Music Theory
The study of music theory can be very fascinating. Music theory is the way composers write down their music for others to be able to read and play it. It is based on theories about what music is and how best to describe it and symbolize it.Rhythms are written using notes--whole note, half note, quarter note, eighth note, and so on. Whole notes are worth four beats. To play a whole note, simply hold down a key on the piano and count to four before lifting your finger up. Half notes are worth two beats--half the whole note's value. Quarter notes are worth one beat--one quarter of the whole note's value. Eighth notes are worth a half-beat--one eighth of a whole note's value.
Pitches are written on the staff--five horizontal lines with four spaces in between them. A pitch can be written on a line or in a space. They are named with the first seven letters of the alphabet--A, B, C, D, E, F, G. When pitches move up the staff, the letters proceed forward. When pitches move down the staff, the letters proceed backward. It is a good idea to learn to say these letters backward as well as forward. This will help you to read music better from the staff.
