music can be written in several ways. when it is written on a staff (like in the example shown), the pitches (tones) and their duration are represented by symbols called notes. notes are put on the lines and in the spaces between the lines. each position says which tone must be played. the higher the note is on the staff, the higher the pitch of the tone. the lower the notes are, the lower the pitch. the duration of the notes (how long they are played for) is shown by making the note "heads" black or white, and by giving them stems and flags.