Top 10 Finale Time Saving Tips

Name Position Month 01, 2018

Finale Version 26

• Automates many details, saving you time, while still retaining all of its trademark flexibility

• Fully compatible with: o Mac OS X 10.12-10.14 (Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave) o Windows 7, 8 and 10 (64-bit)

• Improved Mac performance enhancements for high-resolution monitors and Retina screens

• Share v26 files back to Finale 2014 without any conversion Setting Up a Score Setting Up a Score

Default Document vs. Setup Wizard or Template

• No staff name • Automatic staff names • Piano playback sound • Automatic playback sounds • Manual transposition • Automatic transposition • No Document Style options • Optional: Document Styles* (font, custom markings, layout) Opening Old Files in Version 26

Doesn’t take advantage of new added features:

• New fonts, Engraver slurs (thicker) • Linked Parts (2007) • Expression categories (2009) • Percussion Entry (2010)

• Lyric Spacing (2011) and updated Chord Tool (2010) • Additional Garritan playback sounds added

• File format changed to .musx (2014)

Just opening and saving could lead to corrupt files. Copy/paste the old document into a newly created v26 score.*1, 2 Note Entry Simple Entry

SIMPLE ENTRY Point and Click • Use palettes and mouse to click in notes or rests • Slowest note entry

SIMPLE ENTRY Typewriter Letters • Letters A through G • Use SHIFT + UP/DOWN arrows for correct octave

SIMPLE ENTRY with a MIDI Keyboard • Use numbers to change duration and MIDI to play in pitch

Alternate between all 3 Simple Entry methods!

Simple Entry with a MIDI Keyboard

USB MIDI Controller Keyboards:

• Use the playback sounds in Finale • 2 or 4 octaves • Prices range from $60 - $100 • Newer USB keyboards are Plug-and-Play (no drivers required) • Brands: Akai, Alesis, Korg, CME X-Key, Samson, M-Audio + more… Finale automatically detects your MIDI device!

Simple Entry with MIDI

Step Entry: Use numbers and a MIDI Keyboard

• Place cursor in measure, press note duration number

• Play in note or chord

• Shortcuts: Add sharp ('+'), Add flat ('-'), enter a rest ('0' zero)

• Laptop Shortcut Table: Use Number Row for Note Durations *3

Repitch Tool

• Place cursor on first note you wish to repitch.

• Play in new pitches from a MIDI keyboard or your typewriter.

• Cursor automatically moves from note to note and repitches as you play.

• To turn off, click on any other tool icon.*3 Hyperscribe Entry

Real-Time Note Entry using a MIDI keyboard and a metronome click

Before recording, setup: • Tempo • Metronome click value • Recording into 1 staff or 2 staves

• Quantization (smallest note value) *3

Other Finale Note Entry Options

OPEN: • FINALE FAMILY files (.mus or .musx) • MIDI files (.mid)

IMPORT: • MusicXML files (.xml)

• SIBELIUS files XML Finale (FREE plug-ins at www.musicXML.com)

• PDF files XML Finale (additional software or apps required)

Selection Tool Selection Tool (Universal Editing Tool)

• MOVE, EDIT or DELETE markings

• HIGHLIGHT or COPY measures

• CONTEXTUAL MENU: RIGHT-click with 2-button mouse CTRL-click with 1-button mouse

• TRANSPOSITION Metatools: '6, 7, 8, 9'

• EXPLODE MUSIC Metatool: '2'

• MOVE MEASURES to adjacent staff systems *4

Metatools Articulations

• 'S' for Staccato • 'A' for Accent • 'F' for Fermata + more…

• New! in v26: o Expanded Articulation Library

o Auto-Stacking Articulations

o Flip Articulation Shortcut ('F')

o Auto-Centering on stem or note

o Auto-Stem Adjustment for Tremolo and Roll Markings *4

Articulations (opening pre-Finale v26 documents)

New! in v26: Update Articulation Positioning?

o YES = Clears existing positioning in favor of v26’s automatic collision avoidance

o NO = Leaves manual positioning as is *4

SmartShapes

• 'S' for Slur

• '<' for Crescendo

• '>' for Decrescendo

• New! in v26: Slur/Articulation Interaction *4

Expressions

New! in v26: Expanded Expression Library

• Show All (displays all Expressions)

