What you'll learn

You will be learning from a professional and award-winning composer and orchestrator.
You will learn about orchestral instruments and their notation, transposition, ranges, register strengths, dynamic capabilities, playing techniques, and more.
You will learn how to properly prepare a score and parts and tips on how to proof them before publishing or performance.
You will acquire knowledge of the different types of timbres and textures and how and why to use them.
You will learn how spacing and voicing is used in orchestral chords and how to score chords for the orchestra and each section.
You will learn about various instrument combinations, and the different roles each instrument and section plays within the whole.
You will learn many orchestration tips and techniques to help you in your orchestrations.
You will learn strategies for reading scores.
You will study hundreds of score examples, diagrams, and audio clips.
You will get access to many free external resources.
You will have your knowledge tested with nearly 1,000 quiz questions.

Course content

25 sections • 178 lectures • 6h 14m total length

Course Structure2:44
A brief outline of the course.
Resources1:46
A list of the free resources you will need for this course.
Scientific Pitch Notation1:16
An explanation of "Scientific Pitch Notation" which will be used throughout this course.
Section 1

Violin4:12
Basics about the violin including a quick reference chart, notation, range, tuning, string characteristics, register characteristics, and dynamic capabilities.
Viola3:10
Basics about the viola including a quick reference chart, notation, range, tuning, string characteristics, register characteristics, and dynamic capabilities.
Cello3:18
Basics about the cello including a quick reference chart, notation, range, tuning, string characteristics, register characteristics, and dynamic capabilities.
Double Bass3:30
Basics about the double bass including a quick reference chart, notation, range, tuning, string characteristics, register characteristics, and dynamic capabilities.
Section 3
Score Study & Listening Assignments0:32

Intro0:11
An overview of what will be covered in section 4.
Vibrato2:01
An explanation of vibrato, how this technique is performed, and how to properly notated it in the score. Audio examples are included.
Legato & Détaché2:05
An explanation of legato and détaché, how these techniques are performed, and how to properly notated them in the score. Audio examples are included.
Portato0:40
An explanation of portato, how this technique is performed, and how to properly notated it in the score. Audio examples are included.
Staccato & Spiccato2:34
An explanation of staccato and spiccato, how these techniques are performed, and how to properly notated them in the score. Audio examples are included.
Trills3:34
An explanation of the trill, how this technique is performed, and how to properly notated it in the score. Audio examples are included.
Tremolos4:38
An explanation of the tremolo, how this technique is performed, and how to properly notated it in the score. Audio examples are included.
Special Bow Placements1:57
An explanation of sul tasto and sul ponticello, how these techniques are performed, and how to properly notated them in the score. Audio examples are included.
Glissando2:11
An explanation of glissando, how this technique is performed, and how to properly notated it in the score. Audio examples are included.
Portamento1:28
An explanation of portamento, how this technique is performed, and how to properly notated it in the score. Audio examples are included.
Col Legno4:07
An explanation of col legno tratto and col legno battuto, how these techniques are performed, and how to properly notated them in the score. Audio examples are included.
Mutes1:59
An explanation of mutes, and how to properly notated the placement or removal of a mute. Audio examples are included.
Natural Harmonics4:39
An explanation of natural harmonics (including a brief overview of the harmonic series), how this technique is performed, and how to properly notated it in the score.
Artificial Harmonics5:34
An explanation of artificial harmonics, how this technique is performed, and how to properly notated it in the score. Includes audio examples of normal pitches, natural harmonics, and artificial harmonics.
Pizzicato2:44
An explanation of pizzicato, how this technique is performed, and how to properly notated it in the score.
Snap Pizzicato1:41
An explanation of snap pizzicato, how this technique is performed, and how to properly notated it in the score. Audio examples of both pizzicato and snap pizzicato are included.
Multiple Stops3:03
An explanation of double stops, triple stops, and quadruple stops, how these techniques are performed, and how to properly notated them in the score.
Divisi1:55
An explanation of divisi, how this technique is performed, and how to properly notated it in the score.
Bowed String Demonstrations0:09
Video demonstrations of the violin, viola, cello, and double bass.
Section 4
Score Study & Listening Assignments0:16
Writing Assignments0:20

