Learn the Fundamentals of Orchestration
An online orchestration course designed to give you the practical tools and techniques needed to become an effective symphonic orchestrator.
Featuring VSL Synchron Prime Edition
All course excerpts and examples will be available as downloadable MIDI files that have been specifically programmed with VSL’s Synchron Prime Edition. VSL is generously offering 30% off the full price of Synchron Prime to anyone who enrolls in my course (discount may not be combined with special offers or EDU discount).
Complete Orchestration
Learn effective orchestral dynamics, articulations, chord voicings, timbres, and idiomatic instrumental writing and arranging
Strings | Winds | Brass | Percussion
Learn to effectively orchestrate foreground and background textures for each section of the symphony orchestra with professional technique
All-In-One Guide to Orchestration
With nine chapters of in-depth content, including video lectures, PDFS, over one thousand downloadable example files, and dozens of exercises and assignments
Example Curriculum
- 5.1 | The Orchestral String Family (88:21)
- 5.2 | The Violin (42:06)
- 5.3 | The Viola (38:48)
- 5.4 | The Cello (23:51)
- 5.5 | The Double Bass (20:44)
- 5.6 | String Chord Voicing (54:22)
- 5.7 | Melodic String Combinations (50:13)
- 5.8 | Accompanimental Strings (31:45)
- 5.9 | String Textures (70:07)
- 5.10 | Orchestrating for Strings Workshop (42:17)
- 6.1 | The Orchestral Woodwinds Family (39:47)
- 6.2 | The Orchestral Flutes (71:38)
- 6.3 | The Orchestral Oboes (52:06)
- 6.4 | The Orchestral Clarinets (55:49)
- 6.5 | The Orchestral Bassoons (49:49)
- 6.6 | Melodic Woodwind Combinations (108:44)
- 6.7 | Woodwind Chord Voicings (72:05)
- 6.8 | Accompanimental Woodwinds (56:30)
- 6.9 | Woodwind Textures (66:05)
- 6.10 | Orchestrating for Woodwinds Workshop (72:01)
- 7.1 | The Orchestral Brass Family (25:57)
- 7.2 | The Orchestral Horns (47:59)
- 7.3 | The Orchestral Trumpets (33:18)
- 7.4 | The Orchestral Low Brass (44:26)
- 7.5 | Melodic Brass Combinations (41:11)
- 7.6 | Brass Chord Voicings (60:33)
- 7.7 | Brass Textures (52:04)
- 7.8 | Orchestrating for Brass Workshop (47:10)
- 9.1 | The Full Orchestra (72:15)
- 9.2 | Melodic Orchestration (83:01)
- 9.3 | Orchestrating Textures (67:17)
- 9.4 | Macro Orchestration (46:36)
- 9.5.1 | Workshop Assignment : Schubert Impromptu No.3 (71:07)
- 9.5.2 | Workshop Assignment : John Field "Nocturne No.5"
- 9.5.3 | Workshop Assignment : Serenade from Borodin "Petite Suite"
- 9.5.4 | Workshop Assignment : "Les Grenouilles" (George W. Chadwick)
- 9.5.5 | Workshop Assignment : "D'un Jardin Clair" (L.Boulanger)
- 9.5.6 | Workshop Assignment : Prelude (Franck)
- 9.5.7 | Workshop Assignment : Mvmt No.1 from Trois Morceaux en forme de Poire (Satie) (55:53)
- 9.5.8 | Workshop Assignment : "Romance" (A.Beach)
- 9.5.9 | Workshop Assignment : Piano Trio (Fauré)
- 9.5.10 | Workshop Assignment : Mvmt III from Clarinet Trio (Zemlinsky)
- 9.5.11 | Workshop Assignment : "Bogoroditse Devo" (Rachmaninoff)
Designed with the modern musician in mind
From the earliest developmental stages, I wanted this course to be accessible to a wide range of learners. While the course content is detailed and substantial, I believe that the ‘fundamentals’ should be an introduction to orchestration. As an educator on YouTube with a global audience, I am very aware and supportive of a variety of learning styles and backgrounds. The majority of musical excerpts and examples will be shown in both standard notation as well as in MIDI view. All musical downloadable examples are available as MIDI, MXML, and Dorico files.
