12 Common Scoring Errors

A video outlining a dozen common scoring errors that turn up in scores I evaluate, especially years Orchestration Challenge scores.

A list of linked media that might be useful:
100 MORE Orchestration Tips product page:
Duration of Double Bass Pizzicato Notation

[noneyabid]

As a professional harpist, I clicked on this video in the sole hope for #9. :-)

[music_appreciation]

I used to have a piano teacher who also played the harp. I think it was at my 1st lesson with her that I told her what you said about the harp a few years ago: "A harp is not a piano!" She replied: "If everyone understood that, my life would be so much easier!" and went on to tell me that once a soprano had asked her to accompany her, and given her the original piano score of the song she wanted to sing. The result: 42 pedal changes and a very awkward piece to perform. Let this be a lesson to composers and arrangers around the world...

[DikeSamai]

Honestly, why would anyone thumbs down this? This is excellent free content!

[seanbeadles]

“Never use unison or divisi for winds” is something I genuinely didn’t know! I mostly have played in concert bands, that may explain it though.

[karlrovey]

Here's one to add. If you're only providing dynamic markings on organ scores with no registration suggestions, you leave the organist guessing what you want. In general, dynamic markings on organ scores only apply to the expression boxes (so that the softest stop with the box open is ff while the loudest stop with the box closed is pp even though it may still be quite loud).

[roaming]

Already have watched this video third time, for the ease of future reviewing:
1:33 1. timid dynamics
3:11 2. staccato on pizzicato
4:21 3. long durations ties and slurs on pizzicato
6:22 4. Long durations on triple or quadruple-stops
7:35 5. Not splitting the middle between rhythm groups
9:26 6. Failure to clearly mark entrances
11:25 7. Transcribing piano-style phrasing directly onto strings, winds, and brass
12:54 8. Slurring across a pickup
14:05 9. Dumping the piano score onto the harp part
16:30 10. Unbalanced use of wind & brass registers
18:37 11. Sticking to the exact pitches and registers of a source score no matter what
20:55 12. Not conveying the spirit of the original music as performed
You’re welcome

[galenbrubaker]

I’m a simple man. I see a new Orchestration Online video. I watch and click like

[ettolrach]

I love your variations on that Chopin prelude! I know it was more for demonstration purposes, but it lends itself well for theme and vari form

[TheRealMutttastic]

There's a sign at my job which, coincidentally, happens to be a useful piece of advice for orchestration as well: "A place for everything... everything in its place!"

[BrianOxleyTexan]

I watched this with interest. I have a 1991 degree in composition, but switched to computer programming for a career. I learned to read scores at 13, and that along with listening has been my education since.

Much off the video was confusing for me. Most mistakes you discussed would have not occurred to me. For example, harp is not something that I would use.

I appreciate this video. It opens my eyes to ways to go wrong.

[chrissahar]

A good example of the frailty of flutes is the last movement of Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony which features a flute trio. Note the very light scoring of it against the three flutes. This is what makes it a great piece - the orchestration, timbre and musical ideas.

[laurajhball]

*Scores everything at just plain "mezzo" and laughs and laughs and laughs.*

🤫

P.S. Slurred pizzicato = Slizzicato. Abbreviated "slizz."

I'll be here all week.

[kovachito]

A sharp reminder of the many times forgotten basics. Totally useful.Thank you, Thomas.
Grettings from Chile.!!

[MrInterestingthings]

I'm so glad I spent 9 years playing violin before majoring in piano in college . It makes orchestration 1/3rd easier . Winds not so difficult but brass took some real study . Fr.Horns add support even when you don't hear them . Percussion takes real imagination even after you've learned all their various techniques . Learned a lot about harp music here ! No. unisoni and divisi in brass and winds didn't know that !

[lenwoodturneriv]

I love what you did at the end with the pizz chord and the half note in the woodwinds; it almost sounded like a piano with a soft-sustain. Thanks for sharing this!

[kazvanrooij]

Very good video. Teaching scoring from the viewpoint of what not to do instead of what to do is a really good way of teaching. Since every score is different.

[charleskleesattel]

Wow. I just found this channel today and I'm thrilled. I've been writing and orchestrating for nearly 50 years and all these tips were learned via the old school of hard knocks. I would have loved this kind of presentation years ago. Anyway, I'm subscribed and looking forward to getting into the website. I hope the challenge is still ongoing. Thanks so much for taking the time to do this.

[FelixRigg]

Thank you so much for this. If only one had had such good teaching sooner.

[quel]

Man, when I clicked on the video I thought this was gonna be interesting. When I saw the first seconds, I repented for a bit because I Thought it'd be a bit boring and the video was 24min long. But in the end, I enjoyed it more than I expected! You've gained a new subscriber :)

[Rik]

The harp one is hilarious, the poor player struggling to play all those notes while drowned out anyway.