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All staff symbols, text blocks, and chord symbols have an information window that you can view and edit by selecting the item or items and then using this command. The "Info for selected items" button on the keyboard tools palette does the same thing, as does ctrl-i (Windows) or cmd-i (Mac). The information window in some cases contains extensive extra options or adjustments that can be made to the item.
Choose text font...
The name of this menu item will change depending on the situation. If a text block is selected the menu will read "Choose font for selected text item(s)." If the chord layer is active it will say "Choose font for chord symbols." Otherwise it will read, "Choose default text font."
Chord options
Both these options apply to all chords in the current music.
These options apply when you are using the Hear command to listen to the music.
Scroll as smoothly as possible during listening
Scroll a screen at a time during listening
Usually the smooth scroll is most desirable, but you might prefer to have the screen remain still until the page needs to turn.
Use automatic pitches in Active ListeningWhen you use the Score Menu's "Hear with Active Listening" command the program will let you guide the play by using the letter keys to tap the rhythm of the currently active staff. It's best to use a pair of keys in the middle row, so that you can alternate fingers. You'll hear the correct pitches and all the pitches of the other staves will play along with you, but the others will follow you. This is a good way to learn your part in a choral piece. And it's fun. If you want a greater challenge you can turn off the automatic pitches with this option and try to get both the rhythm and pitch of your part.
Repeat (loop until spacebar is pressed)Endlessly repeats either the entire piece, or the section marked off with the "Play from" and "Play to" tools.
Observe repeats and first/second endingsFor just proofing your piece you can turn off repeats. Otherwise they will play as notated.
Tick a bar-for-nothing at beginning of listeningHelpful if you are playing along with Songworks - this allows you to get ready. If the music begins at the beginning of a measure you'll hear a complete measure of ticks before it starts, if the music begins with a partial measure you'll hear the ticking from the start of that measure.
Center selected text blockLeft-align selected text blockRight-align selected text block
These options position a selected text block horizontally in the current printed page (not the edit window).
Hide all text
It's not permanent; the text will reappear if you uncheck this option.
Set lyric line count...If you have multiple verses you may want to increase the number of lyric lines.
EbonyMapleBrushed steelStoneButterDenim
Just for fun. These change the appearance of the frame that holds the keyboard tools.
Keyboard and letter keys 'piano.'
Standard piano keysDisplays the standard piano keyboard.
Guitar fretboardDisplays a guitar fretboard. Click in the area above the soundhole for open strings.
Labeled piano keysDisplays a standard piano keyboard with the keys labeled.
Display moveable-do solfege on keysDraws solfege syllables on the keys, according to the current key signature.
Display key-appropriate 7-shape symbols on keysDraws the appropriate shape note on each key, according to the current key signature.
Highlight keys as music playsHighlights the piano keys as music plays, like a player piano.
Letter keys play standard piano ('A','S','D' = C,D,E)The middle row of letter keys on your computer act like a 'piano.' Black keys are in the upper row. You can raise or lower the letter keys pitch by an octave with the < and > keys.
Letter keys play current scale only ('F' = tonic)This makes playing simple music easy: whatever key you're in, the tonic is always played by the F key on the letter keyboard, and the keyboard plays only notes that are in the current key.
MIDI settings...Brings up a window with various adjustments for your MIDI system, if you have one.
Metronome sound/channel/volumeMost people won't need to change this. But you can if desired.
TemperamentTemperaments are different ways of tuning a piano keyboard. These are supported only if your sound system can do them. Currently that means only Macintosh computers running OSX, so if you are writing music on a Windows computer you would need to play it on a Macintosh in order to hear the temperament choices. On Windows all the temperaments will all sound like standard equal temperament (and the same is true for tuning changes made to individual notes in the note information window for selected notes).
Sound notes when entering in staffTurns on or off the feature that sounds a note when you click it into the staff.
Round to nearest quarter noteIf you're playing something very simple you may not need more accuracy than this. You can be fairly irregular in your playing but you'll still get nothing smaller than an eighth note.
Round to nearest eighth noteMany melodies use nothing smaller than an eighth note, and if you think your melody is one of this you can choose this option for easier input. You don't have to be quite as accurate as you would be when including 16th notes.
Round to nearest 16th noteThis is the most accurate setting for recording your "live" input and is appropriate for most purposes. But you'll need to be a little more careful with your playing.
Allow tripletsIf you don't think you mean to play triplets, this might as well be off. For the program to distinguish between a triplet and a similar plain pattern requires more accuracy on your part.
Set keyboard split for two-staff recordingIf you're going to play into two staves at once, this will tell the computer which notes belong in the active staff (notes above the split point) and which belong in the next staff down (notes below the split point). By default this is set to middle C.
Record to just the active staff, ignoring keyboard splitAnything you play will go in the active staff, even if it needs ledger lines.
Record with higher notes in active staff, notes below the split in the next staff downThis will pay attention to the keyboard split. Only works if you have at least two staves in the music and have one that is below the currently active staff.
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