Dynamics - The Breath of Our Playing

Playing an instrument is much more than producing sounds.

There are many drummers I meet who seem hell-bent on hitting their drums hard, all the time.  There is no doubting their ability.  But I do doubt their musical understanding.

If I was holding a conversation with you did nothing but shout you'd get fed-up very quickly!  It would feel as if I was assaulting you; giving you no space to breathe; forcing you into a corner; denying your say. 

So it is with music played at a single, intense level.  We become fed-up; irritated; battered.

Music is more than a faithful reproduction of notes or beats.  It's about engaging our emotions and expressing those through our playing.  It's about communicating with others; exchanging ideas and feelings ... whether that's in a classical setting or something different.  The notes on the page are a composer's attempt to communicate what they're hearing and feeling.

Our job as musicians is to take those notes and breathe life into them through our playing.  Part of that life is injected through our dynamics.

So, if you want to make a difference in your playing, why not try a bit of light and shade; loud AND soft.  make that difference with dynamics and stand out: it's a dying art!