| The world of learning piano starts with beginner piano | | | | value. The most common of these is known as: 4/4. |
| lessons and involves many different aspects. None of | | | | This corresponds to there being four beats in each |
| these are more important than the subjects of learning | | | | measure with a quarter note getting one beat. |
| about key signatures and time signatures. | | | | Although extremely ubiquitous, don't take this for being |
| What precisely are key and time signatures and why | | | | the same thing as "dull". Virtually all music ever written |
| is gaining in intimate knowledge of them critical? | | | | by the Beatles was in 4/4 time. The body of work |
| Because without this information, absolutely no written | | | | created by the Beatles has been regarded as simply |
| music can be disseminated into notes played on the | | | | brilliant by listeners and musicians for eons, so this is |
| piano keyboard. Neither can unwritten music, for that | | | | proof that the time signature is not that important, in as |
| matter. | | | | far as the quality of the music written in it is concerned. |
| Key signatures dictate that musical scales and notes | | | | The time signature 3/4 is another classic, as it |
| that the piece is written in, and is to be played in. If | | | | describes music written in "three". This is the time |
| there are no flats or sharps in the key signature then | | | | signature for every "waltz" ever written, and it gives |
| the key is either "C Major" or A Minor, represented by | | | | the music a nice airy bounce. Once again, the "4" |
| the white keys on the piano keyboard. There can be | | | | designates that the quarter note receive one beat. |
| up to seven flats or sharps, representing all the other | | | | Although 4/4 and 3/4 are by far the most common |
| possible iterations of major and minor keys. Then, | | | | times signatures, many others have been used, most |
| there are exceptions, notated by specific sharp or flat | | | | notably in jazz. Tunes written in "five" (5/4) tend to |
| symbols next to the notes themselves. A student | | | | give the piece an offbeat "snap" which is particularly |
| taking beginner piano lessons must learn to recognize | | | | intriguing. The famous jazz musician Dave Brubeck |
| these exceptions to the initial key signature and make | | | | was quite fond of writing works in "five". |
| the appropriate corrections. | | | | Whether in common or in less fashionable key and |
| This would be analogous to a policeman waving you | | | | time signatures, the competent student must be |
| through a red light--you need to be on your toes and | | | | prepared to accommodate abrupt changes as |
| be ready to adapt to changes along the way. | | | | created by the composer if he/she wants to be able |
| Then, there are the various time signatures that dictate | | | | to faithfully reproduce written music accurately. |
| the number of beats in each measure of the piece, as | | | | Starting on the road to this state of ease is the job of |
| well as what type of note gets assigned the one-beat | | | | every student of beginner piano lessons. |