Musical Expression

Musical expression is the art of playing or singing with a personal response to the music. At a practical level, this means making appropriate use of dynamics, phrasing, timbre and articulation to bring the music to life.​

​Articulation

Articulation in music meant to describe the markings and notations that determine how notes and phrases are supposed to be played.

The four articulation markings we will learn today is:

• Fermata

• Staccato

• ​Accent

• ​Legato

​Notes are played or sung connected and smoothly.

​​Legato

​

​Notes are played or sung short and separate.

​​Stacatto

​

​A note that is being played or sung longer than the normal duration.

​​Fermata

​

​Notes that are played or sung that is emphasized, stressed or attacked.

​​Accent

​

​Dynamics

Dynamics ​is how loud or soft the music is performed.

The six dynamic markings we will learn today is:

• Pianissimo

• Piano

• ​Mezzo piano

• Mezzo forte

• Forte

• Fortissimo ​

​Notes that are played or sung very softly.

​​Pianissimo

​

Notes that are played or sung softly. ​

​​Piano

​

​Notes that are played or sung medium soft.

​​Mezzo piano

​

​A note being played or sung very loudly.

​​Fortissimo

​

​A note being played or sung loudly.

​​Forte

​

A note being played or sung medium loudly. ​

​​Mezzo forte

​

​Tempo

​Tempo is how fast or slow the music is performed.

The six tempo markings we will learn today are:

• Largo ​

• Adagio ​

• Andante

• Moderato ​

• ​Allegro

• Presto ​