| You have to learn rhythm in order to play notes | | | | there are 4 beats per bar and a quarter note |
| on a piano with the correct rhythm. There are | | | | gets one beat. Both the top and bottom number |
| four steps to learning rhythm, and to begin with | | | | in this symbol can change, meaning the beats |
| you need to understand that each note has a | | | | would change. |
| particular number of counts. Basically what this | | | | The next step in learning music rhythm is learning |
| means is when playing the piano, you need to hold | | | | to play notes in time. One of the best ways to |
| down the corresponding key for a certain number | | | | learn to play notes in rhythm is to use an |
| of counts. For example, if you were to play a | | | | imaginary drumbeat that keeps time with the |
| whole note, which contains 4 counts, you would | | | | time signatures. You play the notes in time with |
| hold down that key as you count to 4. If the | | | | the make believe drumbeat. |
| note were to be a quarter note, you would count | | | | Once you understand these basics of musical |
| to 1, if it were a half note you would count to 2, | | | | rhythm, you will be ready to try playing a simple |
| and so on. When incorporating musical rhythm, for | | | | piece of music. Find a beginners piece in a book |
| quarter notes you would actually be doing 4 in the | | | | and start there. Remember that if you do have |
| same time that it would take for 1 whole note. | | | | trouble keeping the correct musical rhythm, all |
| Learning time signatures is another facet of | | | | you have to do is imagine that drumbeat, and |
| learning musical rhythm. You will find the time | | | | soon keeping rhythm will begin to come naturally |
| signatures at the beginning of a piece of music; | | | | to you. To really get your rhythm technique |
| the most common time signature you will see in | | | | down, you will have to practice on a regular basis. |
| music is the 4/4. When you see this it means | | | | Musical rhythm is important and one of the |
| that the top 4, signals that there are 4 beats in a | | | | beginning things you should work on when you |
| bar. A bar is the space between the vertical bars | | | | are learning how to play the piano. Learning this |
| in sheet music. The bottom 4 would indicate a | | | | cornerstone early will help you through the |
| quarter note. So what the 4/4 means is that | | | | progression of your piano lessons. |