Additional symbols are used to give music
more personality and variety:
Symbol
Meaning
A dot below or above the note
indicates it should be played or sung
staccato -- shortly with a silent space
between it and the next note
A dot after a note or rest means you
should add half its original length (so
a half note followed by a dot would
count as three beats, a whole rest
followed by a dot
would count for six beats, and so on)
Play or sing strongly
Notes should blend together smoothly
Hold the note
Repeat note once
Repeat the previous bar
Repeat previous two bars
Repeat section before going on
Once you've perfected
these basic steps, you'll be well on
your way toward trying something more
complex. In the meantime, be patient
with yourself. (In other words, put that
Rachmaninoff down and stick with
something simple for a while.) With
enough practice, you'll have taken a
significant step toward eventually being
able to play, sing or even write any
song you want.
