Overview
Pre-Release Special Pricing For a Limited Time Only!
ACT NOW! And save $30.00!
ALL 28 PDF Lessons posted
Video lessons now releasing weekly!
Professional Orchestration’s Writing For Strings is a practical skill-building course taught from a common sense perspective for writers.
It’s organized to be used in either the college classroom as the second semester orchestration course focused on strings, or for home based self-study that you can do on your schedule.
In Writing For Strings, you learn how to do score analysis and create condensed scores which you then record as a MIDI mock-up.
With this, you also learn the beginning steps of how to use the Spectrotone Chart in scoring and in approaching EQ’ing from a compositional perspective.
As a result, you learn how to write for “live” string players and begin learning how to make sampled strings sound live.
In the past year we’ve had the release of several major libraries that for the first time allow for divisi writing electronically, and offer a sufficient number of bowings so that you can now actually plan your bowings similar to a concertmaster.
Because of that. we’ve added new lessons covering both muted strings and divisi string writing and how to use those techniques with string sample libraries.
And now! We’ve added a totally new lesson on ways to approach setting up your strings template.
To pull everything together, Peter Alexander has included an original series of 12-14 bar test scores for you to marking the bowings and then do a MIDI mock-up based on the libraries you have.
For more effective learning, video lessons have been added to Writing For Strings.
For additional support, visit the OrchLinks tab at www.professionalorchestration.com and be sure to join the online forum at Alexander Publishing.com where you can post questions by lesson that you’re not quite sure about.
Lesson List
Lesson 0 - Introduction -
w/VIDEO
Lesson 1 - String Ensemble Sizes -
w/VIDEO
Lesson 2 - The Source of Coloristic Orchestration -
w/VIDEO
Lesson 3 - Score Analysis -
w/VIDEO Master Class
Lesson 4 - String Seating Plans -
w/VIDEO
Lesson 5 - Panning The Strings -
w/VIDEO
Lesson 6 - Violin Overview-
w/VIDEO
Lesson 7 - Viola Overview -
w/VIDEO
Lesson 8 - Cello Overview -
w/VIDEO
Lesson 9 - Bass Overview -
w/VIDEO
Lesson 10 - The Bow and Bowings Overview -
w/VIDEO Master Class on Bowings
Lesson 11 - On The String
Lesson 12 - Off The String
Lesson 13 - Special Effects
Lesson 14 - Tremolo
Lesson 15 - Pizzicato -
w/VIDEO
Lesson 16 - Double Stops -
w/VIDEO Master Class on Stops
Lesson 17 - Triple Stops
Lesson 18 - Quadruple Stops
Lesson 19 - Arpeggios From Stops
Lesson 20 - Trills & Fingered Tremolo
Lesson 21 - Muted Strings
Lesson 22 - Divisi Writing -
w/VIDEO
Lesson 23 - Creating Your Strings Template -
w/VIDEO
Lesson 24 - Recording Tools -
w/VIDEO
Lesson 25 - Setting Sectional Levels -
w/VIDEO
Lesson 26 - Advanced: Starting String Combinations -
w/VIDEO
Lesson 27 - Strings and Singers -
w/VIDEO Master Class on Singers
Lesson 28 - Test Pieces For MIDI Mockups -
w/VIDEO Master Class
Endorsements
Patrick de Caumette
www.decamusic.com
Berklee Alumnus
Writing for Strings, 4th Edition, offers a comprehensive resource to the orchestration student, rich with detailed string techniques, QuickTime examples, some of the best scores from the classical repertoire and the opportunity to hear a recording of the examples played in context by a real orchestra. A must have!
Paul Thomson
www.synesthesia.net
Bournemouth University, UK
The huge amount of study scores and recordings that are included at this price and the very clear and detailed explanations make this a no brainer in my opinion for anyone looking to acquire this knowledge.
F.A.Q.
Q. Do I need either a sequencing program or notation program to do this course?
A. No, you can do all the work in a notebook and by working at the piano. But you'll get more out of it when using either a sequencing or notation program.
Q. Where can I get a low cost string library if I don't own one?
A. If you have the full version of Kontakt, a starting VSL string library is included. If you have Logic, there's also a starting VSL library in the EXS24 listing. Strings are also included in Finale, Notion, and Sibelius. We highly recommend EW QLSO Gold to get started.
Q. Do I need LASS or Hollywood Strings Diamond since you're covering divisi writing?
A. Divisi writing is covered because this is written as a second semester college orchestration course and must be covered as part of the training. But no, you don't need a library with divisi to take advantage of the course.
Q. I'm using a notation program not a sequencing program. Is the library I have good enough for the homework? Do you recommend any library?
A. Use what you have. Our teaching experience the past three years with the online mentoring course has been that QLSO Gold is a great starting point since it enables you to put your focus on scoring and only setting volume levels. QLSO Gold has free Sibelius soundsets.
Q. Will there be a forum?
A. I'm setting up a private forum on Alexander Publishing.com. It's purpose is to answer clarifying questions about the material covered. There will be one thread per lesson, and a separate thread to report typos and broken links.
Q. How much MIDI mock-up information is covered?
A. A great deal, especially in the videos. At minimum, there are 17 score excerpts for you to create MIDI mock-ups. Then there are the scores I've created for the final lesson, which if used in the classroom could be your final project.
Q. Am I required to write and turn in original scoring assignments?
A. No. You're encouraged to take the compositional insights you learn in each lesson and create an original 1-2 minute work applying what you've learned. But you don't turn it in.
Q. If this was an actual college class, what would its value be?
A. Great question. When a second semester orchestration class is offered, it's usually a string writing class valued at 2 credit hours. Whether at a state school or private college, the minimum cost per credit hour I've seen for a four year school with a music degree program is $250 up to $1250 per credit hour. So depending on the school, the course value would be approximately $500 to $2500.
Q. Is that true for a U.S. community college?
A. On general principle, a two-year community college is not permitted to compete by offering courses equal to the junior-senior year in a four-year school. The typical credit hour cost I've seen is $125. So if Writing For Strings was offered at a local community college, from what I've seen, its value would be $250 plus the cost of the class materials.
Q. I'm producing mostly hip-hop, dance, Gospel, etc. Will this course help me?
A. Yes. The technique of string writing works with all styles. Part of your creative process is taking what you've learned and applying it to your music.