To define the expression for playback

The instructions below describe how to assign a tempo change to an expression that can be added to the score at any time. To easily record, or ‘conduct,’ a unique tempo change for any region, use TempoTap.

Note: Finale’s Human Playback feature recognizes text such as “accel.” and applies tempo adjustments accordingly during playback. See Playback Settings dialog box for details. To use manually defined tempo or dynamic markings for playback, set Human Playback to None.

1. Click the Expression Tool . If you haven’t yet placed the mark in the score, double-click any place on a staff. When the Expression Selection dialog box appears, click the desired symbol, click Edit, then skip to step 3.
2. Double-click the expression's handle. The Expression Designer dialog box appears.
3. Click the Playback tab. The playback options appear.
4. From the Type drop-down list, choose Tempo. Select Execute Shape, then click the Select button. Then click Create, then Shape ID. You’re now in the Shape Designer.
5. From the Shape Designer menu, choose Rulers and Grid. Click Eighth Notes, type 1 into the Grid Lines Every: box, and click OK. From the Shape Designer menu, choose Show, and then Grid. Your Shape Designer drawing area now shows a horizontal point for each eighth-note duration, so that you can specify how long you want the accelerando to last. Each horizontal gridline represents a one-point increase in tempo (from 150 to 151 beats per minute, for example).
6. Click the Line Tool . Click on the small white circle (the origin) and drag toward the upper-right. Watch the numbers in the H: and V: numbers as you drag; stop when H: and V: both say 4.

You’ve drawn a graph (an Executable Shape) of the tempo during the accelerando. For each vertical gridline you crossed as you dragged to the right, the accelerando lasted another eighth note duration; for each horizontal gridline it crossed, the tempo increased one metronome point.

Therefore, to make the accelerando last for one half-note, it should cross four gridlines as you drag to the right. To make the tempo increase by 20 beats per minute, you might think you’d have to cross 20 horizontal gridlines on the way up. For now, however, cross only four, meaning the tempo will only increase by four beats per minute.

7. Click OK to return to the Executable Shape Designer dialog box.
8. In the Level Scale boxes, enter 8:1. You probably wouldn’t even be able to perceive the accelerando if it only sped up by four points during a half note. By changing the Level Scale, you’re multiplying the degree of accelerando. If you enter 8:1, the tempo will change by 32 points—a much more satisfying accelerando. Note that at this point you could also specify a different Time Scale, which would determine how long the executable shape will last. When you designed the shape, it crossed four gridlines (eighth notes)—one half note. Change the Time Scale to multiply that amount; a Time Scale of 1:2 would make the accelerando last half as long (a quarter note), and 3:1 would create one that would last three times as long (six beats).
9. Click OK, Select, and Assign to return to the score. Listen to the accelerando and see how it works. If it doesn’t speed up enough, increase the Level Scale. If it lasts too long, decrease the Time Scale. (The effect of the accelerando will vary according to the current tempo.)

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