Piano, Bass Cleft, Treble Cleft, and C cleft?

Question

I just started learning how to read music and play the piano.  I know what Bass and Treble Cleft notes are but on this score that I am reading, in the middle of the song where a Bass or Treble cleft would be there is a giant C, on both the right and left hand.  What does that mean?  

The notes are as follows A, G, A (A), G on the right hand.
On the left hand it is F, C, F

The song I am trying to learn how to play in River Flows in you by Yiruma.  It is on the second page in the middle.  That's where those C's are.  Help!  Thanks!

? · Accepted Answer

That would be the time signature. C represents Common time or 4/4 (if you ever see a C with a slash through it, sorta looks like a cent sign, then it means "cut time" or 2/2, said as "two two"). If you look at the beginning, past the Clef and key signature, you should see a C, because the song starts in 4/4 (said as "four four") time. The reason why you see it again in the middle of the music is because it changes time, back to common time. Before that, the song is in 5/4 (five four) time. The only time you should see clefs are at the beginning of each line. Hope this helps you. Enjoy playing piano, it's an awesome instrument ^_^

Jo-ann · Answer

It's because the clefts join at middle c. If both clefts started on the same note, there would be an impractically large about of space between them or they'd be to close and cover too many of the same notes. The way clefts are allow them to cover the most practical amount of territory with minimal ledger lines.

Anonymous · Answer

It's clef, c - l - e - f.  No *t*.

From the French word meaning "key."

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Piano, Bass Cleft, Treble Cleft, and C cleft?

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