Handwritten?

Does anyone hand write music anymore? I do, pretty much all of mine up to this point. Im starting to question the value of it though, given I just have to type it later. anyone have any thoughts?

Depends on what you're writing. Under most circumstances, I would say just start with typing it a notation program. Maybe if you're just noodling around with what you're going to do next at the piano, then sure, writing is okay there. Or if what you're writing has REALLY weird notation (several pieces by George Crumb come to mind), then hand writing it would probably be best. Afterwards you can use a combination of a notation program and photoshop to clean it up before you give it to the performers.

I usually do both - though more towards using a notation software. I have a pocket sketchbook I use as well.

I usually do both - though more towards using a notation software. I have a pocket sketchbook I use as well.

same here

This has been fairly well covered already, but I'd agree with people like Jason (jawoodruff) who do both.

I've found that writing by hand makes you more careful and makes you consider things more. I often use this approach for a more experimental piece, where I'm not so sure of the territory. (Also, it's the only way to write when you're on the train/bus/whatever!)

I use Sibelius when I'm in familiar territory, and can work through the piece quickly. In this case, writing out on paper, then copying into Sibelius would be an unnecessary waste of time.

I only give parts to musicians when they've been typeset with Sibelius (with a few minor exceptions). Handwriting is too slow and finicky for me to write out 20 parts of a piece... or even 5 parts.

Tl;dr - best to use both, IMO.

Often I'll sketch little fragments on staff paper when a computer is unavailable. Otherwise I use the computer for everything else because its faster, its neater, and you get real-time feedback on how it "sounds".

thanks for the replies. i really think i need to start moving a little bit more towards the computer

Don't listen to these vultures, computers are a crutch.

lol, thats what i used to think.

but what happens when its time to type it up? or you want to hear it, but dont have, for example, a whole orchestra handy?

please persuade me otherwise, cause i really do love handwriting, but I hate the busywork of typing music.

interesting comments, well i guess ill not worry about it for now, just stick with what im doing. handwriting.

"Agreed, people who use computers take for granted how much stuff is done automatically for them."

I couldn't agree with that more. It drives me crazy when I meet people who say they're composers, but have NEVER handwritten anything.

I'm pretty confident with my handwriting skills actually, it does need just to be neater. lol

BTW, if you do handwritten scores for presentation to a performer don't use a ball point pen or pencil. Find a nice expensive fountain pen that you like. Everyone always says it's not worth the extra time and practice it takes to get good results but it is the only way to get a high quality engraving-like finish.

already have one :)

I hand write everything and then when it's "finished", chuck it into sibelius so the performers have the neatest score posible.

I find it easier working with handwritten as I often draw lines all over the page, write notes, shapes etc etc.

I handwrite nearly everything as well. But sometimes a bit of MIDI rendering helps if you've got a few measures you're unsure about.

I write motifs by hand, take notes for arrangements, and do everything else in computer, always. like Tokkemon said, you get instant feedback, that's what I rely on when I come to fixing and trimming

I too hand-write EVERYTHING now, at least any serious composition that I really want to turn out as good as I can possibly muster. It really helps to be right at the piano, for me, and write everything down as I go. It helps to make the music more "special" and the phrases more improvisational, in a sense.

Minimal... I'll save it for a later date.

However, I do write all of my counterpoint/ear training/theory assignments out by hand even if it's not required :) there's a step up :thumbsup:

As I have had limited time in the past, I would compose on the piano and with some horrible handwriting enter and edit and finish in Sib. lately, starting with a solo piece, I am writing by hand, conducting and (trying) to sing it, and not touching the piano till about a little less than halfway thru the process and even then avoiding using it too much. Unfortunately my sight singing skills are not up to the level of my compositional skill ... so the process is slow.

If I have a deadline I will think about a sound and then work it SLOWLY at the piano. I will then stop and analyze what I did , sleep on it, and then write the piece into Sib relying on playback for overall form and anyreally egregarious wrong notes.

I disagree with Dominius about the superiority of paper and pen over computer. Unless you want to be an engraver or go into music publishing I do not see the utility of spending a ton of time on it. Nevertheless, I think you need clear handwriting and basic knowledge of music notation. I have learned about music notation from working with performers and a composition teacher and studying scores.

PS. I will say writing away from a computer notation notation program and an instrument (at first) is necessary to develop your inner hearing.

I agree with Dominus.

I love to write music by hand. Just the physical activity alone is fun to me.

It's like art.

Plus, I can write and kind of rhythmic grouping or whatever else without pushing like 5 buttons first.

haha the last one I concur with. I hate how much trouble it is just to write a tuplet ratio. Like you click one thing, select ratio, put in 5 in the time of 3 or something, then it comes out, then if you don't click it right, you have to re-do it again and again.

Handwriting does have it's advantages :happy:

I do both, I almost always sketch first by paper and then notate on to computer. It helps me think and edit myself better.

Yea, same here. I usually make complete sketches on paper. When I'm basically done with the piece I put it into Finale just so I can print out a neat hard copy and call it finished.

When the birth of a melody in my head quickly, or sing in the studio, or a piece of paper I write a score that does not forget it ... say, has happened before was that I did not know what I wrote down: D XD

Yeah. My process is this: Ideas on paper or at the keyboard. Transfer to Finale. End of story. haha.