Secondary notation is the set of visual cues used to improve the readability of a formal notation. Secondary notation is often not a part of the formal notation itself. Rather, it is a method of organizing the formal notation to allow it to be more easily understood. Thus, secondary notation does not change the actual meaning of the formal notation, rather it allows for the meaning to be readily understood. In text such as programming languages, this can be done using cues such as indentation and coloring. In formal graphical notations, this can be done through the use of symmetry or proximity to indicate relatedness.
Definition of "Secondary notation" by Chat GPT: Secondary notation refers to additional information or symbols added to a musical score in order to provide further instructions to the performer. This can include markings related to dynamics, articulation, phrasing, expression, tempo, and other performance directions that are not part of the original notation of the music itself.
« Back to Glossary Index