Help

This application will free you from the burdens and limitations of printed music scores. With ScoreMaestro, you can:

• Carry your entire music repertoire in your tablet (subject to score availability).
• Mark up an individual score as often as you want and save the annotated versions of that score under separate names on your tablet for future use.
• Select the note size and orientation of the music score display, and ScoreMaestro will dynamically repaginate the score to fit the tablet’s screen.
• Back up your annotations to your own Cloud account so that you can restore them to your tablet in case of unexpected loss.
• Share your annotations with your fellow musicians across the Cloud.

This guide will help you explore ScoreMaestro’s features and see for yourself how practical and intuitive it is to use.

The first step in setting up ScoreMaestro on your tablet is to download and install it from the appropriate on-line store. If you are using a Kindle Fire, you can do this from the Amazon web site. If you are using another Android tablet, such as a Nexus or Galaxy, you can do this from either Amazon or the Google Play Store. If you are using an iPad, you can do this from the Apple Store (our port to the iPad is currently in progress). In each case, you will just need to follow the on-line store’s standard process for downloading and installing applications on your tablet. The ScoreMaestro application is a free download.

The first time that you open ScoreMaestro after downloading it, you will be prompted to read and accept the End-User Licensing Agreement (EULA). After you select the Accept button, ScoreMaestro will display the Score Selection screen. The next time you open ScoreMaestro, the EULA will not appear. If you select the Decline button, ScoreMaestro will immediately close. If you open ScoreMaestro again, it will display the EULA again, prompting you to accept or decline it. You can find a copy of the ScoreMaestro EULA here.

Once you have accepted the EULA, ScoreMaestro will bring up a dialog box that will prompt you to link ScoreMaestro to a Dropbox account. Dropbox is an Internet Cloud service that allows individuals to externally store, retrieve and share data. If you already have a Dropbox account that you would like to use to share, back up and restore annotations, enter its user name and password to link it to ScoreMaestro. If you do not already have a Dropbox account, you can create one while on the same Dropbox page. You can also establish your own free account directly at www.dropbox.com. To do so, just follow the instructions on that web site. Be sure to retain the email address and password that you use for the new account.

If you cancel out of the Dropbox dialog box when it first appears, you can link ScoreMaestro to your Dropbox account later by tapping on the icon in the Action Bar that has a cloud above a question mark. Once you have linked ScoreMaestro to your Dropbox account, tapping on this icon will display the Dropbox account to which ScoreMaestro is linked.

You can buy and install music scores directly from within the ScoreMaestro application by using the Shopping Cart icon on the Action Bar at the top of the Score Selection screen (described below). Once you tap on this icon, ScoreMaestro will display the Score Shop screen, which presents the list of scores available for purchase. Music scores that you have already downloaded will have a check mark next to their name. The Score Shop screen also displays two search windows at the top. The left window allows you to sort the score list by Title or by Composer. You can select these categories from the left window’s drop-down menu. The right window allows you to enter letters or names to narrow the search. When you tap on the right window, a virtual keyboard appears through which you can enter your search text.

You can then select the music score you want from the sorted / filtered list, by tapping on it. This will bring up a pop-up window through which you can complete your purchase. The on-line store from which you downloaded the ScoreMaestro application will process your purchase (e.g. Amazon). Please note that you must first set up a shopping account with the App Store before you can purchase and download music scores through ScoreMaestro.

As an added bonus, the first music score that you download will be free.

ScoreMaestro has two primary screens: The Score Selection screen and the Score Display screen. The Score Selection screen enables you to manage your music scores. You can select music scores and music score annotations from your current inventory, using filters to streamline your search and selection. You can also rename and delete annotated versions of your scores. In addition, you can purchase new music scores from within the application, back up your annotations to the Cloud, and share your annotations with other musicians.

The Score Display screen has two modes: Reading and Annotation. Once you have selected a score from the Score Selection screen, you can view it in Reading mode for use in a performance. You can also switch to Annotation mode to mark up the score. You can then save the annotated version of the original score under a name of your choice.

