Re: Rule of the stem up and stem
Thank you Lawrie for your explanation. On other things, for practical reason, any note sign such as dynamic variance that we already put in the Soprano staff for example, we do not have to make it on the other stavas right?, It will automatically follow as the 1st staff?. Because sometimes when we layered it, it will not be even, so it looks not good for printing the song sheet.
Normally, if you have split stems for the two parts, the dynamics "follow the stems". That means that the Soprano part, which will be stems up, has dynamics etc above the staff (occaisionally lyrics too) and the Alto part (stems down) will have dynamics etc below the staff. NB this is definitely not a hard and fast rule, it's just something that is commonly done.
Also remember, for correct playback each staff needs its own dynamics and dynamic variances.