Writing music with a computer?

[gonjah]

-- X-No-Archive: Yes

My theory teacher said I need to rely less on my computer and develop my
ability to write music with pencil and paper.

I was wondering what the "music writers" had to say about that. I'm not
doubting my instructor, but I want to understand the reasoning.

I found that programs like "MuseScore" are great tools but do they cause
some sort of "crutch" problem later on?

http://musescore.org/en

Should I rely on the computer to correct my writing mistakes? This is
really bugging me because I just started writing and I've found myself
using MuseScore exclusively for writing immediately. Also my handwriting
is terrible.

[Craig 'Lumpy' Lemke]

gonjah wrote:
>
> My theory teacher said I need to rely less on my computer and develop
> my ability to write music with pencil and paper.
>
> I was wondering what the "music writers" had to say about that. I'm
> not doubting my instructor, but I want to understand the reasoning.

I used to work as a "copiest" a lot. That's a person that transcribes
the HEARD music into SN scores. I was REALLY good, REALLY fast. They'd
hire me to produce a written chart for a tune that was played by
live musicians so that the producers could give a SN chart to
orchestra players and other side men.

I used a rapidograph square nib calligraphy pen and heavy stock
staff paper. I could typically score the melody and chords to
just about anything, while it was being played real time. I
did it a lot for The Dillards. That's some pretty fast
bluegrass-like stuff.

We didn't have computers then. But even today, horribly out of
practice, I can score by hand a LOT faster and more accurate
than with things like Finale or other computer based notation software.

I would definitely agree with your teacher. Physically PLACING the
dots on the paper with your own hands, arms, muscles, gives you
a better sense of what's happening than when you type on a keyboard
or use a mouse. Not unlike playing geetar (or any other instrument).
Physically playing the thing is more productive than forming chords
and notes on a computer interface.


Lumpaper

[Rufus]

Thanks for the pointer...I've been looking for something that will turn
scores into MIDI for drum machine programing. Think I'll give this a
whirl...the price is right.

--
- Rufus

[gonjah]

For the price, so far, I've been impressed. Not real intuitive, but
there is a good "help" option.

I don't have midi connections on my computer, but I do have a midi ready
drum machine and keyboard. Let me know how it works out.

[Snark]

On 12-05-25 11:16 PM, Craig 'Lumpy' Lemke wrote:
> gonjah wrote:
>>
>> My theory teacher said I need to rely less on my computer and develop
>> my ability to write music with pencil and paper.
>>
>> I was wondering what the "music writers" had to say about that. I'm
>> not doubting my instructor, but I want to understand the reasoning.

One reason to avoid software would be to avoid having the computer
correct things (like timing) for you (school of hard knocks).

> I would definitely agree with your teacher. Physically PLACING the
> dots on the paper with your own hands, arms, muscles, gives you
> a better sense of what's happening than when you type on a keyboard
> or use a mouse. Not unlike playing geetar (or any other instrument).
> Physically playing the thing is more productive than forming chords
> and notes on a computer interface.
>
> Lumpaper

Strange how that works, but yes, writing things out seems to help
"process" it more in your head. I do think writing out the music is
different than playing it though.

I find that I tend to think in terms of fret and string when I have
memorized a guitar piece. Yet writing it out in SN forces you to think
in terms of notes, accidentals, keys etc., not to mention timing (dotted
quarters etc.)

For a polyphonic piece, it can also get you thinking more in terms of
voices. Is a particular note part of the soprano, the alto or tenor
part? Should the note stems go up or down? Should an isolated note stem
be joined with the soprano, alto or what?

This sort of thing is VITAL to scoring analog synth parts for example.
Most analog synths have only one voice (to get a chord, you have to
multi-track record it). So when I programmed my computer to play ELP's
Lucky Man on my analog synth, I had to sort out a few cases and decide
which voice the lone notes belonged to. If you think it doesn't matter,
then consider that each voice need not be exactly the same timbre -- so
yes it does matter.

There's a picture of my analog synth here:

http://www.experimentalistsanonymous.com/ve3wwg/doku.php?id=analog_synth

It won't win any beauty contest, but neither would Frankenstein. :)

Snark.

[Rufus]

Yes...I have an old Roland R5 that sounds pretty good, but stores it's
programming to tape of all things...only other way to program it or
capture it's data stream than tapping the pads or loading from tape is
via MIDI. Macs are really good for that, and I have one of these -

http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Uno.html

Handy little bugger, for the few things I need MIDI for. Great for
carrying around with a laptop.

Since I sort of get scoring for drums I figure it would be fare easier
for me to score then assign voices from the R5. I'm still looking for a
preferable way to do that. This'll just be one more arrow in my quiver.

--
- Rufus

[wereoawl]

"Craig 'Lumpy' Lemke" <lu...@LumpyMusic.com> wrote in message
news:jpphva$qpu$1...@speranza.aioe.org...

What a klown you are. You can transcribe "fast bluegrass" but you don't
recognize the Glory of the Lifshine.

I am the only one who matters in film and music, thank you.

[wereoawl]

"Rufus" <n...@home.com> wrote in message
news:1aWdnSg6cqUw513S...@mchsi.com...

I am the only one who matters in music and film thank you.

[wereoawl]

"Craig 'Lumpy' Lemke" <lu...@LumpyMusic.com> wrote in message
news:jpphva$qpu$1...@speranza.aioe.org...

I'd hate to think your "students" are zombies like you.

[David Raleigh Arnold]

Amen.

Scribbling also is better for composition and arranging,
because you can invent
short cuts and use them at the same time, and choose between
Xing out, erasing, or redirecting with arrows. Also, paper will
last for centuries. Computer files are ephemeral.

Lumpy, from your autobio here, you didn't autograph much in
the way of bop, with extended chords? I believe in writing
chord names with nothing but sharps and flats, no little
zeros, plusses, minuses, and especially no triangles or
other cryptic symbols that tend to break down when handwritten.
I add slash basses and the rare polychord to the list, and that's it.
Is that a POV which you encountered, and do you agree with it?
(You are too young to have been part of starting
that particular reform movement.)
Kindest regards, daveA

--
Guitar teaching materials and original music for all styles and levels.
Site: http://www.openguitar.com (()) eMail: d.raleig...@gmail.com
Contact: http://www.openguitar.com/contact.html"

[Craig 'Lumpy' Lemke]

David Raleigh Arnold wrote:

> Lumpy, from your autobio here, you didn't autograph much in
> the way of bop, with extended chords? I believe in writing
> chord names with nothing but sharps and flats, no little
> zeros, plusses, minuses, and especially no triangles or
> other cryptic symbols that tend to break down when handwritten.
> I add slash basses and the rare polychord to the list, and that's it.
> Is that a POV which you encountered, and do you agree with it?

I too, never cared much for triangles and - signs. I felt it
was just as fast to write Bm7 as B-7, and much less ambiguous.


Lump