Orchestration Masterclass, Part 2: Brass, Voice, & Guitar from Udemy

This course is certified 5-stars by the International Association of Online Music Educators and Institutions.

100% Answer Rate. Every single question posted to this class is answered within 24 hours by the instructor.

Are you a music maker, performer, composer, or aspiring songwriter looking to up your game? This is the place to start.

It's time to learn orchestration to give your music the power, the passion, and the prodigiousness that it deserves.

Orchestration is the study of each instrument in the orchestra, how they work, how to write for them, and how each instrument collides with the others to make new sounds. Think of it like painting: The orchestra is your palette of colors. But you don't want to just mix them all together. You need to understand some principles of mixing those colors together before you put your brush on canvas.

In this series of classes we are going to work on three things:

Instrumentation: Knowing how all of the instruments in the orchestra work, and how to write for them in an idiomatic way.
Composition: Using the orchestra to write powerful music. Learning how to blend the different sounds of the orchestra to make a new, unique, sound.
Synthestration: Using common production software (Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Cubase, etc.) to create a realistic orchestra sound using sample libraries.

In this class, "Part 2: Brass, Voice, and Guitar" we are going to focus entirely on instrumentation - learning how to write for the brass (trumpet, trombone, french horns, and tuba) the voice (soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, counter-tenor, tenor, baritone, bass), percussion, guitar and other fretted instruments, piano, accordion, and more.If you don't know me, I've published a lot of classes here. Those classes have been really successful (top sellers, in fact. ), and this has been one of the most requested class that my students (over I'm really excited to finally be able to bring this to you.

Here is a list of some of the topics we will cover:

How Brass instruments make sound
Dynamics in Brass
Breathing
Brass articulations
Types of trumpets
Types of trombones
Types of tubas
Types of horns (or French Horns)
Brass mutes
Brass forces in an orchestra
The pitched and unpitched percussion
Rolls and strokes
Bowed percussion
Percussion notation issues
Drum Kit
Tessitura and Range of the Voice
The soprano range and color
The alto range and color
The mezzo-soprano range and color
The counter-tenor range and color
The tenor range color
The baritone range and color
The bass voice range and color
Writing for the piano
Writing for the harpsichord, toy piano, and other keyboard instruments
Writing for the harp
Writing for the organ
Writing for the guitar
Writing for other fretted instruments
Dynamic issues with the guitar
Guitar and tablature
Writing for accordion
And Much, Much, More.

My Promise to You:

I am a full-time Music composer and Educator. If you have any questions please post them in the class or send me a direct message. I will respond within 24 hours. And if you find this class isn't for you, I am more than happy for you to take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked.

What makes me qualified to teach you?

In addition to being a composer and educator, I also have a Ph.D. in music, I am a university music professor, and have a long list of awards for teaching.

But more importantly: I use this stuff every day. I write music professionally, I am an active guitarist, and I stay on top of all the latest production techniques, workflows, and styles. As you will see in this class, I just love this stuff. And I love teaching it.

Let's get started.

See you in lesson 1.

All best,

Jason (but call me Jay...)

What's inside

Learning objectives

Compose music for the voice, guitar, brass, and percussion instruments
The unique properties of every instrument in the orchestra
How writing for the orchestra works, including scores, parts, shared parts, and more.
Making your synthesized orchestrations sounds great!

How to write music for brass.
How to write music for voice and choir
How to write music for guitar
How to write music for harp

Compose music for the voice, guitar, brass, and percussion instruments
The unique properties of every instrument in the orchestra
How writing for the orchestra works, including scores, parts, shared parts, and more.
Making your synthesized orchestrations sounds great!
How to write music for brass.
How to write music for voice and choir
How to write music for guitar
How to write music for harp

Syllabus

Welcome to Orchestration Masterclass, Part 2!

Introduction

The Format of this class

Previously in Orchestration!

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores instrumentation, composition, and synthestration, which are essential skills for creating powerful and unique orchestral music using both traditional and digital tools

Covers brass instruments, voice, guitar, percussion, piano, and accordion, offering a comprehensive understanding of their unique characteristics and idiomatic writing techniques

Discusses the use of production software like Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, and Cubase, which are industry-standard tools for creating realistic orchestral sounds

Requires learners to have access to production software (Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Cubase, etc.) to create a realistic orchestra sound using sample libraries

Reviews summary

Orchestration: brass, voice, guitar deep dive

According to learners, this course offers a largely positive experience, particularly praised for its in-depth coverage of writing for brass, voice, and guitar. Students appreciate the instructor's clear explanations and deep knowledge, which helps them understand the nuances of these instrument families. Many find the content practical and useful for improving their composition and arrangement skills. The course is seen as a valuable resource for musicians and composers looking to expand their orchestration palette. Some learners note that while comprehensive for its stated topics, it is Part 2 of a series and benefits from prior foundational knowledge.

