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Frameworks for Quickly Writing with Orchestral VSTs

From epic ostinatos to soft orchestrations - compose from scratch with control.

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What You Get

Fundamentals + Writing Frameworks

Compose impressive music from scratch with your orchestral VSTs - faster & easier.

Orchestral Ideas MIDI Pack

30+ orchestral sketches I made while building this course - drag them into your DAW.

Answers To Your Questions

Have a question while learning? Send me a message. I'm happy to help if I can.

Note:

This course is best for producers who can get around their DAW and know at least the basics of music theory.

If you struggle with writing chords & melodies, consider Chord Control before or alongside this course.

 

I made this course because learning to compose orchestral music was hard for me - and these frameworks made it easy.

For a long time whenever I would try to write with orchestral sounds, it always sounded wrong. Like there was something I didn't understand.

But I was in awe of how composers could take simple chord progressions and make them explode with emotion - so I kept practicing.

And after studying enough compositions, I started noticing similar patterns over and over.

Here was three big concepts I noticed:

1. Ostinatos drove the tracks: 2-4 notes in quick, repeating sequences, are all you need to create incredible emotion & momentum. They are used constantly as the anchor to compositions.

2. Chords are independent voices: Don't think of chords as "blocks." Think of them as individual voices that can move on their own.

3. Themes that weren't afraid to be slow: The melodies often have longer to breathe. They aren't afraid to sit on notes. This helps you appreciate the movement from those chord voices and ostinatos.

Once I started using those same ideas in my own writing, the orchestra began to feel natural - like a language I could finally speak.

I could start with a simple piano sketch - then compose a full orchestration with strings, brass and choir around it.

Or open a staccato string patch, and end with 10 different concepts that all felt good.

So I turned what I learned into clear, step-by-step workflows...
and I put them into this course.

Think of this course as practical orchestral fundamentals + a library of repeatable composition frameworks.

Follow these steps, and you’ll be able to write orchestral music that feels good.

These frameworks have helped me finish many professional tracks for commercial work - and for my own fun.

Note that this isn't meant to be a "technically" perfect course - because I’m not classically trained.

Instead, it's the real-world practical stuff that actually helps me write music quickly - built through years of study, practice, and finished music.

They’ve helped me bring orchestral energy into any track, anytime I want - and I want to help you do the same.

Go inside these projects

Projects I'll walk you through in the Breakdowns section of the course.

Start a lesson

The first 6 minutes from the "Adventure Awaits" project breakdown.

 

Full course outline

  1. Orchestral Quick Start

    1 lesson
    1. Orchestral Sketching: Building Worlds with a Simple Chord Progression

  2. Setup & Foundations

    8 lessons
    1. Epic Orchestral Moods MIDI & Sample Pack
    2. Recommendations for VSTs / Sample Libraries - Free and Paid
    3. Making Your Template
    4. Navigating Sample Libraries & Articulations
    5. Dealing with Instrument Delay
    6. Hearing the Personality of Instruments
    7. Using Modulation & Expression
    8. Using Reference Tracks Properly

  3. Music Theory & Sketch to Production Workflow [Bonus Lessons from Chord Control course]

    7 lessons
    1. Sketch to Production
    2. How to Write Chord Progressions
    3. Chord Voicing Tips
    4. What are Ostinatos?
    5. What are Arpeggios?
    6. Writing Melodies on Chords
    7. "Setup Vary Repeat Destroy" Melody Rule

  4. Writing & Production Techniques

    9 lessons
    1. Orchestrating Chords & The Power of Layering
    2. How to Make Epic Ostinatos
    3. Adding Momentum with Staccato Strings
    4. Creating Scenes with Chords Orchestration
    5. Solo vs Ensemble
    6. Solo Piano to Orchestrated Concept
    7. Live Composing: Chord Progression to Orchestral Concept
    8. Student Session: Composing with Intention
    9. Student Session: Turning his MIDI into Orchestral Concepts

  5. Percussion Techniques

    2 lessons
    1. How to Make Orchestral Percussion Patterns
    2. Percussion Production Techniques

  6. Project Breakdowns

    9 lessons
    1. "Adventure Awaits" Epic Orchestral Breakdown
    2. Hans Zimmer - "Time"
    3. "Game Village Shop Theme" Sketch to Production
    4. "Hero Emerges" Breakdown
    5. Epic Hybrid Orchestral Trailer
    6. Action Trailer Composition
    7. "Hydra" - Rock Orchestral
    8. "Wurld" Breakdown
    9. "Devastation" Epic Hybrid

Included: Orchestral MIDI pack

Over 30 orchestral concepts in MIDI & WAV. Study them along with the course, or use them to start new compositions yourself.

MODERN ORCHESTRAL:

Practical Composition Workflows

Repeatable Writing Frameworks to Compose with Orchestral VSTs

  • 30 structured lessons
  • Orchestral MIDI pack
  • Message support
  • 30 day money back guarantee
$97 - ENROLL NOW

Want the complete skillset?  "Sketch to Production" includes this course + all my others in one optimized experience.

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