This tutorial will take you through the basic steps to create professional looking music scores using the "point and click" technique, what Finale calls "Simple Note Entry." If you are just beginning to learn to use a music notation software this is the preferred method. Eventually you will be able to learn other, faster methods, but for now this will be the best method to use to become familiar with music notation software.

The reason for using FINALE as the notation software of choice is that is the most commonly used of the professional notation software programs on the market. Most publishing houses encourage composers, arrangers and editors to use this software when they send their work to the publisher on computer disks.

Within the Conservatory program the freshmen harmony classes will be introduced to this software through a graduated program of instruction. Generally during the fourth or fifth week of Music 106 all students will receive their first introduction to Finale. Once this has taken place it will be expected that all harmony students will use Finale to complete their written four-part harmony exercises.

You can move through the tutorial as quickly or as slowly as you wish. Simply press to move forward or the to return to a previous page.

To learn how to change meter signatures click here.

To learn how to include key signatures click here.

To learn how to include accidentals click here.

To learn how to change titles and other printed items click here.

To learn how to use SPEEDY ENTRY click here.

To learn how to use HYPERSCRIBE click here.