I am about to send for some sheet music from www.freehandmusic.com which looks good on the site.
Before I get involved in this new (for me) venture, does anyone have previous experience of Freehand, or similar, and can advise about any pitfalls, please?
cheers
Eddie Johnson

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Eddie from Rotherham
Skype:eddiefromrotherham
www.yamahakeyboards.info

Eddie:

I just purchased some music last week for use with my Music Pad Pro. I'm assuming you have a Music Pad Pro with my comments:

No problem on the download at all this time. There was one occasion in the past I had a minor problem when I dowloaded to the Freehand System software for the Music Pad Pro. But Freehand reauthorized the purchase and I downloaded a 2nd time. Their tech support department is very helpful if you do have any problem.

This time around I purchased a book and some single sheets. I believe you get 3 downloads of each sheet and the ability to print 1 copy ( not sure about the printing) or you have the option of downloading directly to an MPP. Seems to me the better option is to download a copy then choose the print to Freehand software that comes with the Music Pad Pro, then just transfer it thru file manager to the MPP.

Steve
Thanks for your input.
No, I don't have MusicPadPro at this time. It is a wonderful piece of equipment for the professionals, I'm sure. I'm not a pro and I am looking for the Freehand/Solero system to help me with the printing of sheet music. I particularly like the capability it provides for transposition before printing. I intend to transpose a number songs to the key of F which I favour . Once I have the chords within a song which is written in F Key I feel more comfortable.
Thanks again.
cheers
Eddie

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Eddie from Rotherham
Skype:eddiefromrotherham
www.yamahakeyboards.info

Eddie,

The Solero viewer is a great tool to use with freehand music downloads, I've used it too and have been happy with it. Good luck.

But I wouldn't miss the opportunity to keep practicing in other keys...... too much familiarity with just one key makes you lose an incredible variety of fingering 'tricks' and licks that can only be done in other keys......

Perhaps a good practice regimen might be to say to yourself 'OK, for the month of September I will ONLY play in the key of D, then in October I will play in ONLY 'G'' and so on and so forth.

Abandoning ingrained fingering from one favorite key for a good few weeks will help you develop your chops much faster than just playing mostly in your favorite key, and only occasionally trying something different........

Give it a try, it's easier than you might think.....!

Hi Diki
Thanks for your input and interest.

Actually, the main reason I tend to play mostly in F is that in this key I recognise almost immediately a chord in the music.
So when I play a song using the tablature there is usually no delay in pressing the right keys to the accmp.
The melody notes are the ones which I try to improvise on by 'hearing' in my mind the full range of the chords common to a particular key.
The modern arranger KB's are a boon to my generation if we haven't learned all the other keys and their normal changes.The transpose button is a must for giving colour to a performance.
'Sight reading' of a previously unseen song is so much easier when you know the usual range of chord changes and therefore faster.
My years of practice in playing mostly in F has also given me the capability of playing a tune which I hear for the first time without needing the sheet music.
I of course can also play comfortably in the other simple keys like G, D and C.
But the work becomes harder when I see lots of sharps and flats at the beginning of a piece of sheet music
cheers
Eddie

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Eddie from Rotherham
Skype:eddiefromrotherham
www.yamahakeyboards.info

I have now downloaded the Solero software and purchased 2 examples of sheet music from Freehand.
I initially had a problem with the Solero Viewer, which failed to show the sheet music on screen.
But I contacted the Help Support by email and got a reply within a couple of hours!!
Good service.
One disappointment, however, is that you are allowed to print only 2 copies of your purchased music. If you want to print the sheet in other keys you need to take care of your printing because you only get one other chance.
when I complained about this to the Support line, they said that I should buy another copy, like I would have to if I went into a shop.
Otherwise, the system is good, and mostly cheap to buy the copies. I paid $3.95 for each copy downloaded to the software Solero Viewer.
cheers
Eddie

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Eddie from Rotherham
Skype:eddiefromrotherham
www.yamahakeyboards.info

sorry to have to let you know of yet another problem with the Solero software
There is a feature which allows you to print out the lyrics from the sheet music BUT
it prints
them AS THEY APPEAR ON THE MUSIC, i.e. first line of first verse, immediately followed by first line of second verse, second line of first verse, immediately followed by second line of second verse..........
I contacted the Help line again. Their reply is that they have not been able to sort this one out.

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Eddie from Rotherham
Skype:eddiefromrotherham
www.yamahakeyboards.info

Eddie:

Sorry to hear it's not working out as well as you would have liked it. It has worked for me because it interfaces pretty well with my Music Pad Pro. For multiple copies I bought a inexpensive Epson printer, scanner copier and print additional copies at the Epson.



[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 09-06-2006).]

OK Steve
Thanks for your reply and concern.
It looks as though it is really directed at users of MusicPadPro.
Of course Freehand is now Sunhawk who make the MusicPadPro.
cheers
Eddie

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Eddie from Rotherham
Skype:eddiefromrotherham
www.yamahakeyboards.info