Comparing Music Notation Software

Description

Explore the setup, functions, and pros and cons of the three most widely-used music notation software programs.

Andy Grobengieser leads a survey and comparison of the most popular and powerful music notation software applications on the market today. These programs allow you to translate your musical ideas from your imagination to the physical or digital page, and ultimately to the stage and beyond! We’ll look at the main features of Finale, Sibelius, and Dorico and compare them in terms of setup, learning curve, ease of use, accessibility, popularity, and price.

Recorded Masterclass is 1 hour, 25 minutes.

Instructor: Andy Grobengieser
Andy is a New York City-based music director and creative professional with wide-ranging industry experience in: music supervision, music directing, conducting, piano/keyboards, music transcription, music copying, arranging, orchestration, and music technology.

As a theater musician and conductor, Andy has held regular positions on Broadway with KING KONG (associate conductor/keys, ) Disney’s ALADDIN and THE LITTLE MERMAID (assistant conductor/keys), GROUNDHOG DAY (assistant conductor/keys), GHOST (associate conductor/keys/music technology), and Elton John’s LESTAT (associate conductor/keys). Additionally, Andy has traveled the U.S. with a number of major national tours, including Disney’s THE LION KING (associate conductor/keys), SHREK the Musical (musical director/conductor), and most recently, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER (musical director/piano). He has also performed as a part-time musician in a number of Broadway pit orchestras over the past decade: SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, THE LAST SHIP, NEWSIES, LES MISERABLES, THE FULL MONTY, A CHORUS LINE, and DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, among others.

Andy has been an arranger and engraver for Hal Leonard Corporation, the world’s largest publisher and distributor of printed and digital sheet music, since 2001. His arrangements appear in hundreds of best-selling pop, rock, country, and R&B sheet music folios and songbooks, and he recently created the official vocal selections books for Broadway shows MOULIN ROUGE, JAGGED LITTLE PILL, FROZEN, BEETLEJUICE, and THE BAND’S VISIT.

Andy’s experience in music technology incorporates all major software platforms– Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Sibelius, Finale, Ableton Live, and Reason. He also has deep experience integrating music technology into live theatrical contexts (for example, Ableton Live at Broadway’s GHOST and GROUNDHOG DAY).

Andy also has a deep academic background, having achieved his Masters’ Degree and subsequent PhD work at The University of Texas-Austin, three years of experience on the adjunct music theory faculty at PACE University, and has served as a contributor to several academic textbooks.