Assignment (notation)

This is a very open ended assignment with very few parameters.

• The key learning outcomes are:

  • gain guided experience properly using MuseScore most efficiently/effectively - an application you will use in the future even if you own Dorico, Sibelius, or Finale

  • gain guided experience properly using Dorico most efficiently/effectively - in my opinion the best professional notation software; depending on your future needs, you may decide it is worth the money to purchase Dorico rather than use MuseScore

Devote as much time for this project as you want for the sake of your future. There is not minimum or maximum this semester.

Ideally = input a score for your applied or ensemble professor that they really need input into a notation software (input a part from the score when a part is missing, make a hand written score legible, transpose a piano part for a vocal score that is too low or too high, transcribe something written for a different instrument, etc.). Input the score into into both MuseScore and Dorico to look as much like the score as possible ... fix that which the publisher's printed incorrectly. *Do not* input the score into MuseScore then export it to be used in Dorico! Even thought that is efficient, the point of this assignment is to get a working experience for how the two applications are different ... so start completely over again in Dorico. If you cannot find anything any professor needs input, let me know and I'll ask around. If we can still not find a need, you can input something from your solo rep.

• Compress the following four files into a zip file and email me the zip file:

  1. MuseScore file of the score (it will be a file with a .mscz file extension)

  2. MuseScore generated PDF of the score (it will be a file with a .pdf file extension)

  3. Dorico file of the score (it will be a file with a .dorico file extension)

  4. Dorico generated PDF of the score (it will be a file with a .pdf file extension)

If your computer is a bit low on performance power (if Resolve did not run well on your computer), then let me know and we'll come up with a solution. I want you to compare two notation applications (ideally MuseScore and Dorico), but you may have to replace using Dorico with noteflight.com or flat.io

Remember: "For experienced users, for whom the commands are stored in what we often call muscle memory, using the keyboard is always faster than using the mouse."

So, for notation software = it's all about the caret!

Here's a helpful resource about efficiency.

Here are some scores for learning during class:

• Abide With Me (from openhymnal.org)
• Fugue in C major by J.S. Bach (from imslp.org)

MuseScore

1. Download and install MuseScore = https://musescore.org/en
2. Watch the "Getting Started" tutorials = https://musescore.org/en/tutorials
3. Find helpful hints on the page linked below for your reference (some things I tend to forget and need often).

MuseScore Reference

Dorico

1. Download and install Dorico Trial (you'll have 30 days to use it)

   • choose Dorico Pro if you have a fairly high powered computer (especially if you had no issues using Resolve)

   • choose Dorico Elements if you know your computer is not particularly high performance

2. Watch How To videos. I suggest you at very least watch all the "setup mode" and "write mode" videos.

   • Setup Mode
   • Write Mode
   • Engrave Mode
   • Page Layout Mode
   • Play Mode
3. Find some helpful hints on the page linked below for your reference (some things I tend to forget and need often).

Dorico Reference