Chords1:55
How chords are played on the harp, which fingers are used, and how to properly notate them. Includes a chart showing the average maximum stretch for each pair of fingers.
Glissando1:19
Types of glissandi possible on the harp and how to notate them.
Trills0:50
The two ways in which a harpist can perform a trill and the benefits to each method.
Tremolos1:48
The three ways in which a harpist can perform a trill and the benefits to each method.
Harmonics4:36
The types of harmonics possible on harp and limitations due to right and left hand.
Harp Demonstration0:09
Video demonstrations of the harp.
Section 6
Score Study & Listening Assignments0:15
Writing Assignments0:19

Flute3:18
Basics about the flute including a quick reference chart, notation, range, register characteristics, and dynamic capabilities.
Piccolo1:50
Basics about the piccolo including a quick reference chart, notation, range, transposition, register characteristics, and dynamic capabilities.
Oboe1:58
Basics about the oboe including a quick reference chart, notation, range, register characteristics, and dynamic capabilities.
English Horn1:43
Basics about the English horn including a quick reference chart, notation, range, transposition, register characteristics, and dynamic capabilities.
Clarinet3:01
Basics about the clarinet including a quick reference chart, notation, range, transposition, register characteristics, and dynamic capabilities.
Bass Clarinet1:53
Basics about the bass clarinet including a quick reference chart, notation, range, transposition, register characteristics, and dynamic capabilities.
Bassoon1:57
Basics about the bassoon including a quick reference chart, notation, range, register characteristics, and dynamic capabilities.
Contrabassoon2:20
Basics about the contrabassoon including a quick reference chart, notation, range, transposition, register characteristics, and dynamic capabilities.
Section 8
Score Study & Listening Assignments1:23

Intro0:07
An overview of what will be covered in section 9.
Vibrato1:33
An explanation of vibrato on woodwinds, how this technique is performed, and how to properly notated it in the score. Audio examples are included.
Tonguing2:51
An explanation of tonguing on woodwinds, how this technique is performed, and how to properly notated it in the score. Audio examples are included.
Flutter Tongue2:22
An explanation of flutter tongue on woodwinds, how this technique is performed, and how to properly notated it in the score. Audio examples are included.
Trills3:30
Guidelines for writing trills on woodwinds. Audio examples are included.
Tremolos3:19
Guidelines for writing tremolos on woodwinds. Audio examples are included.
Glissando1:37
An explanation of glissando on woodwinds, how this technique is performed, its limitations, and how to properly notated it in the score. Audio examples are included.
Mutes0:39
An explanation of mutes for woodwinds, how this technique is performed, and how to properly notated it in the score.
Woodwind Demonstrations0:09
Video demonstrations of the piccolo, flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, and contrabassoon.
Section 9
Score Study & Listening Assignments0:09
Writing Assignments0:20

Requirements

You must be able to read music and have a basic understanding of music notation
You must have a basic understanding of music theory
You must already have some basic experience in music composition
You must have "musescore" or some type of music notation software capable of producing orchestral size scores
Although not a necessity, it is very beneficial if you have some ability to play the piano (or other instrument)

Description

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.

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.

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.

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.

Music Theory

Music Composition 1

Music Composition 2

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

What you'll learn

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Course content

BEFORE YOU BEGIN3 lectures • 6min

INTRODUCTION TO BOWED STRINGS2 lectures • 8min

BOWED STRINGS5 lectures • 15min

PLAYING TECHNIQUES FOR BOWED STRING INSTRUMENTS21 lectures • 48min

HARP1 lecture • 9min

PLAYING TECHNIQUES FOR HARP8 lectures • 11min

INTRODUCTION TO WOODWINDS2 lectures • 3min

WOODWINDS9 lectures • 19min

PLAYING TECHNIQUES FOR WOODWINDS11 lectures • 17min

INTRODUCTION TO BRASS1 lecture • 2min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: