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Click here for a Note Value Chart

Dynamic Markings - these markings tell how loudly or quietly to play or sing

Tempo Markings - these Italian words tell the speed or pace of the steady beat

Time Signature

The time signature consists of two numbers that look somewhat like a fraction. It is found at the beginning of a piece of music right after the clef sign.

Remember:

The top number tells how many beats are in a bar or a measure, and

The bottom number tells what kind of a note gets one beat
(4 for quarter note, 2 for half note, 8 for an eighth note etc)

4
4  time is the most common time signature and is often abbreviated with a C to represent "common time"