Here are a few common performance directions found in piano music, and how to interpret them in order to add expression to your playing.
Agitato - agitated, restless. To achieve this you would need to increase the tempo and aim for a more hurried sound to the music. It needs to feel the opposite of tranquil, so perhaps some unsettled and changeable dynamics could also contribute to the effect.
Animato - animated, lively. This needs to sound enthusiastic and energetic. Again, an increase in tempo can help, as well as bold, decisive dynamics and confidence of touch and tone.
Cantabile - in a singing manner. When applied to piano music, this means to bring out the melody, to ensure it sings out above the accompaniment. For example, if the right hand is playing a melody and the left hand is playing a chordal accompaniment, you need to make sure the right hand is playing louder than the left hand, and that the left hand is quiet enough to not drown out the melody. It helps if you focus on the sound of the melody and imagine singing it. Some people also find it helpful to slightly lean into the hand that is playing the melody, putting more weight into it. If you are not used to playing one hand louder than the other, this can be hard to achieve at first - it demands extremely good coordination. It may be helpful to practise a very simple exercise on the piano where you just play the same notes in both hands, one octave apart, and concentrate on making one hand louder than the other. This can help to develop the coordination and technique required, which can then be applied to the piece where cantabile playing is indicated.
Con brio - with vigour. This needs to sound full of energy and spirit, with plenty of momentum. A strong sense of rhythm with accents on strong beats or emphasis of syncopation helps increase the momentum, as well as a fast, forward moving tempo and bold dynamics.
Dolce - sweetly. A soft and gentle tone produced by a light touch, cantabile playing, and sensitive shaping of lyrical melodies will help to create a sweet sound.
Espressivo - expressively. Extensive use of dynamics, attention to phrasing and artistic use of rubato help to make a piece more expressive.
Forzando (or sforzando) - with sudden force. This needs to be strongly emphasised with plenty of weight in the forearm to produce the feeling of attack on the forzando note and sudden loudness.
Grazioso - gracefully. The performance needs to be composed and controlled with gentle expression and tidy but forward moving rhythm. A fluid and effortless sound helps to convey elegance, so knowing the piece inside out and having well established technique is important.
Largamente - broadly. This means to play slowly and give plenty of space to the beats. A full and stately sound is appropriate here.
Marcato - emphatic, accented. The music should be played in a marked and decisive manner. Strong accents and loud dynamics help to convey this effect. It is also necessary to be confident with the piece that you are aiming to play emphatically. You are more likely to play tentatively if you are not confident, which achieves the opposite effect. Therefore, make sure you know the piece inside out.
Perdendosi - dying away. This direction is often used towards the end of a piece of music, and it requires a gradual fading of sound by reducing the volume and possibly slowing down too.
Risoluto - decisive. To play decisively, again confidence is helpful, and a clear idea of what you intend to play and how you intend to play it. Firm accents, definitive changes in dynamics and resolute interpretation of the music help to convey decisiveness.
Rubato - freedom of tempo, (stolen time). This is an expressive use of speeding up and slowing down at the discretion of the performer, without significantly altering the overall speed. If one part of the music is sped up, then usually another part is slowed down to balance the overall time. Subtle stretching and compressing of certain notes within a rhythmic phrase can also be an effective use of rubato. However, to carry this off requires artistry and an understanding of expression so as to avoid sounding like you are hesitating due to technical difficulty or rushing due to lack of control. It may help to learn to play the piece with perfect rhythm at strict tempo first, then to add rubato later once the rhythm is completely accurate and well established. This avoids the use of reduced speeds to cope with rhythmic uncertainty, or sections where the notes seem to be running away due to lack of coordination. Trying to turn these problems into rubato can sound unconvincing.
Scherzando - playfully. The mood needs to be light hearted and humorous. An energetic tempo may help here, with careful attention to articulation such as staccato and short slurs which may add a bounciness to the music.
Stringendo - accelerating. Usually the increase in speed will be gradual. It should give a feeling of tightening and compressing of the rhythm; and a feeling of urgency and increasing momentum.
Vivace - lively. This indicates a fast speed and a bright, buoyant mood. Colourful dynamics, plenty of movement in rhythmic realisations and bouncy articulation can contribute to a lively mood.
You may also be interested in my articles about nerves during performance, or playing piano music with expression.
