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Sample ORCHESTRATION 

course SCHEDULE:

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This course is designed to provide you with an in-depth knowledge of the orchestral instruments and their usage.

Two main areas will be covered: instrumentation, which deals with the construction, sound production, range, notation, and playing techniques of each instrument; and orchestration, which is the actual process of scoring music for orchestra. Groups of instruments examined include brass, strings, woodwinds, harp, and percussion. Lessons involve score study, discussion of instrumental techniques, and review of assignments.

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this course:

• The student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the various elements (or textures) of orchestral writing and score reading.

• The student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of voicing of chords for orchestra and writing sketches.

• The student will be able to analyze the techniques used in successful works of the past.

Text:

Norman Ludwin, Orchestration- A New Approach –

The Fifteen-Lesson Course

Recommended:

Norman Ludwin - Volume Two-20th and 21st Century Compositions 

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1. CLASS ONE

   1. Introduction to the course

   2. History of the Orchestra

   3. Strings Basics

   4. Beethoven-Symphony No.5

2. CLASS TWO

   1. Strings 2

   2. Bowing versus Phrasing

   3. Mozart-Symphony No. 40

   4. Thom Newman-Road to Perdition

   5. Exercise One

3. CLASS THREE

   1. Strings 3

   2. Harmonics

   3. Brahms-Symphony No. 1

   4. Exercise Two

4. CLASS FOUR

   1. Woodwind Basics

   2. Debussy-Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun

   3. John Williams-Leia’s Theme

   4. Exercise Three

5. CLASS FIVE

   1. Brass Basics

   2. Strauss-Don Quixote

   3. Jerry Goldsmith-Voyager

   4. Exercise Four

6. CLASS SIX

   1. Harp Basics

   2. Mahler-Symphony No. 5

   3. Desplat-Golden Compass

   4. Exercise Five

7. CLASS SEVEN

   1. Percussion Basics

   2. Varesé-Octandre

   3. John Williams- March from 1941

   4. Exercise Six

8. CLASS EIGHT

   1. Putting it all Together

   2. Varying Material

   3. Tools for Analysis

   4. Exercise Seven

9. CLASS NINE

   1. Writing for the String Orchestra

   2. Elgar-Introduction and Allegro

   3. Herrmann- Psycho

   4. Exercise Eight

10. CLASS TEN

    1. Writing for the Full Orchestra

    2. Preparing your music for live recording

    3. Stravinsky-Petroushka

    4. Giacchino-Super 8 and John Carter

    5. Exercise Nine

11. CLASS ELEVEN

    1. Preparation for final mockup

    2. Holst- Planets-Saturn

    3. James Newton Howard-Maleficent

    4. Exercise Ten

12. CLASS TWELVE

    1. Final project due

    2. Discussion of next steps

Sample FILM COMPOSITION

course Schedule

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This course offers you a detailed examination of the process and techniques of film composition. The emphasis is on contemporary scoring approaches with cues from John Williams, Johnny Greenwood, Michael Giacchino, Hans Zimmer and others.  Various genres will be examined including: suspense, family, sci-fi, and epic cues.

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this course:

• The student will have a in-depth knowledge of contemporary scoring techniques and styles.

• The student will be able to analyze film cues and detect large scale textural patterns.

• The student will have a much deeper understanding of how to develop their material.

Text:

Norman Ludwin, Composition- Anthology Volume Three

Recommended:

Norman Ludwin, Composition - Developing Variation 

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1. CLASS ONE

   1. Introduction to the course

   2. Anthology Volume Three overview

   3. Review of your Material

   4. Textures

   5. Outlines

   6. Williams- ET Halloween

2. CLASS TWO

   1. Hollywood Sound Secrets

   2. Modes

   3. Poulenc-Three Works

   4. Debussy - Interlude and Prelude

   5. Exercise One

3. CLASS THREE

   1. Hexachords

   2. Modulation

   3. Chord Substitutions

   4. Bergersen- Two Steps from Hell

   5. Exercise Two

4. CLASS FOUR

   1. Analysis of cues

   2. Examples by Zimmer, Williams, Greenwood, Newman, Mica Levi, “Shutter”

   3. Exercise Three

5. CLASS FIVE

   1. Development

   2. Mozart-Piano Sonata XIII

   3. Jerry Goldsmith-Voyager

   4. Exercise Four

6. CLASS SIX

   1. Development 2

   2. JN Howard-King Kong

   3. Herrmann-Vertigo

   4. Exercise Five

7. CLASS SEVEN

   1. Unusual doubling choices

   2. Solo instruments

   3. Stravinsky-The Rite of Spring

   4. Williams -Leia’s Theme

   5. Exercise Six

8. CLASS EIGHT

   1. Scoring a suspense cue with Strings

   2. Harmonic language: Tonal with emphasis on dissonant intervals (no triads)

   3. Herrmann-Psycho

   4. Giacchino-Lost

   5. Exercise Seven

9. CLASS NINE

   1. Scoring a family cue with Chamber Orchestra

   2. Harmonic language: Tonal with emphasis on constant intervals (triads)

   3. E. Bernstein- To Kill a Mockingbird

   4. Newman-Road to Perdition

   5. Exercise Eight

10. CLASS TEN

    1. Scoring a Sci-fi cue for Full Orchestra

    2. Harmonic language: 12 tone

    3. Goldsmith-Planet of the Apes

    4. Goldsmith-Alien

    5. Exercise Nine

11. CLASS ELEVEN

    1. Final cue: Scoring an epic cue for Full Orchestra

    2. Harmonic language: Your choice

    3. Kamen-Robin Hood

    4. Giacchino-MI3

    5. JN Howard-Maleficent

    6. Exercise Ten

12. CLASS TWELVE

    1. Review of final cue

    2. Discussion of next career steps

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IN ADDITION EACH COURSE INCLUDES:

  • Detailed look at your music

 • Examining scores together and listening to tracks

• Going over handouts from my books

 • Reviewing exercises from the previous lesson

 • Discussion on the music business in LA and in general 

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Please note there is no refund for unused lessons

Lessons cancelled less than 24 hours prior will still be charged