Dynamics
As I discovered recently, the inspector provides opportunity to change the 'dynamic range' for dynamics to cover either part, staff or system. It would seem that part is the default. When writing for a SATB closed score (2 staffs), do I have to change the range to 'system' for each dynamic entry or is there a place make system the default, providing of course that all voices are singing at the same volume?
Comments
Until someone comes along with a better answer, I think that, for clarity, I would place dynamics on both staves. Or you could, after a while, select the first dynamic/right click/Select/All similar elements. Then open the inspector to have dynamics apply to both staves.
The norm is to include dynamics for each part, because in real life they often differ. I wouldn't risk confusing singers by omitting them.
In reply to The norm is to include… by Marc Sabatella
Thanks, Marc, for your comment. Makes a lot of sense. I use Musescore to improve the 'readability' of scores for myself and my choir members and to make practice mp4s with individual voices emphasized. With no formal education in music, my knowledge of the 'norm' has been from comments such as yours, my choir director, my choir members, the Musesore handbook as well as years of looking at printed scores. There is a norm? Even individual publishing houses are inconsistent.
Thanks also for this wonderful program. Looking forward to version 4.
In reply to Thanks, Marc, for your… by grufty29
There are definitely norms in music, even if some publishers may deviate from them. For choral music in "closed score" format, much depends on whether the parts are independent enough to use multiple voices or if it's mostly chorale style, with sopranos and altos on the same stem in a single voice, same for tenors and basses, and only a single line of lyric between the staves (eg, a simple hymn). In that case, a single dynamic might well make sense. But even in that case, the usual advice is above the top staff, below the bottom, with the lyrics in the middle.