Dear list,
I have been a long time lurker and have never contributed but this wonderful thread has prompted me to include my bio. It's been refreshing to read everyone talking about themselves without a lot of bravado. This list is a wealth of useful information and intelligent musical conversation. Thank You,
I am 50 years old, married with two kids (ages 16 and 20) and living in Nashville, Tennessee. I have three music degrees from Michigan State University, including a Ph.D. in composition, and I also studied at California State University, Northridge. For ten years I was the assistant band director at Vanderbilt University until I retired due to disability (I have multiple sclerosis) in 1994. I have been a quadriplegic for 9 years. My professional music activities included teaching, composing (my passion), arranging, conducting, copying and studio work (saxophone) with various university marching bands, concert bands and big bands. I began using Finale 2.0 on a PC running Windows 3.1 and currently use FinWin 2004. I am able to use Finale to compose without the use of my hands by utilizing a mouthstick, the Windows accessibility software StickyKeys and MouseKeys and a "one note at a time" entry technique. All of the features of Finale are available to me although I'm very slow (nine months to complete my last commission for example) and the “double click and drag” necessary to draw smart shapes is difficult. I used to compose with a pencil at the piano. When I lost the use of my hands I thought my creative life was over but Finale has allowed me to keep my mind from turning to mush, not to mention a smile on my face.
Joe Laird
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