The contrast of loud and soft (quiet) is important in shaping a performance.
Dynamics is the musical term for how a musician varies loudness. When printed, dynamics are written below the stave with symbols and words in bold italics.
In a score, each part can have its own dynamics, whereas tempo/character markings apply to the whole score. As with character and tempo markings, symbols are based on Italian words.
The following list shows the most commonly used dynamics. The default dynamic, when nothing is written, is mf (mezzo forte), or moderately loud.
Dynamics Flyover
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