Don’t Bow Out: Mastering Bowing Input with Automation in Sibelius

Geek-o-meter: 1 2️⃣ 3

I recently found myself in a situation as rare to an orchestrator as Halley’s Comet to the human eye: I was tasked with putting bowings into the parts. Mind you, I already had the bowings from a previous performance, so all I needed to do was input them for the next one. The catch? Everything had to be done in the same Sibelius file as the score, and the score already contained some bowings—added at the orchestrator’s discretion. That meant I needed a (smart) way to insert a whole lot of symbols that could be easily hidden in the score.

If you’re a true Sib-nerd, take a moment to consider how you’d tackle this challenge before moving on.

When faced with the rare task of inputting bowings in a Sibelius score, it’s all about efficiency and automation. While the task may seem tedious at first, leveraging the right tools and methods can make all the difference. Here’s a step-by-step exploration of methods to streamline bowing input, ensuring your workflow remains sharp.

Option A: Keypad Shortcuts

Using the Keypad is a natural starting point for many Sibelius users. Assigning shortcuts to up-bows and down-bows allows for quick input.

However, there’s a significant caveat: bowings assigned as articulations will also affect note visibility when you try to hide them in the score. This might lead to unexpected results, such as invisible noteheads or disrupted beams—definitely not ideal for orchestral clarity.

Why It Falls Short:

Articulations cannot be selectively hidden in parts while remaining visible in the score.

Because it’s assigned as an articulation, you can’t hide the downbow symbol on its own. Hiding it would also hide the notehead and beams, effectively turning your pristine notation into invisible ink. This changes ev’rything!

Option 2: Symbols

Switching to Symbols is a step in the right direction. Symbols allow for more flexibility as they can be filtered and shown exclusively in parts. To use this method:

1. Input symbols manually via the Symbols Gallery.

2. Use filtering tools to manage visibility in parts versus the score.

While effective, this approach can become cumbersome for larger projects. The gallery’s “Used” category dynamically changes as you add more symbols, making navigation increasingly tricky over time.

Why It’s Limited:

• Manual selection is slow and prone to errors.

• Navigating the symbols gallery can become tedious, especially with frequent use.

• Symbols require more manual positioning after inputting, adding extra steps to the process.

Option D (The Winner): Lines[^1]

Lines are the ultimate productivity hack for bowings in Sibelius. Unlike symbols or articulations, lines can be:

• Assigned shortcuts.

• Easily filtered.

• Shown or hidden selectively in parts or the score.

A line consists of a line body and has (1) a start, (2) a continuation, and (3) an end—and any of these three can be a symbol!

Creating a Custom Line

1. Open the Lines editor and start with any staff line. All we really need is a staff line. I’ve created plenty over the years, like this one for a drummer—dubbed in honor of the greatest drum fill I’ve ever heard!

2. Customize the line:

• Set the line width to 0.0 spaces.

• Assign a symbol (e.g., up-bow or down-bow) to the start of the line.

• Adjust the symbol’s position as needed (e.g., 0.6 spaces to the right).

• Remove the hook for a clean appearance.

3. Save and name your new line type (e.g., “Up-Bow” or “Down-Bow”).

Assigning a Shortcut

• Use Sibelius’s Preferences to assign a custom shortcut for each line—we’ve been here before, you know the drill.

Automating with Keyboard Maestro

To turbocharge your workflow, create a temporary macro group in Keyboard Maestro with two macros—one for up-bows and one for down-bows—that each perform the following steps.

1. Trigger the custom shortcut for your new line.

2. Set visibility to “Show in Parts.”

3. Run the Retract Line Ends plugin to tidy up.

4. Tab through the score to the next notehead.

If the note happens to share its beat with a dynamic or another marking, the command will latch onto that first. Sure, it means I need to tab through a few times to reach the notehead, but at this point, that’s a minor inconvenience.

Why Lines Win

By combining Sibelius’s built-in tools with automation software, you can achieve a smooth, efficient workflow:

• Scalable: Handles large projects effortlessly.

• Flexible: Works seamlessly with beams, dynamics, and other elements.

• Customizable: Tailored shortcuts and macros fit your exact needs.

Final Bow

When tasked with bowing input, remember to work smarter, not harder. Whether you’re managing a handful of symbols or preparing parts for an entire orchestra, leveraging lines and automation ensures you stay productive and precise. So next time, don’t bow down—bow up and let your tools do the heavy lifting.

Footnotes

[^1]: Kudos to you if you catch the reference behind my counting scheme!