A resource for Finale that explains which features are most important and describes how to use them most effectively is necessary to develop a working understanding of this dynamic software. Finale, a program with an especially high level of customization power, offers thousands of commands and controls for the inherent complexity of music notation, many of which are not intuitively available to the user. Though the "steep learning curve" reputation associated with Finale has been largely offset by design improvements in the last few years, it continues to offer a level of user control unmatched in music notation software. Because of the software's power, those who have not spent years learning Finale's intricacies are at a disadvantage. "Finale X Power!" is an instruction book featuring both a detailed approach to the basics of Finale as well as innovative methods and solutions for working with projects of various types. This book is neither a quick startup guide nor a detailed list of features. Continuing the concept of "Finale Power!" (1929685629), "Finale X Power!" integrates the simplicity of a tutorial with explanation of advanced features and plug-ins so readers can obtain a deeper understanding of Finale. By offering a context for using these features, they will become exceedingly useful for the average user thus improving the overall experience while working with Finale. Finale is currently among the leading software applications employed by music educators, and is used widely in computer labs of high schools, colleges, and universities. As Finale's popularity increases with this new version, the most extensive upgrade in over four years, the need for this thorough and upgraded reference is inevitable. This book also applies to Finale 2006! Most of this year's new Finale features (e.g. performance enhancements, GPO, Studio View, and the Mixer) are stacked on top of the existing Finale 2005 framework.