When you bring up ScoreMaestro, it will display the Score Selection screen, which presents the list of music scores by title. It also displays two search windows at the top that you can use to retrieve a score list. The left window allows you to sort scores by category, including Title, Marking, Composer and Recently Viewed. You can select these categories from the left window’s drop-down menu. The right window allows you to enter letters or names to narrow the search. When you tap on the right window, a virtual keyboard appears through which you can enter your search text.

Tapping on a score title in the list will bring it up in the Score Display screen. Pressing on an annotated score title for two seconds will bring up a selection box that allows you to delete, rename or share the score annotation (see Annotation Sharing section).

The Action Bar at the top of the Score Selection screen includes seven icons that you can select to do the following:

• Access the appropriate online store to purchase and download new music scores (See Purchasing and Installing Music Scores section).
• Link ScoreMaestro to a Dropbox account (See Annotation Backup and Restore section).
• Backup your annotations (See Annotation Backup and Restore section).
• Restore your annotations (See Annotation Backup and Restore section).
• Retrieve annotations that other musicians want to share with you (See Annotation Sharing section).
• Enable the on-screen keyboard if it has been disabled by attaching a Bluetooth Foot Pedal.
• Access the ScoreMaestro “About” page.
• Access the ScoreMaestro Help content (currently being displayed).

The Score Display screen includes its own ScoreMaestro Action Bar at the top of the screen.

The Action Bar includes the following tappable icons when the displayed score is in Annotation Mode:

• Previous Page (page swiping is available in Reading Mode only)
• Next Page (page swiping is available in Reading Mode only)
• Undo Arrow (active only after you make a mark on the displayed page)
• Redo Arrow (active only after you have used the Undo Arrow on the displayed page)
• Eraser Icon (enables the erasure of individual marks in any order)
• Bookmark Icon (enables bookmarks to be set and cleared on individual pages)
• Go-To Icon (enables jumping to a selected page in the score)
• Save Icon (enables user to save the annotated score under its current name or a new name)
• Markup Color Icon (allows user to select the color for subsequent marks on the score; toggles between black, blue and red)
• Help Icon

The ScoreMaestro Action Bar displays the following icons when the displayed score is in Reading Mode:

• Previous Page (page swiping is also available)
• Next Page (page swiping is also available)
• Previous Bookmark Jump Icon
• Next Bookmark Jump Icon
• Go-To Icon (enables jumping to a selected page in the score)
• Help Icon
• Note Size Selection Icon (toggles between large and medium note sizes)
• Access the ScoreMaestro “About” page.
• Annotation Icon (pencil icon that turns on Annotation Mode)

When you select an unmarked score from the Score Selection screen, it will come up in Reading Mode. When you tap the Annotation icon to switch the unmarked score to Annotation Mode, ScoreMaestro will prompt you to choose your orientation (Portrait or Landscape) by reorienting your tablet and to enter a name for this annotated version of the score. These choices will be locked in for this particular annotated version. Please note that the name must be at least four characters long.

The left side of the Action Bar also displays the title of the unmarked score and the
name of the annotated version of the score (if applicable).

Once you are in Annotation Mode, your Action Bar functions will work as follows:

