
Deepen Your Orchestral Skills as a Film Composer Ever want to score a horror film, perfect your MIDI glissandi, or learn what the heck the zed clef is? Faculty answer these questions and more in this YouTube series produced by Orchestral Tools.
By
Bryan Parys
September 15, 2023
The bridge from musical aspiration to career path often comes down to one thing: access, whether it's professional tools and/or mentors. For those interested in composing for media, from film and TV to video games and virtual environments, gaining that access can feel challenging, given the advanced technologies that go hand-in-hand with musical knowledge. Unlike, say, a new guitarist picking up a used instrument on the cheap, beginner composers may feel overwhelmed trying to determine which software-based instruments to choose, let alone learn how to use.
The creative process is not always linear or logical. What can be true for one piece of music can be horribly wrong for the next one. . . . Its always helpful to have a clear sense of form and to envision the full composition.
- Claudio Ragazzi, Professor, Screen Scoring Department
Access to cutting-edge tools and faculty with industry experience has been a hallmark of Berklee's Screen Scoring Department since its inception in 1979. Through a partnership with German company Orchestral Tools, Berklee has extended its reach to anyone with an internet connection in the Virtual Orchestration YouTube series, which has reached tens of thousands of viewers since its inception in January 2023.
In addition to videos hosted by composers brought in by Orchestral Tools, Berklee faculty provide in-depth training on topics such as scoring a horror movie scene and how to make high-quality harp glissandi using a MIDI keyboard. Below, take a look at highlights from the episodes featuring Berklee scoring faculty.
Advanced Strings and Zed Clef
I like to think of orchestrators as interpreters or translators. . . . Much of the orchestration job is making many small decisions and problem-solving for the composer. -Sean McMahon, Chair
Scoring a Horror Scene
Simple meters like 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4 would give the scene a stable feeling. But this is a horror film. . . . Odd meters such as 5/8, 7/8, and 7/4 are constantly shifting. They are a little unpredictable and make us feel uncomfortable. -Jungmin Lee, Assistant Professor
Scoring an Action Scene
The creative process is not always linear or logical. What can be true for one piece of music can be horribly wrong for the next one. . . . Its always helpful to have a clear sense of form and to envision the full composition. -Claudio Ragazzi, Professor
Realistic MIDI Glissandos
Although many sample libraries offer fully sampled glissandi, they often dont do what you want. . . . Therefore, its useful to know how to quickly create any kind of glissando you can imagine from a regular, playable harp sample. -Andreas Bj rck, Associate Professor
Make the Perfect Pad
As an emerging composer, you might sometimes wonder, How can I stand out from the crowd? . . . I will show you how to create a custom ambient pad through recycling existing instruments in your template. -Yao Wang, Assistant Professor
Write Angelic Glissandi
Bisbigliando can be performed as few as two strings or as many as eight strings. If it is performed on two strings that have been tuned to the same pitch enharmonically, we can create a tremolo effect similar to violin tremolo. -Tim Huling, Associate Professor
Create Your Own Template
A template is simply a session that you create in your DAW (digital audio workstation) ahead of time with all the elements you need already set up and ready to go. . . . Think of it as setting up your ideal workspace. -Max Blomgren, Associate Professor
Write Incredible Melody Variations
The great thing about piano for a composer is that all the notes are visually in front of you in a very systematic and organized way. Plus, it covers the entire orchestral register, which makes it way easier to bring your ideas to life and help develop your themes with less limitations. -Esin Aydingoz B.M. 17
Related Categories
How-To
News
Most Popular
Goose guitarist and vocalist Rick Mitarotonda B.M. 16 performed with the band at a sold-out Portland, Maine, show on July 6, 2023.
Image by Adam Berta
Both Sides of Goose, Americas Premier Jam Band On a new Sounds of Berklee: Goose's live act attracts a devoted following-and the bands studio work highlights the sharp songs that spark their legendary jams.
