I have been working on module 3 of the Mastering Orchestral Composition with BBSO course from ThinkSpace Education and using the BBC Symphony Orchestra from Spitfire Audio.

I am really enjoying it as always.

What have I been learning thus far?

After a brief introduction on what orchestration is the course has moved on to the different sections of the orchestra in turn.

What do we have?

Strings – this section was interesting to learn about. The sheer size of the section and the variety of articulations available and the interesting ways in which to make different sounds was illuminating.

Woodwinds – this section dealt with the different woodwind instruments available in both the real world and in the BBCSO. Again, the different articulations were discussed and the way in which sounds are generated and the different types of instruments such as the reeded instruments and the double reeded instruments.

Brass – A complete discussion of the composition of the brass section and the different ranges covered by the different instruments. It was interesting to see the inextricable connection between timbre and dynamics with brass instruments and the different ways that sounds are created and the different articulations and how the importance of certain articulations.

Percussion – I have not started this section yet, but it will deal with the percussion and miscellaneous instruments present ion the BBCSO and look at both tuned and untuned percussion instruments. How to use percussion in orchestral music of particular interest to me as it is always the thing that gets left out when I am tinkering and will present a decent learning curve.

What have I learnt?

A little, but not as much as if I had digested all the information presented. Fortunately, all the videos can be returned to and looked at again, and I shall no doubt do so. I shall try to complement these studies with some book work, probably ‘Creative Orchestration’ by George McKay to start.

Still having fun. Still learning lots. Still enjoying it immensely.