I'm currently a Sibelius 6 user and a big fan.  I was a Finale user from fairly early versions like 3.1, all the way through Finale 2007, but I made the switch when the bugs I was experiencing with Finale made the rest of the challenge of using the program efficiently unbearable.  I found that the interface of Sibelius 5 (with which I started) made my work move more quickly almost immediately.  The learning curve was managable, and these days, working on Sib. 6, my writing is as fast and efficient as ever.  I'm currently writing most of my initial arranging ideas directly into computer notation, whereas I generally advise those not fluent in notation software to at least sketch their ideas by hand first and then finish at the computer.  I find very little lag time between the idea coming into my head and my being able to enter it into Sibelius satisfactorily.  Furthermore, in the moments during which I need a mental/creative break, or in which the well has temporarily run dry, I can work on the sort of tedious tasks of entering lyrics, dynamics and articulations, and making formatting edits.  It's become an amazingly efficient process for me, as long as I have the discipline (which I need at this very moment) to commit myself to writing!

Last updated on January 17, 2010 by Kerry Marsh