We all have options for the tools we use. In the music world alone, there are DAWs, notation programs, microphones, instruments, and so many other tools that we can choose from among many good options. Why do we choose one or another?
My Mentor/Hero Uses It. Think of Jacob Collier fans who are moving to Logic, or the musicians who seek out the same model of guitar their hero uses.
It’s What I’ve Always Used. I heard someone say that all choir directors default to the warmups they sang in high school. Maybe that’s not exactly true, but it’s true that we often default to what we’ve already used.
I Think It’s The Best. I switched from Finale to Dorico because I think it’s objectively the best option for me to create great notated music quickly and well.
My Colleagues Use It. (Compatibility.) Both the studio I record the Aces at and the studio at GRCC are Pro Tools-based studios. If either weren’t, I’d be learning new software so I could be compatible with them.
It’s Free. I encourage all students to look first to MuseScore for notation. It might not be the best, but it’s the freest. (And it’s good.)
Nostalgia. Sometimes you choose a tool just because of how it makes you feel–the memories it stirs up, the patina the tool has from past experience.
We don’t choose tools for the same reason; every choice can be a distinct combination of multiple factors, too. Recognizing why you’ve made a selection can be a great way to revisit and reassess whether that tool is still right for you.