Text and Dynamics

If you are starting from this section of the project, you should open the example score called Project 1 and make the 7 Text and dy-
namics version into the Current version, by choosing Review > Versions > Edit Versions. Select this version in the list and click Make
current.

Other than the notes, many instructions for musicians playing from a score take the form of text. A lot of the text in a Sibelius score is
entirely automatic so you don’t have to think about adding it, such as page numbers, bar numbers and instrument names. But you’ll also
want to add all kinds of other text yourself, from dynamics and lyrics to metronome marks and tempo text. Most text instructions play
back, so when you create dynamics or tempo markings, Sibelius understands them and plays back accordingly.

About Text
Each type of text you can create in Sibelius has its own so-called text style, which specifies its font, size, position and other character-
istics. Text styles are called obvious things like Title, Lyrics, and Tempo. If you want to change the font or size, you can change pieces
of text individually, but it’s usually best to do so by editing the text style, as this will instantly change all similar text throughout the
score— 5.6 Edit Text Styles (Sibelius | Ultimate Only) in the Reference Guide.

There are a couple of things you should remember when editing text:
• If you just want to change the characteristics of a small amount of text, you should use the options in the Text > Format group on the
ribbon.
• If you want to change all the text throughout the score in just one particular text style, you should edit the text style itself instead
( 5.6 Edit Text Styles (Sibelius | Ultimate Only) in the Reference Guide), because this will automatically change all existing text
and also all new text you create in that style thereafter. For example, if you decide you want your lyrics in a different font, you should
edit the text style rather than changing all the existing words manually.

Adding Lyrics
The vocal staff in the Scarborough Fair score has no lyrics, which isn’t very helpful for any singer wanting to perform the arrangement!

To add lyrics:

1 Click on bar 5 of the vocal staff to select it.

2 Click the upper part of the Text > Lyrics > Lyrics button. A flashing caret appears below the first note.

Press Command+L (Mac) or Control+L (Windows) to add lyrics.

3 Type the first line of lyrics.

To add a break between syllables, type “-” (hyphen) and Sibelius automatically positions the text cursor at the next note. If the syllable
spans more than one note, press hyphen repeatedly (once for each note) until the cursor appears under the note where you want to enter
the next syllable. To add a break between words, type Space. If the last syllable of the word you entered spans more than one note, re-
peatedly type Space until the cursor appears under the note where you want to start the next word. Sibelius will indicate that the word
is supposed to continue melismatically by drawing a line up to the point at which the syllable ends.

You should now see:

5
mf  
  
      
Are you go - ing to Scar - bo -rough Fair?

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Text and Dynamics