: Dynamic markings Okay, So I understand the staccato and crescendo and dimeniundo markings, and the accent mark... But what is the less than and greater than mark mean that I highlighted? This is Czerny First Instruction in

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For the crescendo and descrescendo mark: small to large means crescendo; large to small means decrescendo. Sometimes the amount is indicated by a dynamics letter (f, ff, p, mp, etc.) and sometimes, one must use one's own judgment.
FOr single staff instruments, the marks are below the staff. For piano, the marks are between the staffs if applied to both staffs. (Else below the staff that's meant but I'm not always whether below the top staff is different from the middle; there are usually pairs of marks for each staff in that case.) Other instruments using the grand staff are treated similarly.
The short cases highlighted in the example are a bit unusual. These are common in voice or wind or string instrument parts but not so common on the piano (or organ but would work on an accordion or concertina or bandoneon). Apparently one is supposed to articulate things so as to give the impression that the single note is gently made louder than softer.