What Are We Talking About?
Before we go any further let's define the main words of the Workshop. This was we can all be on the same page.
or·ches·tra·tion
ˌôrkəˈstrāSHən/
noun
- the arrangement or scoring of music for orchestral performance.
Synonyms include: adaptation, arrangement, composition, harmonization, musical notation, musical score, musical transcription, chart, lead sheet;
vir·tu·al
ˈvərCH(o͞o)əl/
adjective
AS PER COMPUTING
- not physically existing as such but made by software to appear to do so.
Synonyms include: simulated, artificial, imitation, make-believe;
Once we break it down this way you see we are talking about adapting musical ideas to playback with software.
You probably knew that, but notice how the definition of orchestration hints at "adaptation," "arrangement," and "harmonization"?
Orchestration is not necessarily the act of composing the music, chords or melodies.
For the purpose of this Workshop I will not be teaching HOW to write music. Instead we will focus on teaching the building blocks for learning how to “adapt” and “arrange” music compositions for an orchestra inside the computer.
Ok now that we are on the same page, I have some tips for getting the most out of the Workshop in the next chapter.