Beneficial if you have some musical background.

"Having taken Part 1 helped, as this course dives straight into specific instruments assuming some foundational knowledge."

"While stand-alone for the instruments covered, a basic understanding of music theory or orchestration is helpful."

"It's definitely a masterclass, suggesting it's for those serious about learning orchestration."

"I found it built well upon general orchestration principles I already knew."

Concentrates on instrument writing details.

"As the title suggests, this course focuses heavily on how to write for the specified instruments."

"It's great for understanding the instruments themselves, which is exactly what Part 2 promised."

"The course delivers on its promise of covering the instrumentation aspects thoroughly."

"While it touches on composition, the core strength is the detailed look at the instruments covered."

Offers actionable advice for composing.

"I've already started applying the techniques for writing brass lines in my own pieces."

"Learning about the idiomatic writing for these instruments has immediately improved my scores."

"The examples provided demonstrate how to use the instruments effectively in different contexts."

"This masterclass gives me the tools I need to create more compelling arrangements."

Instructor is knowledgeable, clear, and responsive.

"The instructor's expertise is evident throughout the course; he explains complex concepts clearly."

"I appreciated the quick and thorough responses I received to my questions."

"Jay's passion for the subject is contagious and makes the lectures engaging."

"His real-world experience as a composer adds significant value to the lessons."

Provides deep insights into instrument specifics.

"I really enjoyed the detailed breakdown of each brass instrument, including their ranges and common articulations."

"Understanding the different voice types and how to write effectively for them was incredibly helpful."

"The section on guitar and fretted instruments covered nuances I hadn't considered before."

"This course gave me a much clearer picture of the capabilities and limitations of brass, voice, and guitar in an orchestral context."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Orchestration Masterclass, Part 2: Brass, Voice, & Guitar with these activities:

The Study of Orchestration, Third Edition

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Gain a deeper understanding of orchestration principles and instrumental techniques.

View Study of Orchestration on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'The Study of Orchestration'.
Read the chapters relevant to brass, voice, and guitar.
Take notes on key concepts and techniques.

The Study of Orchestration, Third Edition

Show steps

Gain a deeper understanding of orchestration principles and instrumental techniques.

View Study of Orchestration on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of 'The Study of Orchestration'.
Read the chapters relevant to brass, voice, and guitar.
Take notes on key concepts and techniques.
Compare the book's advice with the course content.

Review Music Theory Fundamentals

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Strengthen your understanding of music theory to better grasp orchestration concepts.

Browse courses on Music Theory

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Review basic concepts like scales, chords, and key signatures.
Practice identifying intervals and chord qualities.
Complete online exercises on music theory fundamentals.

Ten other activities

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Practice basic guitar chords and strumming patterns

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Reinforce fundamental guitar skills to better understand the instrument's role in orchestration.

Browse courses on Guitar

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Review basic guitar chords (e.g., G, C, D, Em).
Practice strumming common rhythms.
Play along with simple songs.

Principles of Orchestration

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Study a classic text on orchestration to gain historical context and different perspectives.

View Principles of Orchestration (Dover Books On... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Principles of Orchestration'.
Read the sections on brass, voice, and related instruments.
Analyze the examples provided in the book.
Compare Rimsky-Korsakov's techniques with modern approaches.

Transposition Exercises for Brass

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Improve your ability to transpose music for different brass instruments.

Browse courses on Transposition

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Find sheet music for brass instruments in concert pitch.
Transpose the music for trumpet, trombone, and French horn.
Check your work against a transposition chart.

Transposition exercises for brass instruments

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Improve your ability to transpose music for different brass instruments.

Browse courses on Transposition

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Find sheet music for a C instrument.
Transpose the music for Bb trumpet, F horn, and Eb alto horn.
Check your work with a transposition chart.

Compose a Short Piece for Brass Quartet

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Apply your knowledge of brass instrumentation to create an original composition.

