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Get Set Up with Notation Software
Learn your way around the basics of a music notation program. MuseScore, Finale, Sibelius, NoteFlight are all good options.
MuseScore: If you're not already proficient in one, MuseScore is the recommended program for this class. Most of the scores in the anthology are available as MuseScore downloads. This program is a free open-source program that works cross-platform. Download it here, then watch some of these videos to get set up with how it works.
NoteFlight: If you need an alternative that doesn't require a download, accessible on any computer with a browser, Noteflight is another free option. You'll need to set up an account to get started. There are a few tutorials available here.
Setting Up Your Score
(MuseScore, 2 mins)
Text, Lyrics, and Chords
(MuseScore, 3 mins)
The Basics of Score Writing
(MuseScore, 4 mins)
Learn to Use a Chord Player
(and bookmark it!)
Throughout the semester, you'll be composing chord progressions and will need to be able to hear them and compare them with others. There are a lot of free online tools for this. Here are two free options that work in your browser.
ChordChord. Check out a 2-minute tutorial here.
Chord Player: Check out a 4-minute tutorial here.
Learn to Use Briformer
(and bookmark it!)
Throughout the semester, you'll be analyzing audio recordings of songs and annotating those recordings. Briformer is analytical tool for annotating audio files created by Brian Jarvis. It's online, it doesn't require a download; you can either copy and paste a YouTube link or upload an audio file to annotate. Share your analyses with your instructor or other classmates by sharing a link.
Intro to BriFormer
(Brian Jarvis, 15 mins)
Get Comfortable with a DAW
An alternative to composing your songs in a music notation editor is to use a DAW (digital audio workstation) like BandLab, Pro Tools, Garage Band, or Abelton.
If you need a recommendation, BandLab is a free open-source DAW that will run in your browser without downloading anything. You'll just need to set up an account. Skim through the videos here to see how to add notation, then experiment with the sounds.
Overview of the Interface & Adding Tracks
(David Gaskell, 5 mins)
Adding Piano Chords
(David Gaskell, 4 mins)
Just browse the first 4 minutes, starting around 0:34 to see how to input chord notes on the staff.
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