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.
