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Explain key signatures as you would to a capable student, in 3-4 sentences.

A key signature is a collection of sharps or flats written at the beginning of each staff that tells you which notes to play sharp or flat throughout the piece. Instead of writing a sharp or flat symbol every time that note appears, the key signature establishes this once at the start, so if you see F# in the key signature, you'll play every F as F# unless told otherwise. The number and specific sharps or flats indicate what key the piece is in—for example, one sharp (F#) means G major or E minor, while two flats (Bb and Eb) means Bb major or G minor. This system helps musicians quickly recognize the tonal center of a piece and reduces clutter on the page.