- Definition
Dynamics in music are all about how loud or quiet the sounds are, like when music gets louder (crescendo) or softer (decrescendo).
Singing 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' very softly to be like a lullaby is an example of using quiet dynamics.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Dynamics are like using your 'inside voice' for quiet parts of a song and your 'outside voice' for the loud parts.
Ask your child: How can we sing this song to sound loud, then quiet?
Common mix-up: Kids may think a song is either all loud or all soft. Dynamics are about the contrast and changes in volume that make music interesting.
Examples
- Singing a song that starts quiet and gets louder for the chorus.
- Using a loud voice for a giant's part in a story and a quiet voice for a mouse.
dynamics is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
- Grade 1 The Arts
- Grade 2 The Arts
- Grade 3 The Arts
- Grade 4 The Arts
- Grade 5 The Arts
- Grade 6 The Arts
+4 more mentions across the curriculum
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 ↗
