Workshop West

WORKSHOP WEST:
Saturday, October 6, 2012
9:00am-5:00pm

Offered each Fall, this free workshop is your chance to learn how to use the tools of the trade from industry professionals. The workshop is available on a first-come first-serve basis and only a limited number will be allowed to attend, so register early. Attendees will learn the principles of composition, orchestration, music notation, scoring software, and MIDI technology from nationally-recognized composers. Demonstrations of each orchestral instrument by top professional musicians will be provided, along with tips for writing for those instruments. Entrants who have already written music may bring their compositions for feedback. For other entrants, bring your ideas and talent—and then learn how to compose! (Get a head start in your quest for knowledge by checking out the Tutorial section of this website.)

Registration

All workshop participants must register for the workshop. You may attend either the workshop East or West, regardless of the location of your residence.

Workshop participants are not required to enter compositions in the contest. Competition entrants are not required to have attended a workshop.

Location

The Workshop West will be held at San Domenico School, located at 1500 Butterfield Road in San Anselmo. Get driving directions here or contact the Marin Symphony offices at (415) 479-8100.

Schedule

SATURDAY, October 6, 2012

  • 9:00-9:30 Registration

  • 9:30–9:45 Welcome (Steve Goldman)

  • 9:45-10:30 SESSION #1: Q&A with 2011 YCC winner     (Steve Goldman & guest YCC Winner)

  • 10:30–11:30 SESSION #2: Principals of composition     (Dan Crozier - Rollins College)
      • Thematic development, melody, harmony, and rhythm

  • 11:30–12:30 Lunch

  • 12:30–2:45 SESSION #3: Orchestral instrument demonstrations     (Marin Symphony musicians)

      • Instrument ranges, transposing instruments, string bowing, and special notations

      Percussion: tympani, snare, tom, bass drum, cymbals, glockenspiel, chimes, triangle, wood block

      Strings: violin, viola, cello, bass

      Woodwinds: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon

      Brass: horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba

      Harp

  • 2:45–3:00 Break

  • 3:00–4:00 SESSION #4: Notation, scoring, and orchestration     (Steve Goldman)

  • 4:00-5:00 SESSION #5: MIDI and scoring software tools     (Keith Lay - Full Sail University)

      • Building a MIDI studio, MIDI and notation software, computer requirements, synthesizers vs. samples, cost, where to buy. Demonstration of software and sound sample libraries

  • 5:00- Individual break-out sessions with the Judges