Melody lets you "word process" melodies in a larger version of standard music notation. The key word here will be simplicity. All of the notes, rests, and other symbols are available without changing fonts or point sizes. Obviously, some compromises have been made to accomplish this goal, but a few were imposed anyway by the nature of the typewriter keys. Furthermore, traditional notation involves a number of artistic elements such as sweeping phrase marks and slanted beams linking certain notes.

I have not attempted to make the word processor behave as an art program. Those artistic lines can be added to the final print out with a felt tipped marker, and the results will be smooth and professional.

The Melody font provides treble, bass, and c-clefs (viola clef), as well as the Grand Brace necessary for piano and organ scores. Bar lines can be extended either up or down (or both) to create ensemble scores, but there is no way to put two parts on the same staff. To add lyrics and other necessary words, simply switch to the conventional font of your choice.

The QWERTY keys draw the notes of the major scale in quarter notes. Simply pretend you are playing the piano. (Music lessons are available at my house for a slight additional fee). Shift to upper case for half notes. The row of keys below QWERTY produce the same notes in eighth notes; shift for the "duration dots."

The number keys above the QWERTY row produce the corresponding symbols for flats and (shifted) sharps.

A few keys on the far right side of each row cannot be "shifted." The equivalent function is accomplished with the C= key.

The remaining musical symbols are found on the lowest row of keys (ZXCVB). Since I prefer to "play" the notes with my right hand, rather like a piano, you will find the symbols for rests, barlines, ties, and blank staff under your left hand. Less frequently used items such as meter signatures, repeat signs, and the treble and bass clefs are found in the bottom row under your right hand. The same key which produces the treble and bass clefs (the /? key) will also produce the alto clef (C-clef) if pressed in combination with the C= key. Upper and lower halves of the "Grand Brace" are likewise obtained using the C= key with : and ;

Note that the eighth notes (asdfg row - lower case) are drawn with stubby flags. I prefer to group eighth notes (and sixteenths, etc) under beams whenever possible, so I touch up the final printout with a felt tipped pen. The stubby flags merely serve to draw my attention. You may find them quite legible with no alteration, but I like the personal touch.

For lack of keys, some symbols had to be left out of the font. Natural signs are given only two positions: upper staff (N) and lower staff (n). With apologies to Beethoven, there are no whole notes at all. I hope to adress these shortcomings with an acessory font set in the near future.

Tips for professional results:

1) Avoid Word Wrap If the notes from one line get pushed over to the next, your clef signs will be pushed out of place.

2) Decide in advance how many measures you will be typing per line. Usually three of four measures per line will be the most legible. Any more and the lines may look crowded and hard to read. The "z" key can be used to enter blank staff between notes. "Sprinkle in" enough blank staff to push the end of the line to the line to the right margin. Even narrower "pieces" of blank staff are available under the capital A key, but I save them for the final touch up before printing.

3) Lyrics and chord symbols may be added at any time, and in the font of your choice, but it is easiest to type them before you type the notes. Again, consider how many measures are planned for each line. Press RETURN two or three time after each line of text. When you are through typing the words, come back to these "in-between-lines" and select the music font. Done this way, your chords and lyrics will be placed closer to their respective notes. Done otherwise, GeoWrite looks at the 37-point music font and leaves lots of space between lines, even if you've selected a relatively small point size.

4) Use bold style for thicker double bars, braces, etc. For vertical allignment difficulties, remember that blank staff in bold is slightly wider than otherwise, but not thicker.

5) Use tabs to help with frequent vertical allignments.

6) If you have GeoWrite 2.1, make the page full wide and move the margin out to the half-inch marker on both the right and left sides.

If you find yourself using and enjoying my font, please send a ten dollar shareware donation to:

Jerry Skelley

4 Greenville Drive

Forestdale MA 02644.

Comments & suggestions are welcomed with or without a donation.