Lily# Learn — twelve short lessons, in the editor

Learn

Twelve short lessons

Each lesson is a complete, playable score that teaches one step. They live in the editor: in VS Code, open an empty .lys file, type lesson and press Ctrl+Space — the list shows all 12, and picking one puts it in the file. The preview opens beside it and redraws as you follow the steps. These pages show each lesson as it opens, what it asks you to do, and where the manual says more.

Not installed yet? Install the extension — one search in VS Code's Extensions view, nothing else to install.

A lesson from the completion list: the red rings mark the steps.
  1. Lesson 1 — Let the editor teach you
    Ctrl+Space anywhere lists what you can write there.
  2. Lesson 2 — Notes and octaves
    A note is a letter and a length: e4 = E, quarter note.
  3. Lesson 3 — Rhythm
    A dot adds half: 4. = dotted quarter.
  4. Lesson 4 — Keys and accidentals
    Sharp = is, flat = es: fis = F#, bes = Bb.
  5. Lesson 5 — Expression
    Marks follow a note with @: @p @f @staccato @fermata … @cresc / @decresc run to the next dynamic.
  6. Lesson 6 — Form and repeats
    Repeats go in the form, not in the notes:
  7. Lesson 7 — Lyrics
    A lyrics track sings a part: one syllable per note, sleep- ing joins a word, | keeps in step with the bars.
  8. Lesson 8 — Chords
    A chord row: symbols as printed (C Am G7 F#m Bb), no lengths — the chords in a bar share it.
  9. Lesson 9 — Piano
    Two parts on a grand staff.
  10. Lesson 10 — Drums
    A drum part is written as patterns.
  11. Lesson 11 — A band
    More parts, same section.
  12. Lesson 12 — A jazz chart
    A rhythm chart: chord symbols over slashes, on one line.