For example, one thing that took some getting used to was the use of up/down arrows. As with any new skill, I knew that I would initially be slower in Dorico, and this was a little frustrating, but it was worth persevering. Over the years I have become very quick at using Sibelius, as the keyboard shortcuts have become second nature. This mode is only available in the full Dorico version (not Dorico Elements) however it’s likely that students wouldn’t need this level of detail. For example adding in system breaks, creating musical ‘frames’ (for images) and exploring staff spacing. ‘Engrave’ mode allows more sophisticated control of the visual aspects of the score. The music all looks the same on the screen, you just need to change the mode to fit the activity. If I then decide to add another instrument, I switch to ‘Setup’ mode, choose my player, add to the score and then switch back to ‘Write’ mode. For example in ‘Write’ mode I am composing – inputting notes, adding score details such as dynamics, and making tempo changes. It took me a little while to get used to working in these modes, but it allows the user to move smoothly between composing activities. One of my favourite features of the software is the different ‘modes’ – at the top of the screen are 5 buttons: Setup Write Engrave Play Print. There are some helpful Dorico resources for beginners which are well worth a read. It took me a little while to find everything and so it is worth allowing yourself some time just to explore where everything is. It makes the whole process smoother and more enjoyable. Everything you need from clefs to accidentals, bowing marks to slurs and ties, is visible on one screen rather than having to open various new windows and menus. The interface is clear and user-friendly. Depending on your ensemble, your violinist could pick up the maracas and then perform saxophone solo, if that’s what you want! The point is, Dorico is designed to allow complete musical freedom from the outset. We’re already thinking in terms of actual humans playing instruments which will encourage more musical outcomes – the oboist can switch to cor anglais, with all the music on one part. Rather than having to make lots of compositional decisions at this early stage, Dorico simply asks you to choose players and then assign instruments to those players. Getting startedĪfter installing the software I began the process of setting up a new piece. However, was it worth the time it would take to learn this new software when I can practically use Sibelius with my eyes closed and generally get the results I want? I decided to take the plunge. Sibelius doesn’t look too kindly on composers who change their minds and want to write something a bit out of the ordinary. So, why bother? I wondered whether there was a programme more efficient than Sibelius, where I wouldn’t be pressing the ‘escape’ key every other second and wouldn’t have to restart a whole piece if I had changed my mind and did want an upbeat at the start after all. In this post I'll share my initial thoughts as a new user of Dorico… Why make the change?Īfter 20 years of using Sibelius – as a GCSE music pupil myself (it was revolutionary back then!) and than as a teacher, there was an inner reluctance to make the change. Knowing that the Dorico staff used to work on Sibelius, I was also curious to see how they had improved the user experience and whether they had managed to create a superior product. I have heard it being described as “intuitive software” and I was intrigued to find out what this meant. I'd read various reviews and articles and met the Dorico team at several music conferences, where I was able to try out the software. As a long-time user of Sibelius software I’ve recently made the jump to Dorico.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |