Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 11
- OCR
Understanding dynamics and articulation
I can identify dynamics, dynamic changes and different types of articulation accurately.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
- Year 11
- OCR
Understanding dynamics and articulation
I can identify dynamics, dynamic changes and different types of articulation accurately.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Dynamics and articulation have a big impact on musical mood and character.
- The most common dynamics are piano (p) and forte (f).
- Dynamic changes are indicated with crescendo, diminuendo and subito (sudden) and poco a poco (little by little).
- Staccato and legato (slurred) are the most common types of articulation.
- Different kinds of articulation include accents, tenuto, marcato and sforzando.
Keywords
Crescendo - when the dynamics gradually increase, getting louder
Diminuendo - when the dynamics gradually decrease, getting quieter
Accented - a note that is emphasised, shown with this symbol: >
Sforzando - a sudden, loud type of accent, marked with the abbreviation sfz
Tenuto - a note that is held for its full length, though still detached from surrounding notes
Common misconception
There is only one type of accent.
The regular accent is the most common, but composers often indicate more specific articulation by using other accents such as marcato and sforzando. These can be difficult to distinguish by ear, but as a performer you should be familiar with them.
To help you plan your year 11 music lesson on: Understanding dynamics and articulation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 music lesson on: Understanding dynamics and articulation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom.
Explore more key stage 4 music lessons from the Understanding metre, rhythm, dynamics and articulation unit, dive into the full secondary music curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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