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Sketch out a musical idea for a brass quartet.
Develop the idea into a complete composition.
Notate the piece using music notation software.
Record a virtual performance using sample libraries.

Explore online tutorials on vocal arranging

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Learn practical techniques for arranging vocal parts in an orchestral setting.

Browse courses on Voice

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Search for tutorials on vocal arranging on YouTube or other platforms.
Watch tutorials focusing on harmony, voice leading, and vocal ranges.
Experiment with the techniques in your own compositions.

Vocal Technique: A Guide for Conductors, Teachers, and Singers

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Enhance your understanding of vocal technique and choral writing.

View Melania on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Vocal Technique'.
Read the chapters on vocal pedagogy and choral techniques.
Experiment with the exercises and techniques described in the book.

Compose a short piece featuring brass, voice, and guitar

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Apply the course's principles by writing a composition that combines the instruments covered.

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Sketch out a basic melody and harmonic progression.
Assign parts to brass, voice, and guitar.
Refine the arrangement and orchestration.
Record or notate the piece.

Orchestrate a Pop Song for Guitar, Voice, and Brass

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Practice your orchestration skills by arranging a popular song for the instruments covered in the course.

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Choose a pop song that you enjoy.
Create a transcription of the song's melody and chords.
Orchestrate the song for guitar, voice, and brass instruments.
Record a virtual performance of your arrangement.

Analyze orchestral scores featuring brass, voice, and guitar

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Deepen your understanding of orchestration by studying existing scores.

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Select orchestral scores that feature the instruments covered in the course.
Analyze the orchestration techniques used by the composer.
Pay attention to how the instruments are combined and balanced.
Take notes on interesting or effective orchestration choices.

Career center

Learners who complete Orchestration Masterclass, Part 2: Brass, Voice, & Guitar will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Composer

A composer creates original music, and this course directly supports that endeavor. With a focus on instrumentation, this course teaches how to write for brass, voice, guitar, and other instruments, all of which helps a composer understand the nuances of each instrument. The course also introduces the blending of these sounds to create new and unique music. This is critical for any composer looking to expand their knowledge of orchestration. By learning about each instrument's capabilities, a composer has the tools to write music that is both idiomatic and powerfully expressive.

See salaries and explore the career path for Composer

Orchestrator

An orchestrator arranges music for an orchestra, and this course is essential for this role. The course’s curriculum in instrumentation, teaching how to write for brass, voice, guitar, and percussion, forms the bedrock of what an orchestrator needs. It dives into how instruments work, how to write for them, and their interactions to create complex sounds. The course’s exploration of instrument-specific techniques, like brass articulations and guitar dynamics, is directly relevant to the work of an orchestrator. Also, the course's focus on blending sounds and creating unique music helps hone an orchestrator's artistic abilities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Orchestrator

Songwriter

A songwriter crafts original songs, and this course helps them expand their writing capabilities. It is useful for a songwriter to understand how to use various instruments to write richer, more textured music. The course explores instrumentation for the voice, guitar, brass, and other instruments, all of which makes a songwriter a more versatile artist. The course also addresses the use of production software to create realistic orchestral sounds, which allows a songwriter to produce quality demos. The course's focus on blending different instrumental sounds also enables a songwriter to develop a more distinctive sound.

See salaries and explore the career path for Songwriter

Music Arranger

A music arranger adapts existing music for different instruments or ensembles, and this course gives them valuable skills. By learning about instrumentation techniques for brass, voice, guitar and percussion, a music arranger gains the knowledge to adapt a piece for diverse instrumentations. Additionally, the course teaches how individual instruments function within an ensemble and how to create unique textures, which is important because it allows an arranger to make the most of available musical forces. This course allows the music arranger to create well-balanced and idiomatic arrangements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Arranger

Film Score Composer

A film score composer creates music for movies, and this course may be useful. A film score often requires a deep understanding of orchestration to create effective, emotive music. A composer must know how to write for a variety of instruments including brass, voice, guitar and percussion to achieve the desired effect. This course gives those skills and helps a film composer create detailed and expressive scores. It also covers how to blend instruments and use synthesis, which are essential to modern film composition's demands.

See salaries and explore the career path for Film Score Composer

Video Game Composer

A video game composer creates music for video games, and this course may be useful. The course's focus on orchestration allows a composer to craft compelling music for diverse game environments and scenarios. This role requires flexibility to write in a wide variety of styles, and the course’s study of brass, voice, guitar, and other instruments offers the composer a means to create diverse textures. The course’s practical applications of mixing these instruments contributes to this versatility. It is imperative that a video game composer understand how to produce realistic sounds, as this course addresses in its syllabus.

