For those considering switching from Finale to Sibelius: Sibelius Intensive Course (Zoom Online)
- tarokoike
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
In response to the decision to end support for the Japanese version of Finale on August 25, 2025, we are offering an online course via Zoom to support those who are considering switching from Finale to other products.
This is a course for those who are considering switching to Sibelius.
Since its introduction in 1993, Sibelius has been a product that has shared the global music notation software market with Finale for many years. Its excellent operability makes it easier to create professional scores than Finale, and it has earned a high reputation especially in the composition and arrangement industry.
In this course, we will introduce an efficient way to switch from Finale to Sibelius based on the knowledge of Finale users about product usage that we have gained from our many years of experience in Finale technical support.
After each lecture, we will provide you with a review video that records the content of the lecture and includes a table of contents to make it easy to find items you want to review again. These can be viewed indefinitely, so even after completing the course, you can review the content at a pace that suits your level of understanding, and you can definitely improve your skills even when you are busy.
<Course Schedule and Overview>
Basic I: (6/18): Creating new music and migrating with MusicXML
Basic II: (7/2): Basic operations and creating lead sheets
Basic III: (7/16): Practical piano music creation
Advanced I: (7/30): Creating scores for solo and small ensembles
Advanced II: (8/20): Creating scores for medium to large ensembles
Advanced III: (9/3): Tablature, music materials, playback, scan input
(*All courses are held on Wednesdays from 19:30 to 21:30.)
You can apply for each course at the link below, and you can also take a single course by taking only the lectures you need.
▼Sibelius Intensive Course: Online Reservation
Details of each course are as follows.
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Basics I
[Contents]
The process from launching Sibelius to starting to create music scores
Creating a new simple melody score in Sibelius
Migrating with MusicXML
[Objectives]
You will be able to set up scores with any instrument arrangement using Sibelius' “Quick Start”.
You will be able to create your own lead sheet templates in Sibelius.
You will be able to create new simple melody scores in Sibelius.
[Details]
First, we will introduce the process from launching Sibelius to starting to input notes, mainly by organizing how to use “Quick Start”, which is equivalent to the Setup Wizard in Finale.
Next, we will introduce the most basic flow of note input and how to set up your preferred music score layout through the creation of a simple melody score.
In addition, we will tackle one of the most important topics for Finale users: “How to migrate Finale files you have created to Sibelius”.
(Back to Course Schedule and Overview)
Basics II
[Contents]
Overview of the Sibelius user interface
Creating basic melody scores and lead sheets (setting key signatures/time signatures/clefs, etc., inputting notes, inputting lyrics, inputting chord symbols)
Efficient note input methods
Types of symbols and how to input them
[Objectives]
Understand where the basic setting menus of Sibelius are located, set key signatures/time signatures/clefs, etc., and then be able to create basic melody scores and lead sheets.
[Details]
In Basics II, we will explain how to create new files in Sibelius, from the initial setup of the score such as key signatures and time signatures, to inputting notes, lyrics, and inputting chord symbols, while comparing the method of creating new files in Sibelius with Finale through the creation of basic melody scores and lead sheets.
We will also introduce a setting method that allows you to input notes using the same operations as Finale's “Speedy Entry (without using a MIDI keyboard)”.
(Back to Course Schedule and Overview)
Basics III
[Contents]
Font settings
Creating piano scores
Page layout
Exporting and printing
[Objectives]
You will be able to create practical piano scores with well-organized layouts, making full use of symbols such as expression marks and articulations.
[Details]
With the content up to Basics II, you will be able to write basic melody scores and lead sheets in Sibelius.
In addition to this, Basics III will explain how to create practical scores that are easy to read in terms of layout, making full use of expression marks and articulations, using classical piano solo pieces as examples.
(Back to Course Schedule and Overview)
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Advanced I
[Contents]
Solo scores to small ensemble scores
Complex piano scores
Choral scores
Band scores and drum scores
[Objectives]
You will be able to create complex piano scores, choral scores, band scores, and other scores for small ensembles by making full use of the various functions of Sibelius.
[Details]
At the completion level of the Basic Course, you will have mastered inputting notes and symbols, and layout-related operations.
In Advanced I, we aim to be able to use the various functions of Sibelius to create scores for complex piano scores, small ensembles such as choral scores and band scores. Drum scores are also covered here.
(Back to Course Schedule and Overview)
Advanced II
[Contents]
Score writing for medium to large ensembles
Chamber scores
Wind band scores
Orchestra scores
[Objectives]
By making full use of the various functions of Sibelius, you will be able to create scores for medium to large ensembles that require parts, such as chamber music, wind band, and orchestra, and the parts themselves.
[Details]
In Advanced II, you will learn the key points of creating scores for pieces consisting of multiple parts, such as chamber music, wind band, and orchestra. Part score creation will also be covered in earnest here.
(Back to Course Schedule and Overview)
Advanced III
[Contents]
Creating special scores: tablature (guitar, bass), music teaching materials
How to set up playback and use external sound sources
Scan input function “PhotoScore Lite”
[Objectives]
You will be able to create scores with special notation such as tablature and music teaching materials. After understanding the mechanism and settings of the playback-related functions built into Sibelius, you will be able to set up external sound sources such as NotePerformer. You will be able to handle scan input.
[Details]
In Advanced III, as a continuation of Advanced II, we will cover from tablature for guitar and bass to special notation methods used in the production of music teaching materials that require concepts and expressions different from those used in performance scores.
Advanced III will also provide an overview of Sibelius' playback functions. Recently, with the improvement of sample sound quality, the need for playback is expanding, with more and more professional production sites using the playback sound source of music notation software instead of recreating reference sound sources (mockups) in DAWs.
With this as a backdrop, we will cover everything from basic knowledge of playback settings, including how to use external sound sources such as NotePerformer, to advanced techniques for controlling and brushing up playback, such as tone settings in playback mode and how to use the mixer and key editor.
In addition, we will provide an overview of the scanning input method unique to Sibelius, which is not available in Finale or Dorico.
(Back to Course Schedule and Overview)
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The application link is listed below again.
▼Sibelius Intensive Course: Online Reservation
Sibelius has a trial version that allows you to try out the same functions as the full version for free.
▼Download the free trial version of Sibelius (connects to the developer Avid's website)
In addition, Sibelius is on sale until August 27, 2025, and the cheapest permanent version, “Sibelius Ultimate Permanent Version - Finale Transfer (without support)”, can be purchased for 22,990 JPY. For details, please see the following page.
▼ [Avid] Sibelius conversion sale! - Crossgrade from Finale extended! https://tacsystem.jp/news/224
(Back to Course Schedule and Overview)