• Dynamics ff • Tempo Marks Adagio q = 40 • Tempo Alterations accel. • Expressive Text agitato • Technique Text pizz. • Rehearsal Marks (letter or number)

• Miscellaneous (misc. lines/markings) *4

Expression Metatools

• Dynamic Markings

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

• 'M' for Rehearsal Mark *4

More New Features in Finale v26

• 31 New Templates added; Existing Templates updated. o Drum Corps, Mariachi, Chamber Music Ensembles o Choir: More SATB, SSA,TTBB options o Instrumental/Vocal Solo with Piano, Organ or Piano Solo o Modified Stave Notation (large print) o Ukelele with fretboards o Jazz combos, lead sheet, pit and studio orchestra

• Chord Libraries have been expanded to include more commonly used chord symbols and suffixes. Coda Signs, Repeats & Endings Coda Signs, Repeats and Endings

Create Coda System Plugin

• Easiest way to enter a Coda! • Create all Coda-related signs in 1 window!

• Automatically plays back correctly *5

Repeats and Endings

• Repeat Tool or Selection Tool • Use Contextual Menu

• Automatically plays back correctly *6

Linked Parts Linked Parts

• Score and Parts in 1 document

• Linked Items: Identical positioning between the score and parts

• Unlink items for individual positioning between score/parts

• If music will be on-screen in SmartMusic, make sure the parts are formatted

• Older scores prior to 2007: Document Menu > Edit Part > Generate Parts *6

Score Manager Score Manager

Controls how staves look and sound • To Open or Close: CTRL / CMD 'K' (Window Menu)

• Add, delete or reorder staves

• Change staff name, playback device or sound

• Transpose a part for another instrument *6

Ready-Made and Editable Music Education Tools Worksheets and Flash Cards

350+ Theory Worksheets Topics: • Grand Staff 30 Ear Training Worksheets • Treble, Bass, Alto Clefs • Note names 400 Flash Cards • Sharps and flats 2 sizes • Key signatures

• Counting and rhythms 56 Jazz Improv Worksheets • Scales and chords Rhythm section accompaniment • Intervals

Finale files that playback and are • Music vocabulary customizable! • Form and analysis • Puzzles and games

Repertoire

Notation for 100's of Public Domain Titles:

• CLASSICAL: Bach Inventions, intermediate piano, chant

• EARLY JAZZ PIANO: Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton

• FOLK SONGS: B-I-N-G-O, Camptown Races, Saints

• ROUNDS: Viva la Musica, Dona Nobis Pacem

• PATRIOTIC: America, Star Spangled Banner, Battle Hymn

• HOLIDAY: Jingle Bells, Hannukah, carol collection

• MANUSCRIPT PAPER: Practice Record, Assignment Sheet

Fingering Worksheets

4 Worksheets Per Instrument: • Flute, Oboe, Bassoon • Recorder • Bb and Bass Clarinet • Alto, Tenor, Bari Saxophone • Trumpet, Horn • Trombone, Baritone, Tuba • Keyboard Percussion

• Chromatic Scale, Blank Specialized Notation

AlphaNotes and Solfege fonts Boomwhackers colored notation

Orff compositions Kodaly stick notation Sharing Your Music Use Finale to Create SmartMusic Content

Classic SmartMusic (.smpx) New SmartMusic (.MusicXML) or use

FILE Menu > EXPORT

(.wav, .aiff, .mp3)

(2012 Finale family softwares)

(Classic) (New SmartMusic and other music programs) Resources Online Resources

Easy to Access from Launch Window or HELP Menu:

• USER MANUAL with search and VISUAL INDEX

• QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE with graphic instructions

• 33 QUICKSTART VIDEOS www.youtube.com/user/FinaleOfficial (PLAYLIST tab)

www.finalemusic.com

• Individual purchase includes 2 installs Building Successful Finale ‘Chops’ Third Edition for Finale 2014, v25 and v26

21 Practical Step-by-Step Tutorials

Available at:

• www.makemusic.com (STORE Tab)

• J. W. Pepper, Romeo Music

• Using Finale v25 or v26? Download free ADDENDUM at www.finaletraining.com

Thank you!