Welcome back and today we will discuss another major element in ones technique that may improve your musical performance.
This post explains why the length of each note dictates its dynamic level.
Using again an example of a spoken sentence and how it mirrors musical interpretation, repeat the following-
“ When I get tired, I want to go home”.
If note values are assigned to each of these words, it would be something like this-
When I get– three pickup eighth notes leading to the next measure.
tired– dotted half on beats 1,2,3
I-one eighth note on the second half of the 4 beat in the first full measure
want– dotted quarter note
to– eighth note pickup to the last half of the beat
go– quarter note
home– whole note on beat one of last measure
The length of each word in a sentence has different lengths just as notes in musical phrases have length and importance. Some are passing words (notes) and some are final resting words (final resolution to finish a musical thought).
Generally the shorter the note the more you should intensify that note dynamically and the longer the note less stress or dynamic level should be used.
Now listen again to both recorded examples and notice the individual dynamic changes on the shorter notes and the longer, sustained notes.
Coupling the length of each note with its appropriate dynamic inflection works to enhance a musical phrase even more.
Remember- the shorter the note the higher the dynamic level and the longer the note use less volume.
