Controlling score parameters from a spreadsheet

• Jul 14, 2022 - 18:11

I'm preparing an orchestral backing track for a piano concerto.

My teacher and I are still tweaking tempi of the various sections. It would be really nice if the score could somehow be linked to a spreadsheet to act as a master/dashboard that stores the metronome markings we choose for each section. Then if we want to speed something up or slow it down I can just change the number in my spreadsheet rather than have to navigate around the score. And rather than having to keep a changelog in a separate word document or something, the spreadsheet is a natural place to keep the parameters from previous versions (just by adding a new column).

Another thing that would be really convenient to control from a spreadsheet are the velocities of certain dynamic markings. Especially since dynamics will need to change depending on the acoustics of the performance space, it would be nice to keep separate columns of these parameters for when I'm practicing at home vs. in the hall etc. rather than two fully separate versions of the score (which is then a problem if you change anything else like a wrong note etc. because then you have to remember to change it in the other version as well).

It doesn't necessarily have to be a spreadsheet; any solution that achieves the same sort of "dashboard control" would be welcome.


Comments

Have you tried using the timeline (F12 or View -> Timeline)? That makes jumping around the score much easier, as you can simply click on a tempo marking, rehearsal mark, etc. to immediately jump to that mark. I'm not sure about the usage case of changing dynamics for different spaces; I've never heard of doing that before.

Hmmm, last time I checked, a score is a spread sheet. Worry about tempo and dynamics. Velocity might be more trouble than it's worth. Especially since the backing track isn't going to follow you like a real orchestra would. Artistic freedom is going to suffer.

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