Dynamics... how to improve ?

[drooxy]

Hello everyone,

I would like to concentrate much more on dynamics than what I have done until now !

I think this is an exercise that can be done while playing scales - that make them more interesting and... more musical ! - so that is what I am doing right now (both hands decresc., RH cresc. while LH plays piano, etc., etc.).

(as a remark about scales, I also noticed that it is very nice (in terms of sensation) to play the scales downward LH and upward RH and vice versa when returning to the initial tonics... I think it helps my LH learn from the RH... any comment on that remark ?).

Now, coming back to the dynamics, is there a particular way to identify - at least - pp, p, mf, f and  ff ? All these are relative notions and I would like to know how you guys go with them ?


Thanks in advance !
Drooxy

[greyrune]

I like the idea of playing scales with dynamics, i never thought of that.  You could try and play a crescendo on RH and diminuendo on LH and vice versa, that might well help, both with dynamics and independance.  One thing i do when playing scales, similar to playing them in opposite dierections is to play them in a kind of canon, first a third apart then a fouth then a fitfth, it does help.

As for determining what is p and what's f.  I've always found them by feeling more than anything else.  If you just think of the volume you would normaly play scales without thinking as mf and work from there i guess thet'd probably work out about right.