SmartMusic Performance Markers

You can use SmartMusic performance markers to specify effects that are found in standard accompaniments such as rehearsal letters, pauses for fermatas, cadenzas, caesuras, and repeats. You can also use markers to adjust the level of Intelligent Accompaniment during the course of the performance. You can add all of these markers using the Add SmartMusic Markers dialog box under the Utilities menu (as described in this section). After doing so, the markers appear in the score as expressions defined for playback as the appropriate SmartMusic marker type.

Since SmartMusic markers always appear in a Finale score as (hidden) expressions, they can also be added manually with the Expression tool. Although the Add SmartMusic Markers dialog box is the recommended method, some users prefer the extra control offered when entering them manually. When you apply SmartMusic markers this way, you create expressions that contain special SmartMusic playback data that SmartMusic can recognize while performing the accompaniment. If you decide to add SmartMusic Markers manually, follow the same instructions for placement of each marker outlined in this section. (We recommend always trying the Add SmartMusic Markers dialog box first while creating performance markers. It’s faster and easier.)

SmartMusic markers are added to the beat or measure you want the effect to occur, depending on the marker type. See To add SmartMusic performance markers for details. Here is a basic description of all performance markers.

• Add an Intelligent Accompaniment marker to a beat to specify a change in the Intelligent Accompaniment level.
• Add a Rehearsal Mark to the beginning of a measure to indicate a rehearsal mark. This rehearsal mark will display in the SmartMusic interface during the performance.
• Add an Opt. Octave Up 1 or Opt. Octave Down 1 to specify the first beat of an optional octave section (where the soloist has the option to play up or down an octave). Add an End Opt. Octave marker to the beat following the optional octave section to specify the end of the optional octave.
• Add a Reset Tempo marker to a beat to specify a return to the tempo specified in the document. This marker eliminates tempo changes that have been applied as the SmartMusic Intelligent Accompaniment feature responded to tempo adjustments made by the soloist.
• Add a pause marker (Wait for Note On, Wait for End of Note, or Wait for Foot Pedal) to the beat you want to pause the accompaniment. Then, add a Resume marker on the beat the accompaniment is to resume (upon hearing the note, the cutoff of a note, or a foot pedal message).
• Add a Small Breath Mark marker to indicate a short pause sufficient for a short breath.
• Add a Large Breath Mark marker to indicate a pause sufficient for a large breath.
• Add a Breath Mark End marker to indicate the end of a breath mark.
• Add a Reset Measure Counter marker to reset the SmartMusic measure counter.
• The Use Description Text marker is available for additional marker possibilities that may be added to SmartMusic in the future. By choosing this option, you instruct SmartMusic to read the values entered into the Description text box of the Expression Designer, and incorporate them into the performance accordingly (like rehearsal marks and repeat markers).

Tip: Several markers are sometimes added for you automatically while using the Add SmartMusic Markers utility. For example, Reset Tempo is always added at the point the accompaniment is to resume after a Wait for Note marker has been added. (It is assumed the performer will resume at the tempo specified in the score).

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