volume control on an iPad

Hello there, stirling-dad.

The online iPad User Guide provides some great insight on adjusting volume on your iPad:

Volume buttons and the Side Switch - iPad User Guide

Volume buttons and the Side Switch

Use the Volume buttons to adjust the volume of songs and other media, and of alerts and sound effects. Use the Side Switch to silence audio alerts and notifications or to prevent iPad from switching between portrait and landscape orientation. (On iPad models without a side switch, use Control Center.)

WARNING: For important information about avoiding hearing loss, see Important safety information.

Lock the ringer and alert volumes. Go to Settings > Sounds, then turn off Change with Buttons. To limit the volume for music and videos, go to Settings > Music > Volume Limit.

Note: In some European Union (EU) countries, iPad may warn that you’re setting the volume above the EU recommended level for hearing safety. To increase the volume beyond this level, you may need to briefly release the volume control. To limit the maximum headset volume to this level, go to Settings > Music > Volume Limit, then turn on EU Volume Limit. To prevent changes to the volume limit, go to Settings > General > Restrictions.

Use Control Center to adjust the volume. When iPad is locked or when you’re using another app, swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen to open Control Center.

Do Not Disturb, also available in Control Center, is an easy way to keep iPad silent. See Do Not Disturb.

Mute the sound. Press and hold the Volume Down button.

You can also use either volume button to take a picture or record a video. See Take photos and videos.

Mute notifications, alerts, and sound effects. Slide the Side Switch toward the Volume buttons.

The Side Switch doesn’t mute the audio from music, podcasts, movies, and TV shows.

Use the Side Switch to lock the screen orientation. Go to Settings > General, then tap Lock Rotation.

When playing video, you can also control playback on the screen:

Control playback - iPad User Guide

Control playback

Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities.

Kind Regards.