making a choral score have a piano only introduction
I would like to be able to make a choral score template that has the first system with only piano staves and then the choral staves are added to it in the second system. I want to have this set while all the staves are empty in an empty template. Is there any way to make this?
Comments
Not in a template, not in a useful way, as Hide empty staves makes sense only after having entered the notes
In reply to Not in a template, not in a… by Jojo-Schmitz
It would be very useful in this way if under the Style menu on the Score page at "Hide empty staves within systems" if there were a "Hide empty staves in first system only" choice.
In reply to It would be very useful in… by missa22missl25
But you may have a long piano introduction that extends to two or even more systems before the singing starts. You would need a hide first n systems option. Just leaving the choir staves empty and hiding them is much simpler and is exactly what you want - no choir showing when they are not singing.
In reply to But you may have a long… by SteveBlower
You are right that I may have a longer than one system introduction. I have one in a piece that I am arranging right now. But, as a new question, how can I go about hiding empty choral staves during the piano introduction section but retain the empty choral staves in subsequent systems, even in the final arrangement? I've found that my volunteer choir is okay with the piano only introduction on their music, but without the empty choral staves from there on, they get lost in the reading, especially in page turns.
In reply to You are right that I may… by missa22missl25
One the way to do this is to add something to the "empty" measures that you want to not hide so that they are not treated as empty. I have never tried this myself but other users have created a white or transparent staff text which doesn't show up in a printed version. This can be added to your pallet for re-use. You might try searching the forum for further details. Or perhaps someone who uses the technique might see this and provide further details here.
It has been suggested that a measure property might be added that would achieve the same thing in a less clunky way. I am not sure if it has made it to the Issue Tracker as a formal Suggestion.