• You can make marks either with your finger or a stylus. You can use the Markup Color Icon to select one of the three markup colors (red, blue and black) for each mark. The color will remain the same for subsequent marks until you choose a new color.
• For any given page, the Undo Arrow will become active as soon as you make a mark on that page. The Redo Arrow will become active as soon as you undo a previous mark. This undo-redo action works independently for each page. For instance, if you make a mark on page 1, this will not activate the Undo or Redo Arrows on page 2.
• You can also erase the marks on each page in the annotated score in any order. To do this you press on the Eraser icon. This will display a green Action Bar containing the following icons:
  • Previous Mark (highlight the mark made prior to the one currently highlighted in purple)
  • Discard (erase the mark highlighted in purple)
  • Next Mark (highlight the mark made after the one currently highlighted in purple)
  • Eraser icon (exit erase mode)
• The page will initially highlight the oldest mark in purple. You can toggle through all the marks on the page by tapping on the Previous Mark and Next Mark icons, highlighting each one of them in purple. When you tap on the Discard icon, the mark currently highlighted in purple is deleted. You can exit the erase mode by tapping the arrow on the far left of the Action Bar or tapping the Eraser icon.
• You can use the Save icon to save your annotated score under its current name or a new name (effectively executing a save-as function). If you attempt to save the annotated score under a name different than its current name, and the name you choose is already in use, ScoreMaestro will prompt you to use another name.
• You can bookmark any page in the score by navigating to that page and touching the Bookmark icon. If you touch the Bookmark icon while viewing a page with a bookmark, it will clear that bookmark.
• You can use the Go-To icon to jump to any page in the score. When you touch the Go-To icon, you will be prompted to enter a page number. Once you enter a number and touch the OK button, ScoreMaestro will display that page.
• You can also navigate through the score page by page by using the Left and Right Paging Arrows.

When you are in Reading Mode, you can navigate within the score using the following Action Bar functions:

• You can use the Left Bookmark Jump icon to jump to the nearest bookmarked page preceding the page on display. If there are multiple preceding bookmarks, you can jump to them in succession by using this icon.
• You can use the Right Bookmark Jump icon to jump to the nearest bookmarked page following the page on display. If there are multiple following bookmarks, you can jump to them in succession by using this icon.
• You can page through the score by using the Left and Right Paging Arrows.
• You can also page through the score forward and backward by swiping. A left-to-right swipe takes you backward and a right-to-left swipe takes you forward.
• You can jump to a selected page by using the Go-To icon as well.

Once you have created one or more personal annotations, you will want to back them up to an external site for preservation, so that you can restore them in case they are accidentally lost or deleted on your tablet. ScoreMaestro enables you to do that through the use of your own Dropbox account. Dropbox is an Internet Cloud service that allows individuals to externally store, retrieve and share data.

You can establish your own free account directly at www.dropbox.com. To do so, just follow the instructions on this web site. Be sure to retain the email address and password that you use for the new account.

You can do a backup of your entire set of annotations at any time by tapping the Backup icon (image of a cloud above an arrow pointing up) on the ScoreMaestro Action Bar at the top of the Score Selection screen. You can also restore your backed-up annotations by tapping the Restore icon (image of a cloud above an arrow pointing down). When you select either the Backup icon or the Restore icon, ScoreMaestro will check to see whether you have linked it to a Dropbox account. If you have not, it will display a dialog box reminding you to do so. You can do this by tapping the Dropbox Link icon (image of a cloud above a question mark). This will bring up a dialog box asking you to log into Dropbox. When you press the OK button, ScoreMaestro connects to Dropbox, which prompts you to log in. If you already have a Dropbox account that you would like to use for backups, enter its user name and password to link it to ScoreMaestro. If you do not already have a Dropbox account, you can create one directly from the same Dropbox page.

Once you have established the Dropbox link, you can back up your current set of annotations by tapping on the Backup icon. ScoreMaestro will display a dialog box giving you the option to back up your annotations by pressing the OK button and providing the name of the backup file you are about to create. The file name will be based on the current date and time.

You can restore one of your previously created backup files by tapping on the Restore icon. This will take you to the Annotation Backups screen, which will display a list of existing backup files. When you tap on one of the backup files, ScoreMaestro will list all the annotations in that backup file and will provide the options of either restoring all the annotations in that file or only one of them. If you tap on the line that says “Tap Here To Restore All These Annotations”, ScoreMaestro will restore all of the annotations in that backup file. If you select one of the annotations listed on the screen, ScoreMaestro will restore only that annotation file.

