Finale 2014 Essential Training

Learn how to use Finale and its rich features for notating lead sheets, compositions, scores, and musical arrangements.

Introduction

• Using Finale for notation, scoring, and more
• About the exercise files

1. Hardware and Software Setup

• MIDI and audio setup

2. Getting Started

• Opening and importing files
• Finale window overview
• Navigating Finale scores
• The Finale setup wizard
• Using score templates

3. Creating Lead Sheets and Simple Documents

• Entering and editing notes using a mouse
• Entering and editing notes using a computer keyboard
• Entering ties and accidentals
• Selecting, copying, and pasting notes
• Transposing notes
• Measure attributes and music spacing
• Adding lyrics
• Adding chord symbols
• Formatting chord symbols
• Formatting and printing lead sheets

4. Notating Music on a Grand Staff

• Simple entry using a MIDI keyboard
• Entering triplets (tuplets)
• Entering advanced tuplets
• Mid-score time, key, and clef changes
• Working with measure attributes
• Ties, grace notes, and modifying note display
• Adding repeats
• Expressions
• Slurs, crescendos, and smart shapes

5. Notating Choral and Other Polyphonic Music

• Layer basics
• Click-assigning lyrics
• Format and align lyrics
• Text basics in Finale

6. Recording Real-Time Notation and Finale Playback

• Hyperscribe entry
• Using the Repitch tool
• Finale playback basics
• Selecting instrument sounds

7. Working with Scores: Part 1

• Adding and deleting staves
• Working with articulations
• Creating Metatools for articulations and expressions
• Adding expressions and articulations in simple entry
• Creating and modifying expressions
• Score formatting: Size and spacing
• Score formatting: Expressions and Smart Shapes
• Score formatting: Measure numbers
• Formatting parts
• Printing scores and parts

8. Working with Scores: Part 2

• Drumset parts I
• Drumset parts II
• Staff styles and rhythm section parts
• Adding expressions to multiple parts
• Copy and paste articulations and expressions
• Changing instruments

9. Exporting Files from Finale

• Exporting graphics
• Exporting MIDI, XML files, and audio files
• Export PDF and ePub files
• Finale Share

Conclusion

• Next steps