See salaries and explore the career path for Video Game Composer

Musical Theatre Composer

A musical theatre composer creates music for stage productions, and this course may be useful. Musical theatre often requires a diverse range of instrumental styles and orchestration skills to support the dramatic action of the piece. By studying instrumentation for brass, voice, guitar and percussion, a musical theatre composer can craft unique musical arrangements. The course’s emphasis on blending instruments and producing unique sounds helps enhance the dramatic impact of a show and meet the diverse needs of different scenes or musical numbers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Musical Theatre Composer

Music Producer

A music producer oversees the creation of recorded music, and this course may be useful for this role. Music producers must have a strong understanding of how various instruments work together in order to craft compelling records. With its detailed focus on instrumentation, the course's lessons, especially those regarding brass, voice, guitars, and percussion, are particularly relevant. The course's attention to synthestration is helpful for a music producer to create rich, layered orchestrations. The techniques of blending instruments that the course focuses on allows a producer to shape a track.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Producer

Music Educator

A music educator teaches music to students, and this course may be useful. A music educator benefits from a deep understanding of orchestration practices across a variety of instruments. The course’s focus on brass, voice, guitar, and percussion, provides a strong basis for curriculum development and instruction. Furthermore, the course material on instrumentation, composition, and the mixing of sounds allows an educator to confidently explain the nuances of music to their students. The course’s practical information on each instrument will offer an educator real-world tips.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Educator

Studio Musician

A studio musician plays instruments in recording sessions, and this course may be useful. They often need to adapt to a wide variety of musical styles and techniques for different recording projects. The course explores brass, voice, guitar, and percussion instruments and is therefore useful in becoming familiar with these instruments. The course's detailed study of instrument specific techniques, for example, brass articulations and guitar dynamics, makes a studio musician versatile for multiple instrumentations. This allows the studio musician to perform a greater range of musical needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Studio Musician

Sound Designer

A sound designer creates audio effects for various media, and this course may be useful for this role. Sound design often uses various musical elements for the purposes of creating a sonic landscape. A strong understanding of how instruments work can enhance a sound designer's ability to manipulate and synthesize sounds. The course's focus on brass, voice, guitar, and percussion instrumentation gives a sound designer knowledge useful for crafting unique effects. The course's information about the blending of sounds and synthestration provides valuable insights for creating complex effects.

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Music Supervisor

A music supervisor selects and licenses music for media projects, and this course may be useful for this role. They need a broad understanding of music styles and instrumentation to make effective choices. The course’s detailed focus on the instruments of the orchestra, including brass, voice, guitar, and percussion, helps a music supervisor identify styles that fit their projects. Additionally, the course’s study of how sounds blend, and of synthestration, contributes to an understanding of how different musical choices will impact the overall feeling of a project.

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Music Therapist

A music therapist uses music to help patients with their physical, emotional, and cognitive health, and this course may be useful. Music therapists need a broad understanding of various instruments and their effects on different patients. The course's instruction on brass, voice, guitar, and percussion, gives the therapist a wider range of musical tools to use. The course's focus on instrument-specific properties helps a music therapist determine how to best employ instruments for therapeutic needs. The techniques of blending sounds, as taught in this course, offer musical flexibility when working with patients.

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Audio Engineer

An audio engineer works with sound recording and mixing, and this course may be useful. An audio engineer will benefit from a deeper knowledge of instrumentation and how instruments blend. The course's focus on brass, voice, guitar, and percussion provides a background on what the different instruments sound like. The knowledge of synthestration techniques discussed in this course allows an audio engineer to better craft mixes. Ultimately the course helps provide the context in which one would consider what is needed for an arrangement.

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Live Sound Engineer

A live sound engineer manages audio for live performances, and this course may be useful. A live sound engineer needs a solid understanding of how different instruments sound in order to balance them appropriately in a live setting. The course's focus on brass, voice, guitar, and percussion instrumentation provides the live sound engineer a more refined ear. The course's discussion of dynamics and articulations within each instrument, is also helpful when mixing a live performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Live Sound Engineer

Orchestration Masterclass, Part 2

Brass, Voice, & Guitar

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Orchestration: brass, voice, guitar deep dive

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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