What’s a Flow in Dorico, and What Is It Used For?
Introduction
One of the most unique features of Dorico is the concept of a Flow. If you’re coming from Finale or Sibelius, you might be wondering: What exactly is a Flow, and why should I use it? Unlike traditional notation software, which relies on a single-score structure, Dorico allows you to create and manage multiple independent sections of music within a single project.
What is a Flow?
A Flow in Dorico is an independent section of music within a project. Think of it as a self-contained musical segment—a song, a movement, an exercise, or any other discrete piece of music.
Each Flow has:
- Its own time signature, key signature, and tempo.
- Independent instrumentation.
- Separate layout and formatting options.
What is a Flow Used For?
Flows allow you to structure complex projects in a flexible and organized way. Here are some common uses:
1. Multi-Movement Works
- Composers working on symphonies, sonatas, and suites can create each movement as a separate Flow.
- This keeps formatting clean and makes it easy to navigate different sections.
2. Musical Theater & Song Cycles
- Each song in a show can be its own Flow, preventing formatting conflicts between numbers.
- You can print parts or scores for individual songs without affecting the entire project.
3. Film Scoring & Cues
- Each cue in a film score can be a Flow, allowing for clear separation of different musical moments.
- Easily adjust playback and notation settings for each cue without disrupting others.
4. Engraving Collections of Pieces
- Collections like etudes, exercises, hymns, lead sheets, or method books can have each piece as a separate Flow.
- Automatically generates correct page numbering and headers without manual intervention.
5. Alternative Arrangements or Versions
- Need different instrumentations, transpositions, or simplified versions of a piece? Create them as separate Flows within the same project.
How to Create and Manage Flows
Flows are managed in Setup Mode, where you can:
- Create a new Flow using the bottom panel.
- Assign specific players to each Flow (instruments can vary between Flows).
- Rearrange the order of Flows easily by dragging them.
- Include or exclude Flows from parts—so performers only see what they need.
Conclusion
Flows are a powerful way to organize, structure, and manage multiple pieces within a single project. Whether you’re working on a songbook, film cues, or a full opera, Dorico’s Flows streamline workflow and reduce the need for separate files. Once you get used to them, you may never want to go back!