10 Standards for Online Orchestration Lessons

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[@ErnestoComposer]

I’ve been lucky enough to have some great teachers in my short life, and they all have exhibited the qualities you laid out here. But, this is a FANTASTIC list for what students should expect out of their teachers in this context, AND for how teachers can better help their students in ways they hadn’t considered before

[@daviddas]

Great video, Thomas, and thank you for including me on your list. I enjoy the dialogue with students and fellow composers -- we all have lots to learn!

[@laurajhball]

I once had a few lessons with someone who looked and acted like they had just rolled out of bed before the lesson and was never prepared. They expected ME to lead the pace and subject matter. I was extremely frustrated about that and moved on to greener pastures. But, the sad thing is, as I talked to other people, I realized it's actually not that uncommon to run across this behavior these days. Nobody should take money from any student if they can't behave in a professional manner, show up on time, prepare the lesson, and at least have a reasonable understanding of the student's strengths and weaknesses. Glad for the video. :) (Edited for typo.)

[@LearnCompositionOnline]

This was the rule with me unfortunately. The teachers used my talent against myself

[@kovachito]

Great and supportive video. Not many teachers acts or think in such a professional and helping way and your video makes me feel I'm in the right path of teaching and learning. Thank you, Thomas, for the awesome work you do for all your followers and musicians in general. Grettings.

[@crazygermn]

Very insightful list! I have a lesson with my private teacher coming up on Friday that I have to implement some of these in. Can't believe I never thought to ask if recording the session was okay!

[@vincentcolletti7664]

Very well thought out as all your lessons, tutorials etc.

[@LearnCompositionOnline]

Exactly

[@darrentomlyn6853]

I've never had any orchestration lessons, (and it shows), (though I've played in many orchestras (violin)). The only good news, is that orchestral music isn't really what I compose+ produce anyway, (and the production is so much harder than composing), but I've made a few attempts (that aren't all that great) (along with organ/piano variations of a single piece). I'm not sure it's really worth me learning about orchestration by now? (I compose Celtic music - I THINK in tunes (8-bar parts/themes minimum length) rather than shorter phrases and modulations, and making multiple tunes work in harmony gets complicated really quickly if you do want to start modulating in any interesting ways - (which I'm also attempting with my latest piece - I just hope I'm not biting off more than I can chew (having to 'program' the guitar chords manually isn't helping :P)) Note: A few people have suggested over the years that I should try arranging my works for an orchestra, but as can be heard all over the place, staccato-strings are used for a reason for the faster such melodies - because massed strings in legato style just don't really work at the speeds required, which it really needs for such instrumentation to be consistent with what I need for such styles of music. With that in mind I have attempted to arrange one of my pieces for a string quartet, but again, I'm still not that happy with it, though that may be as much due to the production (instrument samples/mix) as the composition itself. My latest 'proper (ish)' piece is basically a 'Celtic' version of this string quartet arrangement, that I hope will work better, even if it's more of a pain to mix. The one thing I haven't done in a long time, however, is write any of it down (sheet music). And, TBH, I wouldn't know what to do with it, even if I did?

[@OrchestrationOnline]

Sounds like you need to work with a composition teacher before you make the jump to orchestration, Darren. I'm sure Alan could help you, or some of the other teacher in the directory - if you feel ready for that commitment.