Questions regarding dynamics and tempo

[tyrfing]

Hello!

I'm relatively new to piano and I have a couple of questions.

First, when there's an acceleration/deceleration in the song, is there a good way to practice those while using a metronome without having to change the metronome midsong or getting out of sync from it?

Second regarding f(forte)/p(piano), when it's first an f followed by a p later, does the p mean 1 lower than f or does it mean 1 lower than normal?

Thanks in advance

[brogers70]

As far as I know there is no way to use a metronome to guide your accel/decel. Metronome will help you keep a steady tempo; it will give you a reference to know what the composer (or editor) thought the tempo should be; it will show you when  and where you might be unintentionally speeding up or slowing down, but it won't guide you through smooth tempo changes. I would not use the metronome overmuch. Eventually you have to learn to keep a steady pulse without it. It's useful for specific situations, but I don't think it's a great idea to get used to playing only with the metronome.

Piano and forte and pretty vague, just "loud" and "soft." A piano following a fortissimo might be either louder or softer or exactly the same as a piano following a mezzoforte. It all depends on the musical context and what you think sounds right.