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Agitato - agitated, restless. To achieve this you would need to increase the tempo and aim for a more hurried sound to the music. It needs to feel the opposite of tranquil, so perhaps some unsettled and changeable dynamics could also contribute to the effect.
Animato - animated, lively. This needs to sound enthusiastic and energetic. Again, an increase in tempo can help, as well as bold, decisive dynamics and confidence of touch and tone.
Cantabile - in a singing manner. When applied to piano music, this means to bring out the melody, to ensure it sings out above the accompaniment. For example, if the right hand is playing a melody and the left hand is playing a chordal accompaniment, you need to make sure the right hand is playing louder than the left hand, and that the left hand is quiet enough to not drown out the melody. It helps if you focus on the sound of the melody and imagine singing it. Some people also find it helpful to slightly lean into the hand that is playing the melody, putting more weight into it. If you are not used to playing one hand louder than the other, this can be hard to achieve at first - it demands extremely good coordination. It may be helpful to practise a very simple exercise on the piano where you just play the same notes in both hands, one octave apart, and concentrate on making one hand louder than the other. This can help to develop the coordination and technique required, which can then be applied to the piece where cantabile playing is indicated.
Con brio - with vigour. This needs to sound full of energy and spirit, with plenty of momentum. A strong sense of rhythm with accents on strong beats or emphasis of syncopation helps increase the momentum, as well as a fast, forward moving tempo and bold dynamics.
Dolce - sweetly. A soft and gentle tone produced by a light touch, cantabile playing, and sensitive shaping of lyrical melodies will help to create a sweet sound.
Espressivo - expressively. Extensive use of dynamics, attention to phrasing and artistic use of rubato help to make a piece more expressive.
Forzando (or sforzando) - with sudden force. This needs to be strongly emphasised with plenty of weight in the forearm to produce the feeling of attack on the forzando note and sudden loudness.
Grazioso - gracefully. The performance needs to be composed and controlled with gentle expression and tidy but forward moving rhythm. A fluid and effortless sound helps to convey elegance, so knowing the piece inside out and having well established technique is important.
Largamente - broadly. This means to play slowly and give plenty of space to the beats. A full and stately sound is appropriate here.
Marcato - emphatic, accented. The music should be played in a marked and decisive manner. Strong accents and loud dynamics help to convey this effect. It is also necessary to be confident with the piece that you are aiming to play emphatically. You are more likely to play tentatively if you are not confident, which achieves the opposite effect. Therefore, make sure you know the piece inside out.
Perdendosi - dying away. This direction is often used towards the end of a piece of music, and it requires a gradual fading of sound by reducing the volume and possibly slowing down too.
Risoluto - decisive. To play decisively, again confidence is helpful, and a clear idea of what you intend to play and how you intend to play it. Firm accents, definitive changes in dynamics and resolute interpretation of the music help to convey decisiveness.
Rubato - freedom of tempo, (stolen time). This is an expressive use of speeding up and slowing down at the discretion of the performer, without significantly altering the overall speed. If one part of the music is sped up, then usually another part is slowed down to balance the overall time. Subtle stretching and compressing of certain notes within a rhythmic phrase can also be an effective use of rubato. However, to carry this off requires artistry and an understanding of expression so as to avoid sounding like you are hesitating due to technical difficulty or rushing due to lack of control. It may help to learn to play the piece with perfect rhythm at strict tempo first, then to add rubato later once the rhythm is completely accurate and well established. This avoids the use of reduced speeds to cope with rhythmic uncertainty, or sections where the notes seem to be running away due to lack of coordination. Trying to turn these problems into rubato can sound unconvincing.
Scherzando - playfully. The mood needs to be light hearted and humorous. An energetic tempo may help here, with careful attention to articulation such as staccato and short slurs which may add a bounciness to the music.
Stringendo - accelerating. Usually the increase in speed will be gradual. It should give a feeling of tightening and compressing of the rhythm; and a feeling of urgency and increasing momentum.
Vivace - lively. This indicates a fast speed and a bright, buoyant mood. Colourful dynamics, plenty of movement in rhythmic realisations and bouncy articulation can contribute to a lively mood.
You may also be interested in my articles about nerves during performance, or playing piano music with expression.
All articles about expression
Articles main menu