To use dynamics in music to improve your performance skills, it’s important to really look at the music score. Here are some key points to think about:

1. What Are Dynamics?
   Dynamics in music are important because they help show emotions in a piece. About 70% of how we feel the music comes from changes in loudness. This allows performers to express different feelings.

2. Finding Expressive Markings:

   • Look for symbols that show how loud or soft to play. For example, p means soft (piano) and f means loud (forte). You might also see symbols like mf (mezzo-forte) which means medium loud, or pp (pianissimo) which means very soft.
   • Check for symbols that tell you to get louder (crescendo) or softer (decrescendo). These can suggest changes in volume, like increasing by up to 30% or decreasing by up to 20%.

3. Articulations:

   • It’s important to notice how notes are played. For instance, staccato means to play short and detached, while legato means to play smoothly. Research shows that the way you play these can change the emotion of the music by about 60%.

4. Performance Directions:

   • Other notes, like rubato (which means to play around the beat) or espressivo (meaning expressively), give you clues about the speed and feelings of the music. Using these can make your performance feel much more emotional, impacting nearly 50% of how it feels to the listener.

In summary, by understanding dynamics and looking at expressive markings in the score, you can gain a deeper connection to the music. This helps you play the piano in a way that truly shows off your feelings and makes it a beautiful art form!