This is an eighth note. It lasts for half a count. There are eight eighth notes in one bar of * time.
When eighth notes are joined together the tails are replaced by one beam.
Eighth notes occur in ^ time as well as * time. Remember to count mentally and tap your foot as you play. Take this one slowly at first.
A dot placed above or below a note tells you to play the note staccato. Staccato means to play a note short and separate from other notes. There are two ways to play a note staccato. If you are tonguing the note, make a "dot" sound with your tongue. If you are not tonguing the note, make a "huck" sound with the back of your tongue. Both these methods cut off the flow of air, thus stopping the note short.