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Orchestration Introduction

Gh0stwrit3r · July 30, 2019

In this video I’ll take you for a walk in Switzerland and talk about orchestration. A rather difficult topic for many of us. Maybe because you’re not familiar with it yet. Or you have the idea that you need to study it at a music school or university before you know anything about orchestration.

This is an introduction video though. So I won’t go in depth yet. That is something for the upcoming videos. But during my walk down the mountain I do share with you my simple explanation of orchestration. And three tips to get better in orchestration and boost your knowledge about this topic.

Don’t forget to hit that like button if you appreciate this video. And sub to my channel if you’re interested in how to write music for film, tv and games. Or have an interest in sounddesign and sound recording.

What is orchestration?

In its most simple way orchestration is the art of choosing the instrument(s) that tells your story the best. To make the right decision you need to know something about the instruments in the orchestra. You need to know for instance at what range they like to play. When they naturally sound loud and when they can play pianissimo. What the instruments can do and what they can’t do.

If your goal is to write realistic orchestral music (midi mockups). That your composition once get played by a real orchestra. The knowledge of orchestration is very important. Then you should invest in getting better in it.

If your goal is to write music without being realistic (and that is fine!), orchestration is perhaps less important for you. With the virtual instruments and virtual libraries these days everything is possible. There are no rules. So if you’re looking for a particular sound that isn’t realistic, but does the job for you. Be happy with it!

Tips to get better

In this video I share a couple of tips with you to get better in orchestration.

  • listen to a lot of orchestral music (preferably John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith or Alexandre Desplat …)
  • let your composition be played by real instruments (maybe you know some people)
  • transcribe, transcribe, transcribe!

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Filed Under: Orchestration Tagged With: composing, composing music for beginners, how to create realistic orchestral mockups, how to transcribe music by ear, how to transcribe orchestral music, how to write orchestral music, midi mockups, orchestra, orchestral music, orchestration, orchestration lesson, orchestration techniques, orchestration tips, orchestration tutorial, realistic orchestral mockups, Switzerland, virtual instruments

Patrons have access to short scores and mockups

If you support me on Patreon for only 1 dollar (ex. VAT) a month, you’ll get access to the orchestral sketches. And of course you can download my music tracks for personal listening too! I guess a no-brainer … lots of detailed information and joy for the price of a cup of coffee!

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

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    August 10, 2019 at 1:30 pm

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  2. Challenge your ears ⋆ Recognise the orchestral instruments says:
    August 15, 2019 at 7:29 pm

    […] the first video about orchestration I mentioned transcribing film scores. A great activity to boost your knowledge […]

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  3. Longest sustained notes ⋆ How long on a Tuba and Contrabassoon says:
    August 22, 2019 at 5:19 pm

    […] question is relevant in the perspective of orchestration, cause it can determine if you can use a tuba or contrabassoon for a certain passage in your […]

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  4. Orchestral Sketch no. 2 ⋆ From Piano to Orchestra (Brass) says:
    September 3, 2020 at 7:46 pm

    […] have developed the single melody line mostly by thickening. What kind of thoughts raise about orchestration when looking at this […]

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  5. Innocent Love - Score Walkthrough ⋆ Compose Ochestral Music says:
    September 18, 2020 at 1:07 pm

    […] Orchestration is in it simplest meaning choosing the right instruments for the story that you want to tell. Now I was after a sweet and romantic sound. Strings and woodwinds are my friends for that. […]

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  6. Orchestral Sketch no. 11 - From piano to orchestra ⋆ Steal the show with this piano concept says:
    January 14, 2021 at 7:06 pm

    […] this is what I ended up with eventually. The sketch is ready for some orchestration. But I guess I already gave it away how that is going to work […]

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If you support me on Patreon for only 1 dollar (ex. VAT) a month, you’ll get access to the orchestral sketches. And of course you can download my music tracks for personal listening too! I guess a no-brainer … lots of detailed information and joy for the price of a cup of coffee!

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Music composed with love in The Netherlands · Copyright © 2022

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