PLEASE NOTE: If you restore a backup file, it will replace any annotation in your current set having the exact same annotation name for the same score. In some cases this may be what you want. But if you don’t, you can avoid it by renaming the current annotation before restoring the backup file.

In order to share your music score annotations across the Cloud, you will use the same Dropbox account as the one you set up to back up and restore your annotations, as described in the Annotation Backup and Restore section above. ScoreMaestro manages backup files and shared annotations separately within your Dropbox account. If you are a Choir Director, ScoreMaestro will allow your choir members to retrieve the annotations you want them to share, as well.

To share one of your annotations with your fellow musicians across the Cloud, press for two seconds on that annotation in the list on the Score Selection screen. ScoreMaestro will then display the selection box that allows you to delete, rename or share the score annotation. When you press on the “Share to Cloud” option, ScoreMaestro will display a dialog box prompting you to enter a group name (either an existing one or a new one). Once you have done this and pressed the OK button, ScoreMaestro will write a copy of the annotation to the Cloud under the selected group. Other ScoreMaestro users will be able to retrieve this annotation with the information you supply them, as described below.

However, if you press the “Share to Cloud” option before linking ScoreMaestro to a Dropbox account for annotation sharing, ScoreMaestro will prompt you to select the Dropbox Link icon on the Score Selection screen Action Bar to create the Dropbox link first, as described in the Annotation Backup and Restore section above.

You can display the Annotation Sharing screen by tapping the Annotation Sharing icon on the Action Bar at the top of the Score Selection screen. The Annotation Sharing screen lists the annotations that you have shared and also displays the information you can give to other musicians to retrieve these annotations. Its Action Bar displays “Shared by [your User ID]” Each annotation in the list has its group name followed by the annotation’s name, separated by a forward slash. For instance, “Senior Choir/Performance version” indicates the annotation “Performance” is part of the group “Senior Choir”. The word “version” is informational and not part of the name. You will need to give your User ID, the annotation’s group name, and the annotation’s name to another musician who wants to retrieve it.

The Annotation Sharing screen will also display two icons on its Action Bar, as follows:

• My Shares (lists only the annotations that you have shared)
• Search (search for annotations that others have shared)

In order to retrieve an annotation that another musician is sharing, tap the Search icon on the Action Bar of the Annotation Sharing screen. You will be presented with a dialog box titled “Search for Shared Annotations”. In the box’s first entry field, enter the User ID of the musician who shared the annotation. In the second entry box, enter the name of the group of the annotation. When you tap OK, the Annotation Sharing screen will list all the annotations that your fellow musician has shared under that group. Also, the title in the Action Bar will display the User ID and group you have selected. Tapping an annotation on the list will download it to your tablet. The downloaded annotation will display on your Score Selection screen with its User ID: “[Annotation Name] from [User ID] version”. You can rename or delete shared annotations in your Score Selection screen.

Here are two other useful features of the Annotation Sharing screen. Tapping the My Shares icon in the Annotation Sharing screen will display the list of your own annotations that you have made available for sharing. Long-holding (i.e. pressing for two seconds) an entry in the Shared Annotations list will allow you to delete an annotation you have shared. You will still have it, as will anyone who has already retrieved it, but it will no longer be available for retrieval by others.

PLEASE NOTE: In order for Annotation Sharing to work, the users must have already purchased and downloaded the same music score and they must also be using tablets with the same resolution. For instance, two users can share an annotation if they both have tablets with a resolution of 1920×1200, such as the Nexus 7 HDX and the Kindle Fire 7 HDX, and they both have purchased a copy of the music score on which the annotation was created.

ScoreMaestro supports the use of Bluetooth foot pedals to page forward and backward through your sheet music. You can use any Bluetooth foot pedal that is compatible with your tablet to do this. Follow the instructions that come with your foot pedal and tablet to connect the two. Note that some Bluetooth foot pedals will deactivate the virtual keyboard on some tablets. However, the virtual keyboard can be reactivated while the foot pedal is connected. You can find more information about doing this here.