Piano (p)

Find the dynamic under or near the staff at the point where the new level begins. Play the following notes at that level until another instruction changes it. The symbol does not alter which pitch you play, how long each written note lasts, or the basic tempo.

p does not mean the instrument piano. The same symbol can appear in a violin, flute or vocal part. It also does not mean silence: a melody at p still needs shape and clarity.

The next marking may be mf, a crescendo, or an accent on one note. Read the local context: an accented note can stand out while the phrase as a whole remains piano. The order of the familiar marks is pp, p, mp, mf, f, ff, from softer toward louder. Their spacing is a musical judgment, not a numeric scale. Repeat the same short phrase at p and mp; a comparison is more informative than asking whether one version is “loud enough” in isolation.

Do not change the beat when you change the volume. Count four equal beats while playing the phrase twice. Also avoid changing articulation accidentally: a softer note can still be detached or accented. Dynamics, Articulation and Terms shows how those instructions work together.

Mark four notes with p and four with mp. Play the eight notes without stopping at the change. Ask a listener to point to the first note where the level shifted. If they cannot hear a difference, adjust the contrast while keeping the same tempo and pitches.