‘Changes of dynamics’ a game for piano beginners by Piano Comics

Want to teach changes of dynamics in piano effectively and have students get it in the first try?

Use an intriguing and funny game.

But first, spend 10 minutes of the piano lesson to show the basics. What is a change of dynamic?

Make up a sentence or play a phrase on the piano doing crescendo. Then ask the student, make them think and take initiative in explaining in their own way , what it is you did. The answers are almost always correct and logical ( ex you raised your voice/ force with which you played, you went playing harder and louder etc ) . But then make sure to make the distinction that the change was gradual and not sudden. Same thing for diminuendo. Examples I like to use are: 1. Let’s cross the street. Look both ways! ( crescendo ) 2. Mom is at the door. Quick! Let’s hide upstairs. ( diminuendo ) . Give the opportunity to be clear in the change by starting quite loud when you want to make a diminuendo and soft when you decide to do the crescendo. Finally, move to the piano. Show a phrase , it can be as simple as do,re,mi,fa,sol ( c, d, e f, g ) and practice both changes. I prefer to start with the speech because kids are experienced in speaking far more years ( since like ….1.5 , 2 years old ) than playing the piano ( or any other music instrument ) so it will click in their brain easier, faster. And if their brain gets it, then it just has to pass that information onto the fingers or voice.

Now the game! 

Change everything in the opposite way. How? Make up sentences that the natural order would be to make a crescendo while you finish them but instead of crescendo make a diminuendo. Example I tell them: You and your friend are walking down the street and all of sudden you see a branch that breaks and is about to fall onto his head. So, you say to him: ‘Be carefull! A  branch will fall on your head. ‘ The normal way of saying this is making a crescendo because you don’t want your friend to hit his head. But now?! Try and say this while making diminuendo!

Or: ‘Don’t be loud. The baby is sleeping.’ Try and say this while making a crescendo.

Just the laughter these non-natural changes bring to students will make them never forget these words and their symbols. Finally, ask your students to come up with their own sentences that sound funny when used with an unnatural change in dynamic.

For more games like this, as well as learning the tempos, their changes, articulation forms, semitones and tones, sharps and flats, drawing and matching pages, easy, short pieces with funny lyrics get the ‘Workbook Sheet Music’ by Piano Comics for piano beginners and preschoolers ( as young as 4 ) . This 64 page material teaches and trains basic music theory and piano skills to young beginners effectively. Because learning with fun is learning that lasts. This game is also suitable for a music classroom!

Download the 6 free samples from each chapter: