Darcy James Argue shares basics of well-prepared lead sheets, scores, and parts from a jazz/big band perspective — so that you can communicate musical intent in the most clear, familiar, and unambiguous manner.
repeats
The measure number matrix in Finale
Measure numbers in Finale are a bit complex, incredibly flexible, and maybe a little over-engineered. But with this video tutorial series, you don’t need to choose between the red or blue pill when it comes to working with measure numbers; you can have it all.
Mastering the measure tool in Finale
Measure for measure, this video tutorial series sets the bar for working with Finale’s Measure Tool. From the basics of the Measure Attributes dialog and custom barlines, to beat and note positioning, group barlines, display options, split measures, and more, it’s all here!
Repeats redux in Finale
A complete video tutorial series on everything to do with repeats in Finale. From setting up basic repeat structures, to endings, bracket adjustments, text repeats like D.S. al Coda, complex scenarios, and more, it’s all here!
Dorico 2.2 is the best update yet
Steinberg has released Dorico 2.2, another enormous update to the program. New features have been added or rebuilt in the areas of trills, group bracketing, repeat markers, jazz articulations, tempo track import/export, real-time MIDI recording, flow headings, tacets, and a new music symbols editor. Many more improvements have been made in other areas, and there are a good 100 or so bug fixes, besides.
Count bar repeats in Sibelius
Although it’s more common to number bars in a score as if they are all played once straight through without factoring in repeats, often the bars are numbered according to the actual order in which they are played. Sibelius makes this easy to do.
Dorico 2.1 released — large update boasts many new features and fixes
Dorico 2.1 is out, with two official new features — a notehead set editor and swing playback — and boasting a slew of other improvements in engraving, layout, notation, and playback that build on the 2.0 release.
Dorico Pro 2 review: Major update surprises, exceeds expectations; lower-cost “Elements” introduced
Dorico Pro 2.0, released today, is a major update to Steinberg’s music notation software, with new features across the board in many areas. Smart staff management, slash notation, bar repeats, a new handwritten music font, a new system track, support for large time signatures, automation in Play mode, video support, and much more round out an impressive release.
MuseScore 2.2 released with playback updates and other improvements
MuseScore has released the 2.2.1 update to its desktop notation software, introducing a new default soundfont and other playback improvements, a handful of other new features, and hundreds of bug fixes and user interface enhancements. This is the first release of MuseScore since the company was acquired by Ultimate Guitar.
DJA’s Notes: Do not abuse one-bar and two-bar repeats
In this installment of DJA’s Notes by Darcy James Argue, we learn the dos and donts of one- and two-bar repeats, numbering repeated bars, and how to lay out the music correctly so that the intent is clearly conveyed.