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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by AKA JeanB:
...You still have to have adequate knowledge of music theory and be familiar with the limitations and possibilities of the individual instruments to do it properly. Notation programs are not a substitute for music study but can actually be an aid to learn it more quickly. ...In some cases, accompaniment parts need to be rewritten because they don't sound right when simply raised or lowered.
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You are so right about needing to have a good foundation in music theory. A notation program is a tool. A tool is only as good as the skill of the person using it. Better tools give better results only if the user has sufficient skills to use them. For those with those skills, better tools can give better and/or faster results.

I found PrintMusic not only gave me the ability to notate music more quickly and legibly than by hand, it has been a huge help increasing my knowledge of music theory and notation, especially the latter.

Because of a need for help with the PrintMusic from time to time, I found the Finale Forums (http://forum.makemusic.com/default.aspx?c=1) which both helped considerably to improve my limited knowledge of music notation (both in theory and in context with PrintMusic) and music theory. It was in the Finale forums (Windows forum) that I learned of another forum, Compose Music Forums (http://www.composeforums.com/forum/default.asp) which is primarily for Composers but deals a lot with music theory, including arranging which especially was of value since I mostly arrange vocal music. It was there I found out about Just Plain Folks from AKA JeanB. This group has been helpful for starting up my fledgling vocal band, the Singing Muses (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/singingmuses/).

Just as an example of how a music notation program is not a substitute for a knowledge of music theory, voicing, etc. ...I arranged a parody for my little group to use at the end of the act to solicit tips. At one performance, I gave the wrong starting pitch (stuff happens), the key of F maj instead of G maj as originally arranged. Upon getting home from the gig, I immediately transposed the music to F maj since we sounded so much fuller just by dropping a step (and still staying in the alto's range.

One thing Jean didn't mention about transposing music in a notion program is often the sharps and flats related to the key change gets hosed up resulting in unnecessary double sharps and flats, a sharped note being used when it would have been more appropriate to use the next note higher flatted (and vice versa), etc., which only an adequate knowledge of music theory would be able to sort out.

Something else that a music notation program cannot do adequately without a knowledgable user is arranging. There are some programs floating around, such a Band-in-a-Box that can churn out arrangements but I've heard that the output is somewhat boring and rather predictable. Even with my limited knowledge, I can do much better.


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Jeannie

[This message has been edited by Lady Fitzgerald (edited 08-07-2006).]

Jeannie