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Orchestration for Media

Course Description

This course provides a practical study of creating texture in media music. Students review acoustic and electronic instrumentation, explore timbre’s narrative qualities, and use industry-standard tools to orchestrate, mockup MIDI, and produce studio-ready scores. Coursework includes transcription, producing mockups, and analysis of contemporary cinematic scoring trends.

Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Orchestration assignments for graduate students will be required to be both longer and more involved. Technical realization of orchestration projects will be expected to be of higher quality. Additionally, graduate students will have longer orchestration assignments (e.g., “mocking up” more measures than undergraduate students). Graduate students may also be required to create a template that increases orchestration efficiency and enhances workflow for scoring projects.

Athena Title

Orchestration for Media

Equivalent Courses

Not open to students with credit in MUSI 4670E or MUSI 6670E

Prerequisite

MUSI 1100 or MUSI 3550

Semester Course Offered

Offered fall

Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

Student learning Outcomes

  • Students will identify instrument types, ranges, and timbres.
  • Students will apply industry-standard orchestration and production techniques for scoring media.
  • Students will arrange and manipulate (“mock-up”) software instruments in a digital audio workstation (DAW).
  • Students will utilize a DAW and notation software to transcribe MIDI to sheet music appropriate for session musicians.

Topical Outline

  • • Introduction: DAW fundamentals and “What is Orchestration?”
  • • Ranges, transpositions, timbres and narrative purposes for Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Keyboards, Chordophones, and Choir
  • • Template-making, virtual instruments, and the art of “mocking up”
  • • MIDI transcription and engraving fundamentals using notation software
  • • In-depth media music score analysis and discussion
  • • Communication and critical analysis of own work through peer and class review exercises

Syllabus

Public CV

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