Getting Louder: Crescendo
A crescendo is when music gradually gets louder over time. It does not jump from soft to loud instantly — instead, it slowly builds, like a wave rising in the ocean.
The word crescendo comes from Italian and means 'growing.' The music grows in volume!
In written music, a crescendo looks like a long, opening angle bracket: < (like a wedge that opens to the right). The narrow end is soft, and the wide end is loud. The music gets louder as you move from the narrow end to the wide end.
Crescendos are some of the most exciting moments in music! They build tension and anticipation. Think of movie music when something exciting is about to happen — the music usually gets louder and louder (crescendo!) until the big moment arrives.
Try making a crescendo with your voice: start humming very softly, then gradually get louder and louder over ten seconds until you are humming as loud as you can. That is a crescendo!