Orchestration
Original price was: $99.99.$24.99Current price is: $24.99.
What you’ll learn
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You will be learning from a professional and award-winning composer and orchestrator.
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You will learn about orchestral instruments and their notation, transposition, ranges, register strengths, dynamic capabilities, playing techniques, and more.
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You will learn how to properly prepare a score and parts and tips on how to proof them before publishing or performance.
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You will acquire knowledge of the different types of timbres and textures and how and why to use them.
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You will learn how spacing and voicing is used in orchestral chords and how to score chords for the orchestra and each section.
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You will learn about various instrument combinations, and the different roles each instrument and section plays within the whole.
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You will learn many orchestration tips and techniques to help you in your orchestrations.
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You will learn strategies for reading scores.
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You will study hundreds of score examples, diagrams, and audio clips.
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You will get access to many free external resources.
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You will have your knowledge tested with nearly 1,000 quiz questions.
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The course is divided into two parts: part 1 is on Instrumentation and part 2 is on Orchestration. Instrumentation is an important and necessary first step since you cannot write for orchestra if you don’t know about the individual instruments of the orchestra.
In part 1 you will learn how each instrument is constructed, how they produce sound, how they are properly notated, their playing and sounding ranges, register characteristics, dynamic capabilities and common playing techniques.
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In part 2 you will learn basic concepts for writing for orchestra, including how to create and effectively use different timbres and textures, the best methods for scoring chords, the roles each instrument and section play within the whole, how to properly prepare a score and parts, and how to proof before publishing. The course concludes with an entire section of helpful orchestration tips and techniques. There are also a number of useful reference charts in the appendix.
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At key points in the course you will be given score reading assignments, listening assignments, composing assignments, and quizzes.
A vital component to the study of orchestration is score reading, and so throughout the course you will be asked to read scores. There are some score excerpts in the course but the majority of score reading will be done on your own. There is an important reason for this. Taking a course in orchestration is a great start to learning how to write for orchestra but the only way to become truly knowledgeable and skilled in this very complex art form is through a lifetime of score study and through a lifetime of experience gained from actual writing for orchestra. This cannot be emphasized enough.
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Note: This is not a music theory course or a music composition course. This course was written for individuals who already have a basic foundation in music theory (including music notation) and music composition. If you need or would like to develop your knowledge in these areas please see the following courses by the instructor.
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Music Theory
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Music Composition 1
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Music Composition 2
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Four-part Harmony
Who this course is for:
- Beginning to intermediate level composers and orchestrators
- Composers who want to expand their writing skills into the area of orchestration
- All musicians wanting to learn about instrumentation and orchestration
- People who have had a course in either instrumentation or orchestration but not both and are missing half the picture
Matt Charlesworth –
I have been a musician and music teacher most of my life. I play many different instruments but the orchestra very much alluded me in term of composition and arrangement. There are so many fundamentals to understand before you can even hope to effectively orchestrate and this course presents them so effectively and yet succinctly. I am looking forward to a lifetime of listening, learning, analysing, composing and arranging built on the foundations of this course. Sincerely, thank you so much.
Simon Burgess –
Hard work but very rewarding.
Tanachai Bunlutangtum –
I’ve expected much more audio and hands-on example. Most of the content don’t utilize the video format at all, and to me, are more like reading lecture.
John Warwick –
It’s great to understand the different detail in each instrument, and get the best use and to help the performer and composing make a more closer understanding.
Mary Knickle –
Yes. It’s a bit beginner as I have written for most of the string but I have a lot to learn with brass and I am self taught. You are covering details I need. It is always good to learn the beginning again (as some of my scores on test attest!)
Xavier HENRY –
Fantastic course, with a lot of invaluable, rare to find information, for such a small fee!
Gerard Budd –
Great series of lectures based on his book of the same name.
Sean Gilbert –
Odd format, but you learn a lot
Rose Williams –
So far I have learned a lot about the logistics of using each orchestra section and each instrument. I have not watched any of the provided instrument demo videos yet. I think it would be nice if the instructor used more of his own experience and included more short clips of recordings to explain his points. It is great to get through the basics quickly, but a little more interesting detail here and there would be nice.
Ana Rivera –
The information seems very complete and rich. The narration though, is a bit plain and emotionless, it makes it a bit heavy to listen to. It doesn’t help the motivation.
Mollie C –
very thorough explanations. Great beginner course.
Mark Tolley –
Yes, this is what I was looking for. Narration is a bit dry.