#flat.io save me save me flat.io

[sheepie-self-ships]

If there’s not going to be a music box cover of p.umping iron I’ll simply have to make it myself

[writingforevren]

New Musical WIP - Small Intro + Song

Hello There! So a little background (feel free to skip this paragraph) I was just laying around, no inspiration, I was gonna add to my WIPS but nothing came and then all the sudden I thought of this play idea I had from like a year ago and then this song popped into my head and I was like- This play is a musical now and I’m writing this shit down. So I spent all day writing sheet music for this song and plotting out what happens on stage during, I actually felt that- spark you feel when you start a new project, which hasn’t happened in a long time. So I spent three hours on a song for a musical, keep in mind I have never written a song before (well- finished I should say) but honestly I think it turned out well. 

Story Description

Corruption is a Fantasy, LGBT+, Forbidden Romance, Story. It’s based in a kingdom that is very corrupt and violent towards people of lesser status. The main characters are Prince Fabian who is a prince and son of the king and queen who are- borderline evil, sentencing people to death over the smallest crimes, Fabian starts to feel that this is wrong and is beginning to question what more there is to life.

Our other main character is Lee, He never really had a full name and always just goes by ���Lee’ a nickname given to him by his mother who mysteriously disappeared. He lives in the poorest part of the village, stealing to support his younger sister. One day he is caught with a precious jewel he stole in a heat of the moment decision because he couldn’t resist, he is taken to the castle and sentenced to a horrible demise which is where Fabian and him cross paths.

That and the contents of this song are all I’m going to reveal for now but anyway~ I hope you enjoy this piece, there’s a link to the sheet music to the end so you can listen to the melody.

Lyrics/Script - Be This Way

Fabian and Lee start in a rental room above a pub.

Fabian is standing near the window (singing): We can’t be this way.

Lee steps closer (singing) : We can’t be this way.

Fabian looks down: We can’t be this way...

Lee: We can’t be this way.

Fabian looks up and cups Lee’s cheek, smiling: We could be this way.

Lee pulls away and takes a few steps away: No we can’t.

Fabian follows him: But why? Darling why?

Lee sighs and stares at the floor: I’m a thief..

Fabian turns him around and caresses his cheek: you’re adorable.

Lee pushes him away and paces: I’m unhinged.

Fabian follows him and wraps his arms around his neck: You’re desirable

Lee pushes him away more violently almost knocking him over: Why can’t you see?!

Fabian (spoken softly): what?

Lee: You don’t belong with me.

Lee walks out the door, slamming it.

Fabian sighs and sits down in a chair, distraught: why has this happened? why can’t he see?

Fabian stands up and steps to the front of the stage: If I didn’t save him, he wouldn’t be free...

Fabian (more passionately): I gave up everything for him! So we could be this way.

Sheet Music

https://flat.io/score/619833a28c09ac001292ce51-be-this-way

More

That’s all I have for now, let me know if you’d like to be notified of future updates and I’ll add you to the taglist, I probably won’t be updating this very often but when I get the inspiration I will, I hope you like what I have so far, and I’d love to hear your opinions.

Taglists

General: @weirdfishy @wannabeauthorzofija @annlillyjose @radiomacbeth @opes-magnas @l-g-h3ron

Obsession: Ask to be added

[m1d1d00rs]

Week Four: Music Notation Software

SOS: the Coronavirus has hit and this was our first week of online classes. Typical that something like this would happen in 3rd year, the fun year! the last year before we all have to get it together and study.

buttttttttt.............

I still had to go to uni to collect my own ✨ Blue Snowball Microphone ✨ *endless heart eyes*  😍 😍 😍 that we get to borrow until uni goes back, so maybe silver linings still do exist afterall...

To kick this lecture off, we got some angsty backstory on James’ connection to Sibelius, as he used to be Director of Applications and Education for them, AND he even wrote THE book on Sibelius 7 Notation Essentials. More detail on it provided here. 

We looked at different notation software available for teaching both in-browser applications like Musescore, Flat.io and Noteflight, as well as downloadable programs like Sibelius, Finale and Dorico. A week before this, I had actually purchased Sibelius Ultimate and was disappointed to hear that Music Education students would be getting it for free while COVID-19 was around :(

Anyway, here’s the highlights reel of the programs:

MUSESCORE

It’s free!

There is now a Musescore Version 3.0 with a ton of cool new features that can be found here.

You can share your work with others online and print off music that others have made.

Helpful tutorials on how to play your chosen piece.

Ability to change the tempo/key so students can play along with it. I’ve found my students really enjoy this function especially if we find a flute/piano part and they want harmonies to accompany them. 

IN BROWSER VIEW

Can convert and save files as XML - a mark-up language much like HTML which allows the file to be opened in multiple programs, e.g. Sibelius. A useful tool if you are transferring between colleagues.

When you use the arrow keys the notes move chromatically (unlike Sibelius which moves diatonically).

Use the camera icon in the top right hand corner to get a high quality screenshot.

The master palette has a wide variety of ornamentation, dynamics etc. that you can leave open on the side of your work. Super accessible, might even dare to say easier than Sibelius to find the symbol you need.

 MASTER PALETTE VIEW

SIBELIUS 

The software I feel most comfortable using as I used it all through high school and now finally have purchased it myself. After making the switch from Musescore to Sibelius I won’t go back. 

Personally, I think the design is a lot clearer as well as the notation style.

Costs $$$ but you can get it cheaper if you get an education version and I teamed up with my sister to get the perpetual two person license which made it a lot cheaper. Anything to avoid monthly subscriptions.

Panel feature allows you to create loops/musical templates and upload these to an ‘ideas hub‘ for students.

Option to export files as video, pdf, audio, XML etc.

It can generate worksheets???? amazing and is super speedy

Can take a high quality screen shot like in Musescore if you press Alt + G.

James showed us this tutorial which includes a lot of information about the different functions of Sibelius 7.

DRUM ‘IDEAS’ SEEN IN THE PANEL FEATURE

FLAT.IO

I was first introduced to Flat.io at Music Education Camp Summer 2020 by Karen and Caitlin as they were showing me a string quartet they were working on. I was so amazed as I’d never seen a collaborative program like this before.

Collaborative workspace

Works in the browser

Like in Musescore you can also share your score and make it public online.

There is a pay version that provides additional notation features. It cost $219 to buy outright or you can get a subscription for $9.99 a month. 

[holleyhums]

Learning new things everyday!

Did you know that you can access hundreds of teaching resources, pre-made worksheets, complete scores of appropriate repertoire, and many more awesome teacher-y things on Sibelius? Because I sure didn’t...until today!

The usual Wednesday SCMTME class was a real crash course through lots of different notation softwares commonly used in our musical worlds, be it in the classroom or in the composers studio. I personally learnt that softwares such as Flat.io and Noteflight aren’t really for me (at least in their free versions accessible online), and that Musescore is better than I thought! For being a free notation program, there’s actually a lot you can do with it. It might be a little more tedious, but it does the job. I also really love the online user “cloud”, a database where you can upload your work for others to access, what a nifty time-saving idea! The real kicker today was the aforementioned teaching resources, found deep within Sibelius. Why has no one mentioned this to me before? I have not a clue, but I know it’ll save me a tonne of time with making quick resources by using them as an easy template. To any music teachers out here reading this that didn’t know about it like me, your welcome! If you wanna know more, click here for some more info about the worksheet creator