Tempo and Dynamics in Music
Grade 2 · Music · Study Guide
Learn how musicians use tempo and dynamics to make music fast, slow, loud, and soft.
Music has two important qualities called tempo and dynamics. These help musicians perform music with feeling and expression.
Tempo is how fast or slow music is played. A fast tempo means the beats come quickly, like in a racing or exciting song. A slow tempo means the beats are spread out, like in a lullaby or a sad song. Musicians use Italian words to describe tempo. Allegro means fast and lively. Andante means at a walking pace, which is medium speed. Largo means very slow.
Dynamics is how loud or soft the music is. When music is very loud, we say it is forte, which is the Italian word for strong or loud. When music is very soft, we say it is piano, which means soft or quiet in Italian. If the music gets gradually louder, that is called a crescendo. If it gets gradually softer, that is called a decrescendo.
Musicians change tempo and dynamics to tell a story or create a feeling. A thunderstorm in music might be loud and fast. A lullaby is soft and slow. Together, tempo and dynamics are two of the most important tools a composer uses to express emotion in music.
Key terms
- Tempo
- How fast or slow music is played
- Dynamics
- How loud or soft music is
- Forte
- Italian word meaning loud
- Piano
- Italian word meaning soft or quiet
- Allegro
- Italian word for fast and lively tempo
- Crescendo
- Music gradually getting louder
Flashcards
- Tempo
- How fast or slow music is played
- Dynamics
- How loud or soft the music sounds
- Allegro
- Fast and lively tempo
- Andante
- Medium, walking-pace tempo
- Largo
- Very slow tempo
- Forte
- Loud — from the Italian word for strong
- Piano
- Soft and quiet — an Italian word
- Crescendo
- Music gradually becoming louder
- Decrescendo
- Music gradually becoming softer
Questions
What does tempo describe in music?
- How loud or soft the music is
- How fast or slow the music is played
- What instruments are playing
- The name of the song
Show answer
Answer: How fast or slow the music is played
Tempo describes the speed of music — how fast or slow the beats are.
Forte means the music should be played softly.
Show answer
Answer: False
Forte means loud. Piano is the Italian word meaning soft or quiet.
What is the Italian word for fast and lively music?
- Andante
- Largo
- Allegro
- Piano
Show answer
Answer: Allegro
Allegro is an Italian musical term meaning fast and lively.
When music gradually gets louder, it is called a ______.
Show answer
Answer: crescendo
A crescendo is when music gradually becomes louder over time.
A lullaby would likely be played at a slow tempo and softly.
Show answer
Answer: True
A lullaby is meant to help someone sleep, so it is typically slow and soft.
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