Some sort of score editing tutorial for Finale/Sibelius?

One of my biggest problems is editing the score after I'm done composing in Finale. Though I make some changes by instict or personal taste, I really have no idea what the norms or industry standards (or how much of it is norm and how much of it can be left to personal taste).

If you could share the way you edit scores yourself, or offer some advice, I'd be much appreciated. Or just flat-out write a short guide for n00bs in the matter, like me. :P

I know that in the Sibelius Reference Manual there are engraving rules which is a pretty good basis but not complete. There are books with the complete engraving rules of hand written music that should be the ideal and easily transferred to digital editing (finale, sibelius).

Here is a good website: npc Imaging's bookstore

I would look at the The Norton Manual of Music Notation but there are other great books there about the history of notation and even some very comprehensive books on the use of Finale and Sibelius.

Until then, Finale does most of the work for you. Just make sure there are no collisions or typos and all the dynamics are under the score (instrumental) or above (choral). The best thing to do is look at what everybody elses score looks like and try to mimic it, if you think something doesn't look right than it probably isn't.

Hope this helps.

This is such a difficult subject to breach; I've been tempted to write up some guidelines before, but it is a truly monumental task.

Part of the problem is that all of the different publishing houses have completely different standards. Another is that some of the guidelines are really, totally, and completely subjective.

Let me think a bit and I'll see what I can add.