This course walks you through the art of orchestration with a focus on brilliance, color, and emotional depth. Each session is dedicated to a different orchestral family, guided by the voice of a master composer: strings with John Williams, woodwinds with Alexandre Desplat, brass with Bernard Herrmann, and the full orchestra with Danny Elfman. The curriculum is cumulative—each class adds a new section, building toward a complete, integrated understanding of the modern orchestra.

Class Schedule

Saturdays

Pacific Time: 10:00 - 11:30 AM
Atlantic Time: 2:00 - 3:30 PM
London Time: 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Introduction and demonstration of working on a sketch – November 7th
Strings – November 14th
Winds – November 21st
Brass, harp, percussion – November 28th
The emphasis will be on practical tips for modern arranging and orchestration techniques, with a strong focus on real-world application. This course is designed to provide both foundational knowledge and advanced techniques for contemporary orchestration.

Evolving Piece

Throughout the course, the class will work on a single piece that evolves over time, incorporating various orchestration techniques and ultimately culminating in a fully orchestrated composition for full orchestra.

Score Resources

We will analyze orchestration techniques from a variety of classic and modern orchestral works:

Leia’s Theme (Star Wars, John Williams)
Benjamin Button (Alexandre Desplat)
Cape Fear (Bernhard Herrmann)
Batman (Danny Elfman)

Course Features

Price includes all four classes
Each week I will review your scores and give you individual notes.
Class recordings will be available for all attendees
Hands-on approach, helping students develop their orchestration skills in both traditional and contemporary scoring contexts

This is a great opportunity to gain practical orchestration experience while studying some of the most effective techniques used in film and concert music.

Pricing Information

Please note that the event price is listed in Canadian dollars. Participants from the US , or other locales, will pay the correct amount after conversion.

CAD: $275
USD: $200
EUR: €170

Enrollment is limited so sign up now. Any questions, feel free to email me: ludwinnorman1@gmail.com

Modern Orchestration Techniques

Event Info

Hosted By:

Norman Ludwin

Norman Ludwin

Modern Orchestration Techniques

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