. 14 questions.

  1. What does pp stand for, and what does it mean?

    pianissimo — very soft

    Doubling pushes a marking outward and m pulls it back toward the middle.

  2. What does p stand for, and what does it mean?

    piano — soft

    Doubling pushes a marking outward and m pulls it back toward the middle.

  3. What does mp stand for, and what does it mean?

    mezzo piano — medium soft

    Doubling pushes a marking outward and m pulls it back toward the middle.

  4. What does mf stand for, and what does it mean?

    mezzo forte — medium loud

    Doubling pushes a marking outward and m pulls it back toward the middle.

  5. What does f stand for, and what does it mean?

    forte — loud

    Doubling pushes a marking outward and m pulls it back toward the middle.

  6. What does ff stand for, and what does it mean?

    fortissimo — very loud

    Doubling pushes a marking outward and m pulls it back toward the middle.

  7. Which is louder, pp or p?

    p

    The ladder runs softest to loudest, so the later marking is the louder one.

  8. Which is louder, p or mp?

    mp

    The ladder runs softest to loudest, so the later marking is the louder one.

  9. Which is louder, mp or mf?

    mf

    The ladder runs softest to loudest, so the later marking is the louder one.

  10. Which is louder, mf or f?

    f

    The ladder runs softest to loudest, so the later marking is the louder one.

  11. Which is louder, f or ff?

    ff

    The ladder runs softest to loudest, so the later marking is the louder one.

  12. What does sfz ask for?

    sforzando — one note, suddenly strong

    Both act on one note rather than on the passage.

  13. What does fp ask for?

    forte-piano — loud attack, instantly soft

    Both act on one note rather than on the passage.

  14. A bar is marked mf and the third note carries an accent. How loud is the fourth note?

    mf

    An accent changes one note. The passage does not get louder.