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, cesuras, 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 Document 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 SmartMusic’s 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 Repeat marker to indicate each pass of a repeated section, or the ending of a repeated section. (All repeat markers can also be generated automatically based on existing repeats in the score by using the Add SmartMusic Markers dialog box.)
• Add a Repeat End marker to indicate the end of a repeated section. (All repeat markers can also be generated automatically based on existing repeats in the score by using the Add SmartMusic Markers dialog box.)
• Add a Repeat DS marker to indicate a D.S. repeat, both the first pass of the Segno, and then the actual D.S. section. (All repeat markers can also be generated automatically based on existing repeats in the score by using the Add SmartMusic Markers dialog box.)
• Add a Repeat DC marker to indicate a D.C. repeat, both at the beginning of the piece, and then the actual D.C. section. (Note that all repeat markers can be generated automatically based on existing repeats in the score by using the Add SmartMusic Markers dialog box.)
• 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).

Note that 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).

To add SmartMusic performance markers

1. From the Document Menu, choose Add SmartMusic Markers. The Add SmartMusic Markers dialog box appears.
2. Choose the type of marker you would like to add from the list on the left.
3. Click Add. A dialog box appears relating to the type of marker you have chosen.
4. Specify the assignment and other settings for the marker and click OK. For a description of the options in each dialog box, see Add SmartMusic Markers dialog box.

Although the following instructions apply to all SmartMusic markers, if you intend to add them as Expressions, you will first want to review the section To add SmartMusic Performance Markers as expressions (below). Furthermore, additional steps are required to properly define pauses and repeats with Expressions. See To define and add pause markers manually with the Expression Tool and To Add Repeat Markers Manually as Expressions for details.   

To add SmartMusic performance markers as expressions

The following steps are general and are required anytime you want to add a SmartMusic Performance Marker as an expression. Remember to always try using the Add SmartMusic Marker utility (under the Edit Menu) prior to creating expressions manually with Expressions.

1. Choose the Expression Tool .
2. On the solo staff (or the top staff of an ensemble score), double-click where you would like to place the marker. If you wish to create a note-attached expression, be sure to click directly above or below an existing note in the solo staff. The Expression Selection dialog box appears. Some expressions, such as the default rehearsal letters are already assigned as SmartMusic rehearsal marks. For this example, we’ll create a new one.

Note that if you are creating a rehearsal mark, the expression should be aligned with the beginning of the measure.

3. Click Create. The Expression Designer dialog box appears.
4. Type the marker’s name (if desired). You might want to enter text that describes the marker you are about to define (e.g. Intelligent Accompaniment=50, Wait for Note On, Repeat, etc.) though you could leave this box empty if you do not care to display any text in the score. If you do not enter any text here, skip the next step.
5. Highlight the text, and then from the Text Menu, choose Style > Hidden (ctrlCommand+shift+H). Now, the expression is defined to appear in light gray in the score, and will not print.
6.  Click the Playback tab.
7. From the Type drop-down menu, choose SmartMusic Marker. The SMS Marker drop-down menu appears.
8. From the SMS Marker drop-down menu, choose the desired SmartMusic Marker. For a general description of each marker, see SMS Marker. in the Expressions chapter.
9. If you are creating a rehearsal mark or repeat marker, click the Text tab and enter the rehearsal text (A, B, etc.) or repeat values in the Description field. See Repeat markers for SmartMusic accompaniments for more information on specifying different types of repeats.
10. Click OK. You return to the Expression Selection.
11. Click Assign.
12. Shift-double-click the expression to open the Expression Assignment dialog box. Under Begin Playback at, choose the desired option. You can choose Beginning of Measure (e.g. for rehearsal marks), or Position in Measure.
13. Click OK to return to the document. The marker will now apply to the accompaniment’s performance in SmartMusic.

To add pause markers for a SmartMusic Accompaniment

Pause markers are used to tell SmartMusic to wait for a note or cue from the soloist to resume the accompaniment. Many musical elements including fermatas, cesuras, cadenzas, and sometimes ritardandos and rallentandos require a pause marker for the soloist to accurately perform the musical passage (or have freedom to interpret the music as desired). You can add a pause marker easily by placing it on the note you wish the accompaniment to resume using the Add SmartMusic Markers dialog box.

1. From the Document Menu, choose Add SmartMusic Markers.
2. Choose the type of pause marker you would like to add from the list on the left. The type of pause depends on the cue the performer will use to resume accompaniment. In other words, SmartMusic will “wait for”:

A note (Wait for Note On) - Choose this option to instruct SmartMusic to wait for a specific note performed by the soloist as a cue to resume the accompaniment. This type of pause marker is appropriate for a ritardando or rallentando (see To add pause markers for ritardandos or rallentandos), rests or held notes in the accompaniment, (see To pause for accompaniment rests or held notes), and fermatas within a piece (see To add pause markers for fermatas). A Wait for Note marker is generally only required on the note you want the accompaniment to resume.  