Latest
Trumpeter Laura Bibbs (fourth from right) joins Harry Styles and the rest of his band as they take a bow on stage at the RFC Arena in Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Lloyd Wakefield
Laura Bibbs Comes into Her Own on Tour with Harry Styles The trumpeter and Boston Conservatory alum performed for record-breaking crowds across the U.S. and Europe.
Kris Davis at the Village Vanguard
Image by Caroline Mardok
Kris Davis Makes DownBeat Cover with New Village Vanguard Classic With her band, Diatom Ribbons, the acclaimed jazz pianist makes a live record worthy of the Vanguards lofty legacy-and a major cover story.
Juan Luis Guerra
Image courtesy of HBO
Berklee Alumni Nominated for 2023 Latin Grammy Awards Juan Luis Guerra, Miguel Zen n, and Kristhyan Benitez are among this years nominees.
Read All
Subscribe The latest sounds, stories, and ideas, sent to your inbox weekly.
More from Berklee
08/05/2025
Student Spotlight: Grigori Balasanyan The Armenian composer, who was named Boston Conservatory at Berklees 2025 student commencement speaker, talks about his ...
02/05/2025
Students, Alumni, and Faculty Represent Berklee at International Computer Music ...
02/05/2025
Four Boston Conservatory Alumni Nominated for Tony Awards Fifteen alumni from Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Berklee College of Music contributed to nomin...
30/04/2025
Tania Le n and Kelli O'Hara to be Honored at Boston Conservatory at Berklee&...
30/04/2025
Andr 3000 and Sara Bareilles to Receive Honorary Doctorates at Berklee College ...
25/04/2025
Listen to Kim Perlak and Francisco Mela's New Album, Recorded in a Single Af...
24/04/2025
Berklee in Puerto Rico Program to Host 30th Anniversary Concert The event will feature Grammy- and Latin Grammy-winning artist Miguel Zen n BM '98, cuatro...
24/04/2025
Detach Yourself from the Herd': Fito P ez Inspires at Berklee In a session hosted by the Mediterranean Music Institute, the influential Argentine musician...
23/04/2025
Berklee Abu Dhabi's Jazz Night Kicks off Global Celebration of Music and Cul...
19/04/2025
Berklee NYC and NYC Media Launch Season 3 of Inside Power Station @BerkleeNYC This season features faculty member Arun Pandian as the new host and interviews ...
18/04/2025
Berklee Student Yukai Yang Named 2025 Yamaha Young Performing Artist The drummer secured a spot among the elite winners in this years competition.
By
Maddie...
18/04/2025
Boston Conservatory Alums Bring Real Women Have Curves to Broadway The Latin American immigrant community takes center stage in a new musical featuring Tatian...
17/04/2025
In Return to Berklee, Lucius Looks Back and Moves Forward From mood boards to live demos, the alumni band gave students an exclusive look at the process behin...
17/04/2025
Edward J. Lewis III Named Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement Lewis has more than 20 years of industry experience, leading fundraising initiati...
16/04/2025
Charlie Puths Homecoming Was Also a Victory Lap The pop star, songwriter, and producer talked about his career and shared stories behind his biggest hits, inc...
12/04/2025
Career Jam 2025: Insights, Images, and Inspiration Charlie Puth, Tiny Desk, top A&Rs, and more came together for a day of professional development and energet...
11/04/2025
Electronic Music Genres: A Guide to the Most Influential Styles Discover some of the many types of electronic music and how they've shaped contemporary mu...
05/04/2025
Students to Perform with Earl Slick in David Bowie Tribute Concert Known for his work with Bowie and John Lennon, the influential guitarist will also visit cl...
04/04/2025
Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Beloved Works and World Premieres at S...
03/04/2025
Berklee's Ty-Juana L. Flores Appointed Board Chair of the Boston Cultural Co...
03/04/2025
Berklee's South Asian Scholar Association to Host All-Ages Concert The student-led event, Mehfil, will feature songs in eight different languages and blen...
03/04/2025
Berklee Announces Paul Dworkis as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial O...
02/04/2025
Music Therapy Students Awarded First Internship Stipend from Children's Musi...
