David Stonestreet wrote:
That free version is a great way to get my students introduced to Finale. Three bought the full version this year after starting on Free. I hope there will be one that runs in OSX.
Agreed. Upon telling the computer guy at the school at which I teach about the new Finale copy-protection system, he said, "well why don't we just go to Sibelius then?", i.e. something that runs OS X straight away, and which already has the similar challenge-response system. Finale Notepad is the reason why not! It's great being able to get all the students to put it on their laptops, from senior students right down to primary-school kids.
Yes Finale free is the key. It gets them all started. Just enough features to be worth using, and enough limitations to leave you wanting more - a good balance.
I have continued to push Finale at my school, but I seem to have all against me. The local music store (Engadine Music Education Centre), which has a very high profile in Sydney Music Ed circles, waxes on and on about Sibelius in all their publications, even though they sell both. I'm sure the tech guy there is pushing people towards Sibelius and not Finale (as well as PC's and not Macs).
My own students are coming to me saying that they had been told or had heard off someone that Finale used to be good but there are much better alternatives around now. Even yesterday a Yr10 student told me that he has uni friends who told him that Sibelius has overtaken Finale.
Have you noticed the colour brochures for "Sibelius Suite"? Its about 6 different programs now, including Auralia and Musition. A complete package.
Matthew what do you teach at the school? Are you a composer in residence or something? I didn't envisage you as a classroom teacher, though maybe I'm wrong!
RockyRoad
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David Stonestreet, Music Co-ordinator & Acting Co-Deputy Sutherland Shire Christian School Barden Ridge, NSW, Australia _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
