If there is one thing that unites people together, it’s music. It transcends every person even those who have varying personalities, ideologies and preferences. Even if you have your own likes and dislikes, there are certain pieces that just resonate with everybody. For example, you may really love or abhor pop music as it represents the consumption of anything popular. However, you can’t help but groove to its rhythm once it starts. There’s just something about it that makes you want to listen to it even more. Even though some of them might sound similar, it is no wonder that pop is indeed popular amongst the masses. The power of music just encompasses every about a person and humanity in general.
This is why most composers actually take years just to learn the craft of making melodies. There are even schools which offer courses to help you learn and understand how to create good music. The Juilliard School is one of the most famous schools for performing arts including music and composition. With its 6% acceptance rate, it is no wonder that its products are most certainly well renowned in their chosen fields. Although most of their alumni focus on classical pieces, their impact in the music world is unquestionable. Learn more about this prestigious school here.
However, not everyone can get into these kinds of schools. The exams in Juilliard alone was said to be so difficult and the auditions are grueling to the point of breakdown. If you don’t get a scholarship, the tuition fees can really make you cry. If you take student loans, it will make you cry now and later in your life. There is also the notion that you will not get a good paying job after college if you get an art degree unless you know someone in the business. Although there is some truth in this, you don’t have to be discouraged from your dreams. You may not get into Juilliard or have an immediate recording contract; you can always learn and enjoy music composition through other ways.
The Power of Music Notation Software
There internet has provided a lot of learning tools for everyone who wants to learn how to compose sweet-sounding melodies. For example, there are many videos on YouTube that can help you learn various instruments. If you are someone who can learn on your own, then these might be for you. However, there are certain skills in composition that you need more help than a simple video. For example, music notation i.e. the process of putting notes on a score which represents your actual composition. You can create good music, but it is always better to put it on paper for you to save it for future plays.
Music notation apps and software are abundant online these days, so we would want for you to get the best. There are a lot of lists for the best music notation software for you to read online. They can help in choosing what you are looking for. However, before you even order one, you must know that good notation software should have:
Qualities to Look For In Notation Software
1. Ease of Access
As for any kind of software, it is important for the user to know the basics as much as possible. One of the trademarks of a great musical notation software or score writer is the ease of how you can use it. Having a lot of buttons to press and experiment with is not enough to be considered as good software. Each part of the software must be essential to the whole experience. It is beginner friendly but you can also do complicated notations if you already know how to do it. The buttons on the interface must be organized properly and it is not distracting to use.
2. Capacity for Musical Composition
There are a lot of score writers in the market these days and their capabilities are also very different from each other. There are some software programs that are great for the classical genre since it shows you the scores and create melodies. Others may have the capability of copying notes to the score after you play it on your plug in device. Most of them also offer playbacks and reverbs to help you gauge whether you are using the correct notes. As long as your software can give more options than just organizing notes on a score, then you are good to go.
3. Supported File Formats
Once you have the software, it must cater to as many types of music files and notes as possible to maximize its potential as a software program. For example, most apps can support the standard MIDI file as it is the most commonly used file. However, its notation capabilities are limited because it isn’t meant to be used that way. It must be converted to a WAV file in order to achieve optimal results. There are also other formats like MusicXML which is becoming more common in recent years. Read more about these file formats here: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/audio-file-format-right-needs/.
4.Data Size of the Program
As a music notation program, most of the apps in the market can be quite heavy for your computer. However, this also denotes the capabilities of your chosen program. If it is a large file, then it must have more features and content compared to others. On the other hand, you also need to make sure that your computer or device can handle the program. It can be rendered useless if you can’t even use it for musical notation. Choose a program that fits what you want as well without compromising the quality.
5. Cost
There are many score writers and software in the market that is free of charge. You can use their basic features and unlock the premium ones after you paid for it. There are others who offer a free trial of their product so you can take advantage of that as well. There is a belief that the more expensive anything is, the better quality you may receive after purchase. Choose the program you want to buy carefully so that you wouldn’t waste any money.
