What is a subito piano?

A *subito piano* (literally, "suddenly soft" in Italian) is a musical direction that indicates a sudden decrease in volume. It is represented by the abbreviation "*sub. p.*" or "*subito p.*" and is often used in piano music.

For example, in the score below, the "subito piano" indicates that the musician should suddenly decrease the volume at the beginning of the second measure:

```

| Subito Piano |

|---------|---------|

| C4| C4 | | A4|

```

The term *subito piano* can be used in a variety of musical contexts to create dramatic effects or to emphasize certain passages. It is important to note that the duration of the *subito piano* is at the discretion of the musician and can vary from a slight momentary drop in volume to a more prolonged decrease.