The release of the note (Wait for End of Note) - Choose this option to instruct SmartMusic to hold notes in the accompaniment until the current note is released, for example, a fermata on the last note of a piece. See step three under To add pause markers for fermatas.

A foot pedal message (Wait for Foot Pedal) - Choose this option to instruct SmartMusic to resume the accompaniment upon receiving a foot pedal message from the soloist. This type of pause marker is recommended for cadenzas (see To add pause markers for cadenzas), but could also be used for fermatas, rests/held notes in the accompaniment, or even rallentandos. A Wait for Foot Pedal marker is only required at the location you want the accompaniment to resume.

3. Click Add. The Wait for Note, Wait for End of Note, or Wait for Foot Pedal dialog box appears depending on your selection.
4. Specify the location of the marker using the provided fields. Here, you can either choose an existing rehearsal marker, a repeat marker, or you can specify a bar and beat. Remember, the pause marker should be added to the point at which the accompaniment should resume.
5. Click OK. You return to the Add SmartMusic Markers dialog box. You can add additional markers without returning to the score.
6. When you have finished adding the desired markers, click Done.

You will notice hidden text above the solo staff that indicates the markers you’ve added. These are actually hidden text expressions that Finale generated for you based on your settings in the Add SmartMusic Markers dialog box. The Add SmartMusic Markers dialog box is basically a tool that allows you to automatically generate these expressions without having to define them manually. If you wish, you can manually define these SmartMusic Markers using the Expression Tool as we’ll explain next.

To define and add pause markers manually with the Expression Tool

If you add SmartMusic Markers manually with the Expression Tool (instead of the Add SmartMusic Markers utility), at least two markers are required to properly define a pause; a marker that indicates the point at which the accompaniment should pause (Wait for Note, Wait for End of Note, or Wait for Foot Pedal) and a marker that indicates the point at which the accompaniment should resume (Resume). A third marker, Reset Tempo, should be added at the same point as each Resume marker to tell SmartMusic to resume at the tempo defined in the document (eliminating any tempo changes added by SmartMusic’s Intelligent Accompaniment feature). If you have used the Add SmartMusic Marker dialog box, you may have noticed Finale automatically places the ‘Wait for...’ expression on the note prior to the point defined in the Add SmartMusic Markers dialog box. Actually, the ‘Wait for...’ need only precede the ‘Resume’ by a tiny increment because there is almost never a need to pause the accompaniment at a musically significant point prior to the resume point (as the accompaniment would be resting or holding anyway).

As shown in the Add SmartMusic Markers dialog box, there are three ways SmartMusic can be ‘cued’ to resume an accompaniment; upon hearing a pitch (Wait for Note On), upon hearing the cutoff of a pitch (Wait for End of Note), or upon receiving a foot pedal message (Wait for Foot Pedal). The cue SmartMusic ‘waits for’ depends on the marker used to indicate the point at which the accompaniment should pause. The same marker, Resume, is always used to indicate the point at which the accompaniment should resume. Like any expression defined for playback, SmartMusic Marker expressions apply to the note they are attached to or the horizontal placement within the measure. Specific placement recommendations are explained below under To add pause markers for ritardandos or rallentandos, To pause for accompaniment rests or held notes, and To add pause markers for fermatas.  

To add pause markers for ritardandos or rallentandos

To specify this effect with the Add SmartMusic Marker utility, simply place a Wait for Note marker on the note you want the accompaniment to resume. The Resume and Reset Tempo marker is added for you automatically. See Wait for Note dialog box.

To assign the necessary markers manually with Expressions, add a Wait for Note On marker at the end of a passage, and then a Resume and Reset Tempo marker on the note the accompaniment is to resume. When the soloist plays the pitch assigned to the Resume marker, the accompaniment resumes. This is particularly useful if an a tempo marking follows the ritardando or rallentando.

Tip: Since the accompaniment will be expected to slow for the performer, it might be a good idea to increase the IA level for the ritardando region. The Wait for Note marker is only required imediately prior to the return to a steady tempo.

To add a pause marker for ritardandos or rallentandos manually using expressions:

1. Add a Wait for Note On marker just beyond the last note of the passage.
2. Then add a Resume marker and Reset Tempo marker on the first note following the passage. During the performance, SmartMusic will wait for the pitch following the ritardando (the F in the solo line of the figure below) before continuing the accompaniment. If the soloist rests on the beat following the passage, add a Foot Pedal marker instead.

