- Definition
Decrescendo means the music is gradually getting quieter, like a whisper fading away.
A singer holding a long note and making it fade away to a whisper is performing a decrescendo.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A decrescendo is like the sound of a music box as it winds down, with the notes getting softer and softer until they fade away.
Ask your child: Can you sing a note and make it get quieter and quieter?
Common mix-up: Kids often confuse getting quieter with getting slower. A decrescendo is only about the volume of the sound, not the speed of the music.
Examples
- A piano player playing a series of notes, with each one getting a little softer than the last.
- The end of a lullaby often gets quieter and quieter to help someone fall asleep.
decrescendo is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
