While in the labs, we would use Notepad to complete assignments that were based on what we were learning in the theory class. This was problematic to me as a teacher, as we had Finale Notepad installed on computers in our labs, so I could take my theory classes to a lab. For Finale 2009, MakeMusic decided to charge ($10) for the program. This is a return to Finale Notepad 2008 which was free. Perhaps more importantly, Finale is going to make Finale Notepad 2012 free.At this point, IвЂ™d guess that both are a done deal, it is just a matter of вЂњwhenвЂќ rather than вЂњif.вЂќ Nonetheless, IвЂ™m open to being вЂњwowed.вЂќ The most important thing about this announcement is MakeMusicвЂ™s continued entrance into the world of iOS, making me desirous for Finale for iPad and SmartMusic for iPad. I have not seen the app, other than an image on the Finale Blog that may or may not be a capture of the Finale Reader app for the iPad. As IвЂ™ve mentioned over and over again, IвЂ™m also skeptical of any reader that does not have the ability to annotate a score. IвЂ™m hoping the app will offer some of the features of Scorch for the iPad, such as audio playback and transposition. They are going to demonstrate it at NAMM (note to ViolaJack, if you go to NAMM, could you get some photos of the app?).

Finale is going to release a Finale Reader for the iPad in the near future.

The Finale Blog had two large bombshell announcements as the NAMM convention approaches:

Free finale notepad 2008