| Reading piano sheet music is like learning a new | | | | values. There are rhythms worth 1, 2, 3 and 4 |
| language. Each symbol has a unique meaning. | | | | beats in music. There are also rhythms that are |
| Discover what a bar line is and what it does. | | | | worth less than 1 beat. A bar contains an exact |
| A bar of music is a small section of music. It is | | | | number of beats. You could have one rhythm |
| the maths of music! | | | | worth 4 beats in your first bar. The next bar |
| The bar line is the vertical line that marks the end | | | | could have four rhythms worth 1 beat. The rule is |
| of the bar. | | | | - they must all add up to the same number of |
| At the end of a piece of music you will find a | | | | beats. |
| double bar line. | | | | There are several functions of bar lines. |
| If a piece of music has a 4/4 time signature, the | | | | #1 - It divides the music up into readable chunks - |
| top number tells you how many beats in a bar. In | | | | rather like punctuation marks in English. |
| this case, since the top (or 1st) number is 4 - | | | | #2 - If several musicians are playing together, it |
| then there are 4 beats in every bar. | | | | gives them all an exact location to start from: |
| Most dance music is played with a 4/4 time | | | | "Play from bar 17". |
| signature. It gives the music a steady, driving | | | | #3 - Its vital job is to place the emphasis on beat |
| beat. Most verses or choruses of a song contain | | | | 1. The 1st beat of every new bar should be |
| 16 bars. This gives music a balanced, natural feel. | | | | played slightly stronger than the other beats. |
| Individual rhythms, like coins, are worth different | | | | |