To pause for accompaniment rests or held notes

To specify this effect with the Add SmartMusic Marker plug-in, place the Wait for Note marker on the note you want the accompaniment to resume. The Resume and Reset Tempo marker is added for you automatically. See Wait for Note dialog box. A Wait for Note pause marker can also be used when there is a break or held note in the accompaniment to ensure SmartMusic resumes playback along with the performer (for a rubato or expressive section of the piece for example). Again, the entrance of the accompaniment resumes upon hearing the designated note in the solo line.

To add a pause for accompaniment rests manually with expressions:

1. Enter a ‘Wait for Note On’ marker expression at a point during the rest or held note in the accompaniment.
2. Enter a ‘Resume’ marker expression at the point the accompaniment is to resume. During the performance, when the accompaniment reaches the Wait for Note On marker, SmartMusic begins listening for the pitch under the Resume marker, and does not continue with the accompaniment until that pitch is performed (or the spacebar is struck. Therefore, if the same pitch appears prior to the Resume pitch, enter the Wait for Note marker after the duplicate pitch, or use a Foot Pedal marker instead.
3. Enter a ‘Reset Tempo’ marker expression at the same point as the ‘Resume’ marker. The Reset Tempo marker erases any tempo adjustments SmartMusic acquired from the soloist prior to reaching the Wait for Note On marker. Entering this marker ensures the accompaniment will resume at the tempo specified in the document.

Pause for rests in accompaniment

Pause for held note(s) in accompaniment

In SmartMusic, during the performance of the above examples, the performer will see a message “Waiting for Pitch _” until the designated pitch is performed (and the accompaniment resumes).

Note that the same procedure can be used to pause the accompaniment for cadenzas if the “Resume” note is not performed during the cadenza passage. Simply place the Wait for Note On marker at a point (preferably towards the beginning) of the cadenza. For more information on adding pause markers for cadenzas, see To add markers for cadenzas.

To add pause markers for fermatas

Pause markers can be added to accommodate fermatas in much the same way they are added for rests or held notes in the accompaniment (described above). The type of pause marker used depends on whether the soloist or accompaniment resumes playback.

To specify this effect with the Add SmartMusic Marker plug-in, place the Wait for Note or Wait for Foot Pedal marker on the note you want the accompaniment to resume. The Resume and Reset Tempo marker is added for you automatically. See Wait for Note dialog box.

To add a pause marker for a fermata manually with expressions:

1. If both the soloist and accompaniment resume playback simultaneously, add a Wait for Note On marker over the held note. Then add a Resume marker and Reset Tempo marker over the note following the fermata. SmartMusic will sustain the pitches under the fermata until it hears the Resume pitch (in this case F) performed by the soloist. SmartMusic indicates to the performer that it is “Waiting for your note _”.

2. If there is a rest under the fermata in the solo staff, and the accompaniment resumes on its own, add a Wait for Foot Pedal marker over the held note. Then add a Resume marker and Reset Tempo marker over the first note (of the accompaniment) following the fermata. During the performance, SmartMusic will indicate that it is waiting for a foot pedal message from the soloist to resume the accompaniment.

3. If a fermata appears at the end of the piece, add a Wait for End of Note marker over the held note. Then add a Resume marker and Reset Tempo marker to the right of the fermata. During the performance, SmartMusic will release the held note along with the soloist.

To add pause markers for cadenzas

Cadenzas are unaccompanied passages performed by the soloist. You can use a Foot Pedal marker inserted during the cadenza, and then a Resume marker after the cadenza to ensure the accompaniment resumes in coordination with the soloist (upon receiving a foot pedal message).

To specify this effect with the Add SmartMusic Marker plug-in, place the Wait for Foot Pedal marker on the note you want the accompaniment to resume. The Resume and Reset Tempo marker is added for you automatically. See Wait for Foot Pedal dialog box.

To add a pause marker for a cadenza manually with expressions:

1. Add a Wait for Foot Pedal marker near the beginning of the cadenza.
2. Add a Resume marker and Reset Tempo marker over the first beat following the cadenza. It is best to place the Wait for Foot Pedal early in the cadenza to ensure the soloist does not ‘catch up’ to the accompaniment (which continues in tempo until reaching the ‘Wait for’ marker, or any of the pause markers). In this cadenza, note that the pitch C appears after the Wait for Foot Pedal marking, which is also the pitch of the Resume note immediately after the cadenza. If there was not a C in the cadenza, a Wait for Note On marker could be added instead of Wait for Foot Pedal so pressing the foot pedal would not be necessary during the performance. See To pause for accompaniment rests or held notes.