What does "a niente" instruct a musician to do?

The term "a niente" is an Italian musical instruction that translates to "to nothing." When a musician sees this directive, it indicates that they should gradually decrease the volume of the music until it is very soft or completely silent. This technique is often used to create a sense of fading away or delicate exit in a piece of music. It adds an expressive quality to the performance, as it requires both control and sensitivity from the musician. The instruction emphasizes not just playing softly, but dynamically diminishing the sound to the very end, enhancing the emotional impact of the musical phrase.