Western Musical Notation is a system used to visually represent music through symbols. It allows musicians to read and write music on a staff, which consists of five horizontal lines. Each line and space represents a different pitch, helping performers understand which notes to play and when. In this notation, various symbols indicate not just the pitch but also the duration of notes, dynamics, and other musical expressions. For example, a quarter note looks different from a whole note, showing how long each should be held. This system has been essential for composers like Bach and Beethoven to share their music with others.