Finale 2010 Review

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(More customer reviews)I've used Finale since 1995, producing hundreds of arrangements and compositions, engraving music for other composers and arrangers, and even creating a theory textbook.Generally speaking, Finale has been an excellent product, and I've never found anything that couldn't be notated using this program.However, recent updates have become less and less stable as the program has gotten more complex.Even with a new computer, Finale 2008 and 2009 were having trouble playing back large scores and would occasionally crash for no reason.Finale 2010 reorganizes many notational inputs and is much smoother graphically, but after a few months' use, I found a terrible problem:Finale 2010 would crash when I tried to open complex files created on earlier versions of of the program!That means I can't access some of my older work to make changes or even print out a new copy.After the crash, Finale 2010 wouldn't start again until I restarted the computer.

I contacted MakeMusic about this and sent them one of the files that wouldn't open.They agreed that Finale 2010 crashed when trying to open the file and acknowledged that the file still opens well in Finale 2008.Their advice was to identify all files with this problem, export them as XML files and import them into Finale 2010.The problem is that I have so many files (thousands!) that it would take weeks to attempt to open every single file, especially if the program keeps crashing and I have to restart the computer over and over.The other option was to keep older versions of Finale on the computer, but that would take up a lot of hard drive space and file managing could get problematic.So, at the moment, I'm considering downgrading to Finale 2009 and never updating again!

Since the Sibelius notation software has emerged as competition for Finale, my impression is that MakeMusic is releasing more and more "upgrades" that aren't thoroughly tested, and this issue is simply a deal-breaker.In concept, the program is still very good, and if you're just getting started, it's still the standard in notation software, but I cannot recommend this version of Finale to longtime users.

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Product Description:
The best tools are designed by the people who use them. Introducing Finale 2010 - theworld standard in music notation software. Compose, arrange, notate, and print engraver-qualitysheet music that plays back with world-class sounds. Finale continues to lead the way, helping you reach perfection faster. - Streamlined user interface is more efficient, intuitive, and consistent - Setup Wizard configures your score beautifully in seconds. - Enter your music into Finale using a MIDI keyboard, computer keyboard, mouse, mic, or scanner. - Scan existing sheet music directly into Finale. From there you can change the key, edit, and save as a Finale file. - Linked Parts - intelligently links your score and parts to save you time. - More than 300 customizable and printable Music Education Worksheets. - Video Support - import video, plus send and display SMPTE time code. - TempoTap™ - conduct your own tempo changes. - Playback - here are just a few reasons why Finale's sound is unsurpassed: - Record or import an audio track for unprecedented realism. - More than 350 world-class Garritan instrument sounds - and more. - More than 100 sounds from the acclaimed Tapspace Virtual Drumline. - Human Playback® makes your music sound like live musicians are playing it - even if you entered your notes with a mouse! - Integrated Garritan Aria player. - Full support for VST/AU instruments AND effects. - Powerful Mixer (real-time control of volume, panning, patch, and more). - Save Audio Files (including .MP3) to create CDs or save to an iPod. - Document Styles let you instantly personalize the appearance of new documents. - Colored Noteheads and integrated Boomwhackers tuned percussion tube sounds.

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Measure Up! (The Game Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)I am always on the lookout for music games that I can play with my piano students during lessons. This one has been a big hit. Each player is dealt several cards, some of which are time signatures and some of which are notes or rests. During your turn, you try to make up a measure using the cards in your hand (first, a time signature to set the parameter, and then notes and/or rests to fill that many beats). I must admit to simplifying the rules and using all note value cards in any time signature (as opposed to suits of different time signatures), but my students pick up the concept quickly and feel proud of themselves. Highly recommended.

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Product Description:
The fun card game guaranteed to turn you into a rhythm whiz!Measure Up! is the exciting new music card game where players win points by creating full bars using time signatures,note values and rests. Measure Up! is great for learning about how time signatures and note/rest values work in a fun, simple way!Perfect for home and classroom. Contents: 40 note/rest value cards and 16 time signature cards, Rules and instructions on how to play.

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Music Mind Games Review

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(More customer reviews)I am extremely picky about teaching resources and activities, and I cannot say enough good things about this book. The main thing that sets it apart is that everything is incredibly thought-out and organized, and there is a*philopsophy* behind everything. A lot of music teacher activity books arejust a bunch of random games carelessly thrown together with little or nothought about what the purpose is, or WHY that approach is best.
Believeit or not, I read this book years after completing a music degree, and ithelped me realize and understand some things about music theory for thefirst time. I have used these activities with grades k-8 and also inprivate piano lessons. It is truly excellent.

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A game idea book of over 400 pages, with more than 200 games. Music Mind Games can be used in schools and preschools, with families, at camp, in the private studio. Appropriate for elementary, intermediate and advanced levels. Designed so that even the no

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Making Each Minute Count: Time-Savers, Tips, and Kid-Tested Strategies for the Music Class Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm an elementary school music teacher for an Asian country, and I must say that this book has been a very useful resource and I do not regret buying it.

The cons of this book is that stuff like classroom management techniques are highly cultural sensitive - so it is definitely more suitable for the context of American classrooms.

However, many of the teaching techniques mentioned will definitely inspire you to make your lessons more interesting for children. They also seem to correspond quite closely with the 'learning through doing' techniques for teaching music to children that I was highly ingrained with during my pre-service training.

In short, this book is a sensible read and resource for elementary school music teachers who wish to inject a more creative approach towards teaching in their classrooms. It far beats some of those books which boast of a 101 music games etc etc which leave you with a feeling that you are running a circus rather than a music class.

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Product Description:
Look who's having the best time ... THE MUSIC TEACHER! This comprehensive time-management resource book for the music specialist can help you stay fresh and on top of things even with back-to-back music classes.Based on years of classroom experience, the author shares her philosophy of helping students learn HOW to learn. There are literally dozens of ideas to help you FIND time, STRETCH time, SAVE time, and MAKE more time to meet all your instructional goals. This book will place the "magic wand" that casts the "magic spell" of musical learning into your hand.The book is divided into 12 sections to help you achieve maximum student response in minimum lesson time. You can make each minute count by choosing and adapting musical activities that appeal to your own teaching situation.Topics include: Attitude and Atmosphere, Classroom Management and Discipline, Incredibly Successful Teaching Strategies, Attention Grabbers, Hello and Goodbye (Personalizing Your Music Class), Musical Warm-Ups (Mind-Body-Voice), Introducing and Digesting New Songs, Musical Learning Outcomes (Assessment Methods), Making the Music Room Our Own, Beyond the Music Room (Public Relations), Awards, Forms Documents and More! For all ages.

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