Better Note entry procedure

I like the process for manual entry -- allow for note entry at the cursor but keep the previous entry selected in case the user wants to make changes. It's actually quite brilliant.

But i'm still having trouble with the limits on note entry. I'd like to be able to define the characteristics of the next entry. For example, i know i've got 4 notes upcoming that will have staccato marks, and they will be played fortissimo. The current setup doesn't allow me to do predefine notes as much as i need; i'm constantly going back and forth between what i just entered and what i'm going to enter.

Perhaps we can use with an alternate note input method -- the Predefinition method. With it, you can set the articulation, dynamics, accidentals (courtesy), etc of the next note to be entered in Note Input, by either shortcut key or mouseclick. But in order to accomplish this, we also need these:
1. A shortcut key or icon to apply the non-note data (dynamics and such) to only the next entered note. That way you won't have a series of "mp"s or "8va"s. Or better yet the software can smartly turn off non-note and non-articulation features.
2. An optional toolbar with a customized set of articulations and other non-note data where the user can choose what the next note will be drawn with. These of course are highlighted even if the user opts for the keyboard shortcut for these buttons.