Music Notation Evaluation Procedure
by
Douglas F. Keislar
Notation Research Press, 1994
How can one evaluate the many new proposals for improving traditional music notation? This book provides a means that is considered to be fair, thorough, and flexible. The work is the full report of the first (1993-1994) MNMA Evaluation Committee, chaired by Doug Keislar. In addition to the evaluation procedure, the book provides a probing discussion of what music notation is and isn't, and how music notation should function for a human reader and writer. Recommended for all who are concerned with the written form of music.
90 pages + 18 page summary, paperback
ISBN 0-9638849-1-3
LC 94-69390
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Table of Contents
Preface .....5
Overview .....7
CHAPTER 1 Evaluation Technique .....9
Goals of the recommended evaluation technique .....9
Summary of technique .....11
Phase One: Preparation .....14
Phase Two: Analysis and Classification .....14
Phase Three: Evaluation .....17
Phase Four: Inventing new notation systems .....22
Phase Five: Scientific testing (optional) .....23
CHAPTER 2 Definitions .....25
What is music? .....25
What is a music notation? .....25
What is a general-purpose music notation? .....26
CHAPTER 3 Parameters .....29
Range and resolution of sound parameters .....29
Correlation of sound parameters with graphical parameters .....31
Traditional musical parameters .....32
A framework for classifying the notation of a parameter .....33
CHAPTER 4 Time .....43
Range and Resolution .....43
Dimensionality .....44
Quantization .....46
Tempo .....47
Transformations .....48
Parameterization of events .....49
Time symbols .....49
CHAPTER 5 Pitch .....55
Range and Resolution .....55
Dimensionality .....56
Quantization .....57
Transformations .....59
Pitch symbols .....60
CHAPTER 6 Other Elements .....65
Other Parameters .....65
Non-parametric symbols .....65
CHAPTER 7 Symbols .....67
Check for a pre-existing evaluation .....67
Interactions with other features .....67
Frequency of use .....68
Visual clarity .....68
Precision .....69
Intuitiveness .....70
Ease of writing .....71
Advantages and disadvantages of this symbol .....72
Other considerations .....72
CHAPTER 8 Systems .....73
Evaluation of components of the system .....73
General-purpose .....74
Efficiency .....75
Precision .....76
Visual clarity .....77
Intuitiveness .....77
Ease of writing .....78
Consistency .....78
Thoroughness .....79
Aesthetics .....80
Advantages and disadvantages of this system .....80
Other considerations .....80
CHAPTER 9 Scientific Experiments .....81
Learning .....82
Performance tasks .....83
Multiple-choice tasks .....84
Threshold of perceptibility .....84
CHAPTER 10 Suggested Features .....87
General .....87
Time .....89
Pitch .....90
SUMMARY - following page 90 (paginated separately)
