Position of Sharps And Flats

[100mm]

Do we put sharps and flats on the left or the right of the note? I thought that we had put them on the right but in every score I have, they are on the left.

I ask this probably silly question because in this piece I'm playing there are notes that are played twice and there is a sharp on the left of the first note and then there is nothing on the second but in all the recordings I listened to, it sounds like they are both played sharp.

I feel stupid, does every sharp written on the left of F note for example makes every other F sharp in the rest of the piece too? Have I been playing everything wrong? I am self-taught so there is no where else I can check on. And if there is somewhere (book, website etc.) you know that is good about technichal info on music, then I would gratefully go there and not rant here.

Thanks. 

[timothy42b]

If you are naming a note not on the staff, you put it on the right.

Class, please play a Bb, followed by a C#.

But an accidental on the staff always alters the note to the right, and is still in effect for the whole measure.  So if you are writing music for someone to play, you always put the accidental on the left of the note. 

[100mm]

If you are naming a note not on the staff, you put it on the right.

Class, please play a Bb, followed by a C#.

But an accidental on the staff always alters the note to the right, and is still in effect for the whole measure.  So if you are writing music for someone to play, you always put the accidental on the left of the note. 

That explains a lot now, thanks.

[gregh]

You read music left to right, and the accidental is saying "Look out, this next note is going to be a little different!"