In most music pieces we find references to how loud or soft a note (or set of notes) should be played. I say should, but in fact this is more like a 'recommendation' by the composer and it is up to the performer on how they believe the music should be played. Now, I might be scorned by many a musician on that comment, but music is played from the heart, and depending on the moment, it is up to you to play the music the way you believe it should.
| pp | pianissimo | Very soft |
| p | for piano | Soft |
| pf | poco forte | Moderately loud |
| m | medius | Middle voice (in polyphonic music) |
| mp | mezzo piano | Moderately soft |
| m.v. | mezza voce | With a moderate volume of tone |
| mf | mezzo forte | Moderately loud |
| f | forte | Loud |
| ff | fortissimo | Very Loud |
| fp | forte piano | Loud and immediately soft again |
| fz | forzando | Loud 'forcing', ie. loud accenting |
| sf or sfz | sforzando | Same as fz (forzando) |
David Webber 1994-96. Mozart Music Generator Program
Concise Dictionary of Music, 1986.
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