28/03/2025
Student Spotlight: Ava Della Pietra The singer-songwriter enrolled in the Harvard-Berklee Joint Studies Program talks about her love of medicine and music, ov...
28/03/2025
Berklee's Africana Studies to Host Gospel Extravaganza 2025 The Signature Series event will celebrate over 40 years of gospel music at Berklee.
By
Colet...
28/03/2025
Berklee Online CEO Debbie Cavalier Recognized for Extraordinary Leadership Cavalier receives the rare Julius M. Nolte Award from UPCEA.
By
Colette Greenstein
...
26/03/2025
New Music USA and Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Announce 2025 Nex...
22/03/2025
Antonio S nchez, B la Fleck, and Edmar Casta eda Push Boundaries on BEATrio The trio's debut album drops May 16, but you can hear the first single, Archi...
21/03/2025
Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Turns Sound into Place at Tate Modern The Berklee professor's immersive installation transports visitors to Matanzas...
21/03/2025
Berklee to Host Annual Jazz Composition Festival Performances will feature modern jazz masters Sean Jones, Ayn Inserto, Miguel Zen n BM '98, and Christine...
21/03/2025
PARADEs National Tour Is a Procession of Boston Conservatory Talent Michael Tacconi BFA '12 and fifth-semester musical theater major Olivia Goosman talk a...
21/03/2025
Neil Leonard's Matanzas Sound Map Brings Immersive Sonic Cartography to Tate...
21/03/2025
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Presents the Tony Award-Winning Musical Natasha, ...
20/03/2025
Berklee's Trailblazing Music Inclusion Ensemble Debuts at Berklee Performanc...
19/03/2025
Music Marketing: 5 Proven Strategies to Engage and Grow Your Fanbase Find out how you can get your work in front of more people with these music marketing str...
19/03/2025
Watch Berklee Valencia Alum Wow the American Idol Judges with an Otis Redding So...
17/03/2025
BPMI Presents 2025 Festival Artists at 23rd Annual Showcase The Berklee Popular Music Institute will showcase eight artists performing at this summer's ho...
15/03/2025
Student Spotlight: Rachel McFarlane The Canadian composer talks about being drawn to the storytelling power of scoring for film and video games, working with ...
14/03/2025
Singaporean Singer-Songwriter JJ Lin on Craft, Courage, and Creativity The artist shared candid insights into his musical evolution, personal challenges, and ...
13/03/2025
Watch Student Naomi Soleils Folk Pop Performance on The Voice The songwriting major sang Stars by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals during the blind auditions.
...
12/03/2025
Berklee Awards Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant to Four Organizations A total of $17,000 will be distributed among the Boston-based nonprofits.
By
Madd...
11/03/2025
New Book Explores How the Quiet Storm Shaped Modern R&B In The Quiet Storm, Berklee Online alumnus Amani Roberts explores how the radio format defined America...
11/03/2025
The Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Presents the Grand Gathering The Signature Series concert will feature performances by all nine of the instit...
10/03/2025
Berklee and FIFA World Cup 26 Debut Official Boston Host City Theme Boston is the only host city to work with an educational institution to create its unique,...
06/03/2025
Boston Calling and Berklee Partner to Showcase Student Talent When Boston Calling comes to Allston this May, student performers will light up the festival'...
06/03/2025
Building a Home Studio? Start Here. Berklee professors and alumni break down the basics of setting up your home music studio, and share tips on how to get the...
03/03/2025
The Art of Connection Alums Melanie Bacaling and Gabriella Reyes share a deep bond that's carried them to the heights of the opera world.
By
Sarah Godch...
03/03/2025
Scripting Her Path Writer Alexis Scheer takes on a wide range of subject matter, from the stage to the screen.
March 3, 2025
Alexis Scheer
Photo by Gabriel...
27/02/2025
Student Spotlight: Manuela S nchez Goubert The vocalist from Bogot , Colombia, talks about releasing and touring her album, RA CES (roots), and how Berklee ha...
26/02/2025
Berklee College of Music and Red Bull Collaborate for Red Bull Scoring Challenge The challenge encourages Berklee students to push creative boundaries in orch...