Some questions?

I've been reading through some sheet music lately but sometimes I see some things I cannot understand. Also here's a few of questions that I have as well. Don't want to fill the whole forum with individual posts about General Music theory.

1. There's this "C" next to the clef sometimes, does anyone know what it is? Isn't it a 4/4 beat?
   
   
2. Does "Vocal" mean the same thing as tempo?
   
3. Does "andantino placido" mean Andante Placid (calm)? Not sure what language this is in though!
   
4. If there's "f" or "fff" under some notes (can't tell, but it might just be one note) then that just means to hit the key hard right?
   
5. Can there be a rest at the same time you press a note? Like it wants me to press A and there's a minim rest above the G line... strange.
   
6. Is a G flat a A flat or F sharp?
   
7. What's "8va"?
   
8. What are those square boxes above each margin? I looks like a grid with some letters above it.
   

1. There's this "C" next to the clef sometimes, does anyone know what it is? Isn't it a 4/4 beat? Shocked

Yes C (or semicircle) means common time or imperfect time, it is equivalent with the time signature 4/4
Something else you did not asked for but hopefully can be useful for you.
There is an other similar sign. A "semicircle" with a vertical line through it is used in place of 2/2, also known as "alla breve" or, colloquially, "cut time", or "cut common time".

2. Does "Vocal" mean the same thing as tempo?

In my understanding Vocal means it is performed by human voice, does not indicate tempo.

3. Does "andantino placido" mean Andante Placid (calm)? Not sure what language this is in though! Laughing

The language is Italian. It is customary to describe the tempo of a piece by one or more words. Most of these words are Italian, a result of the fact that many of the most important composers of the 17th century were Italian, and this period was when tempo indications were used extensively for the first time.
Quite frankly I did not hear this expression together but andantino is a little quicker than andante.(Andante is at a walking pace (76–108 bpm)). Placido does mean calm. It is contradiction in term though in my understanding

4. If there's "f" or "fff" under some notes (can't tell, but it might just be one note) then that just means to hit the key hard right?

Originally it refers to a note but with change signs like crescendo or decrescendo it shows gradual change from that dynamic.

5. Can there be a rest at the same time you press a note? Like it wants me to press A and there's a minim rest above the G line... strange.

Personally Ive never seen a rest and note at the same time... unless they are in seperate lines.

6. Is a G flat a A flat or F sharp?

G flat has an enharmonic equivalent, that is F sharp.Both have the same number of accidentals. Enharmonic equivalent means they are on the same key on the keyboard but they refer to a different named tome and has different functions in chord progressions.

7. What's "8va"?

It means 'An octave higher than the written notes'.

8. What are those square boxes above each margin? I looks like a grid with some letters above it.

Can you show an example because I cant image what you might refer to.

4. If there's "f" or "fff" under some notes (can't tell, but it might just be one note) then that just means to hit the key hard right?

Originally it refers to a note but with change signs like crescendo or decrescendo it shows gradual change from that dynamic.

5. Can there be a rest at the same time you press a note? Like it wants me to press A and there's a minim rest above the G line... strange.

Personally Ive never seen a rest and note at the same time... unless they are in seperate lines.

4. It depends how it's printed, but there's a term that is printed "sf" in the music which means to suddenly bring that note out. Since there is a term in exsistance for a sudden accent, usually an f or fff etc would be the general volume of the area of notes until otherwise indicated.

5. Yes there can be a rest going on the same cleft as a note, usually it's when writing in many voices, so your RH might be playing two parts one has a long note held while the other part of your hand is playing quicker notes with rests in between. This can apply for LH as well. Usually when this happens, stems going up will be one line, stems down will be another. ^_^

Hope that helps

and great job maggie! your answers were awesome!

how is there 5 beats in the frist bar