May 6, 201015 yr I would like to compose for a concert band.I would not like to score out in the full score first, but I would like to do the piano reduction first, later I would orchestrate out for a concert band.I would like to ask for advise how could I start or do the piano reduction.
May 6, 201015 yr Wait what? You're going to compose the full score, make a piano score, then make another full score? Besides, piano reductions are rare today. Why would you do that? Other than, say, for your own compositional process.
May 7, 201015 yr Do you mean that you're going to compose a piano part and then orchestrate that? We can certainly offer advice on orchestration but it sounds like you want advice on the piano composition... Can you offer any more information?
May 7, 201015 yr He said he wants to make the piano score BEFORE the full score. This is a good idea, especially for your first band composition. I think though, that it is very important that you DO NOT get caught up in how pianistic the writing is. When I write like this, I like to use four staves (normally 2 treble and 2 bass) Since every instrument in the band (unless including mallet percussion or piano) plays only a single note at a line, using four independent parts is fairly common. Another trick I do is if I am using playback (though I encourage using as little as possible) is to not use a piano sound. Remember that wind instruments sustain notes while a piano does not. For this reason, I prefer to use a rather uncolored, yet sustaining sound - either a clarinet, synth, or even organ sound when listening to playback (again, IF you need to use it occasionally. You can even have a different sound for each stave if you want to play around with some basic orchestration ideas. I find that the piano sound can really alter the way that you write (normally by filling in sound too much where the piano is not sustaining.) As far as how to do it..Well...just start putting your ideas down on your staves as you normally would. Then start figuring out which instrument (or combination) you think will best fill it out. Try to think of ways that you can break up your parts of music between instruments to make it more interesting. See if any instruments could add something unique to a given part, etc. Try to be thinking of what role the percussion is going to play the entire time...If doing it in a notation program, I like to print it and write out by hand ideas that I have for different parts in terms of orchestration, doubling, octaves, etc... Well..I hope that helps!
May 7, 201015 yr That sounds like a neat trick. I usually hack out parts on the piano and then stick them together in Sibelius. Will try for next time!
May 7, 201015 yr Author He said he wants to make the piano score BEFORE the full score. This is a good idea, especially for your first band composition. I think though, that it is very important that you DO NOT get caught up in how pianistic the writing is. When I write like this, I like to use four staves (normally 2 treble and 2 bass) Since every instrument in the band (unless including mallet percussion or piano) plays only a single note at a line, using four independent parts is fairly common. Another trick I do is if I am using playback (though I encourage using as little as possible) is to not use a piano sound. Remember that wind instruments sustain notes while a piano does not. For this reason, I prefer to use a rather uncolored, yet sustaining sound - either a clarinet, synth, or even organ sound when listening to playback (again, IF you need to use it occasionally. You can even have a different sound for each stave if you want to play around with some basic orchestration ideas. I find that the piano sound can really alter the way that you write (normally by filling in sound too much where the piano is not sustaining.) As far as how to do it..Well...just start putting your ideas down on your staves as you normally would. Then start figuring out which instrument (or combination) you think will best fill it out. Try to think of ways that you can break up your parts of music between instruments to make it more interesting. See if any instruments could add something unique to a given part, etc. Try to be thinking of what role the percussion is going to play the entire time...If doing it in a notation program, I like to print it and write out by hand ideas that I have for different parts in terms of orchestration, doubling, octaves, etc... Well..I hope that helps! Thank you,Thank alot.It did help me and get going
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