Teaching Notation on the iPad
Dr. George Hess
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
National University of Singapore
[email protected]
www.georgehessmusic.com/workshops/
In this session, we’ll learn how to use and teach with Notion for iPad.
Interface
The interface consists of a toolbar, palettes, virtual instruments, contextual menus and
score. Click the Help (?) Button and select Quick Reference to see labels of all interface
elements. Tap anywhere to close.
Multi-touch actions
• Single Tap: operate the program, select single items, select and enter items from the
palette, place the edit marker.
• Double Tap: Select a measure and display the main context menu.
• Tap and Hold: Display the measure context menu
• Two-finger pinch: Zoom In/Out
• Two-finger double tap: Toggle Zoom to fit screen/Normal size
Editing - Context Menus
• Main Context menu contains Edit commands, Copy, Paste, Select, etc. and More
button for Secondary menu
• Secondary context menu contains Tools: Transpose, Note appearance, Voice
Operations, Attachments, Staff Groups, Measure layout tools.
Creating a Score
• Tap Home button and Tap New
• Tap Instrument family and instrument to add to score
• Tap Edit to Move or Delete instrument
• Tap Eye to hide/show instruments
• Tap (i) to edit instrument properties: transposition, name, tuning, switch instrument.
Adding and Deleting Measures
• To add or insert one measure: Tap to place the Edit (green) Marker, Tap the Barline
tool in the palette
• To add or insert multiple measures: Tap and Hold to display the Measure menu. Select
Insert Barlines. Type the number of measures needed.
Note Entry
• Tap Entry: Select note value from palette, tap in score
• Step Entry: Select note value from palette, display virtual instrument, select pencil
• Single Note: Choose Melody Mode. Play notes on VI.
• Chord Entry: Choose Chord Mode. Play notes on VI, Tap Forward arrow when
•
•
complete
Real Time: Best with MIDI instrument. Press Record button, choose settings:
Metronome, Count in, Minimum velocity and duration, Tuplets, Multi-voice, Tap Start
Recording. Tap Record button to stop
Articulations can be entered during note entry: Select note value, then select
articulation before entering note.
Entering Dynamics, Techniques, Text
Select the note or location FIRST, then select item to be entered.
Chord Symbols
• Tap the location. Tap the Chord Tool. Choose the Root, Quality, Extensions and Bass
Note. Tap Enter and an arrow button to move forward or back. Choose a diagram for
better voice leading
• Slashes (or notes) are required for chord playback.
• To enter more than one chord per measure, enter notes or slashes first.
SAMPLE PROJECTS
Major Scales and Primary Triads Reference Sheet
1. Create a New Score with one voice staff. Title: Major Scales and Primary Triads
2. Set to Print View. In Print Settings, set Measures per system to 2, Titles on first
system to “None: and Titles following to “None”
3. Set the Meter in measure 1 to 8/1 and in measure 2 to 3/1.
4. Double tap each meter and select Attachments > Hide
5. Show the Keyboard Instrument. Tap Melody Mode and Step Entry (Pencil)
6. Select Whole Note and enter a C major scale in measure 1
7. Tap the Chord Mode button and enter a C, F and G major triads in measure 2.
8. Set the Edit Marker to the first chord. Tap the Chord Tool and enter, C, F and G
9. Double-tap measure 1. Drag the lower right handle to add measure 2 to the selection
10. Tap Duplicate. Tap More.
11. Tap Transpose. Transpose up a Perfect 4th to F. Tap Transpose
12. Repeat steps 10 and 11 following the Circle of 5ths until all 12 keys are entered.
Avoid extreme ranges
13. Tap the beginning of the second line. Select the Key Signature tool. Set to F major
14. Repeat step 13 until all key signatures are entered
15. Double tap each courtesy key signature and select “Hide Courtesy Key Signature”
16. Edit any mispelled chord symbols. Set the Edit marker on the chord, Tap the Chord
tool and choose the correct chord.
17. In Print settings, set the Notation size to 3.0.
18. Tap Subtitle and tap the Eraser. Tap composer and Tap the eraser.
Songwriting Template
1. Create a new score with Flute, Guitar, Bass and Drum Set. Tap Edit and move the
drum staff to the bottom of the score. Set guitar to use only TAB and the Bass to
use only notation.
2. Select m. 9 to the end and delete. Add a backward repeat to m. 8
3. Set the Notation size to 5, Measures per system to 4 and staff spacing to 1.5.
4. Select the Drum staff. Enter one measure the drum part. Enter the bass drum part in
v. 2 using Melody mode and the Snare and Hi-hat part in v. 1 using Chord Mode.
Duplicate to complete 8 measures..
5. Enter the bass line in measure 1. Transpose m. 2 to G, m. 3 to A and m. 4 to F.
6. Enter the first measure of the guitar part. Duplicate for 4 measures.
7. Repitch the measures 2-4 by moving the Edit marker and changing the notes.
8. Add the chord symbols to the guitar part. Duplicate m. 1-4.
9. Place the Edit marker on the first measure of the flute part. Tap Record. Record the
melody on the virtual keyboard.
10. Edit the melody as necessary. Quantize to Notation and Clear Velocities.
11. Use the mixer to add reverb to the flute and guitar and pan slightly
12. Tap the Tempo marking and set to 108.
Adapted from Creating Music with Notion: Notation Software for the Busy Musician
by George J. Hess (Hal Leonard Books) Available April 6, 2015.
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