Summer Enrollment is Open! Courses begin June 23, 2025.

Instrumentation and Introduction to Orchestration

MUSC X 483.43

Explore why musical instruments sound as they do, how their sound is produced, and the rudiments of combining those sounds together by learning the scoring techniques for each orchestral family.

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READ MORE ABOUT THIS COURSE
Fall
In Person
Starting at $1,480.00
As few as 12 weeks
4.0
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What you can learn.

  • Learn the characteristics of woodwinds, brass, strings, and percussion
  • Discover approaches for writing for different ensembles
  • Apply your knowledge of music fundamentals and orchestral score
  • Compose three short pieces

About this course:

Explore why musical instruments sound as they do, how their sound is produced, and the rudiments of combining those sounds together. Learn the characteristics and basic idiomatic scoring techniques for each orchestral instrument family (strings, woodwinds, brass and percussion), as well as approaches of writing for different ensembles. Coursework also includes a review of music fundamentals and how to read and study an orchestral score. Apply your knowledge by composing three short pieces to be played in class.
Prerequisites

The ability to read music, knowledge of music notation, and an understanding of the fundamentals of music theory. Basic working knowledge of a music notation program such as Sibelius, Finale, or Dorico is required, as students are required to produce and print music scores and instrumental parts for their assignments. Additionally, it is recommended to have any professional quality computer-based Digital Audio Workstation.

Fall 2025 Schedule

Date & Time
Details
Format
 
-
Thursday 7:00PM - 10:00PM PT
Future Offering (Opens July 28, 2025 12:00:00 AM)
See Details
Instructor: Hope Bartimioli Thal
404718
Fee:
$1,480.00
In Personformat icon
Location: Burbank , UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood , Westwood , West Hollywood
Updating...
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Notes

No meeting November 27, 2025.

Discounts can only be applied to a portion of this course. Some meetings will be in Westwood Village and some meetings will be at an off-site facility in Burbank.

Enrollment limited; early enrollment advised. Internet access required. Materials required.

Refund Deadline
No refunds after October 05, 2025
Course Requirements
Internet access required to retrieve course materials.
Book: The Study of Orchestration by Samuel Adler
W. W. NORTON & COMPANY
ISBN 9780393920659
Schedule
Type
Date
Time
Location
Lecture
Thu Sep 25, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center
Lecture
Thu Oct 2, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
UCLA Extension Gayley Center in Westwood
UCLA Extension Gayley Center
Off-Site
Thu Oct 9, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Burbank
Local 47 Musicians Union
Lecture
Thu Oct 16, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Westwood
Lecture
Thu Oct 23, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Westwood
Off-Site
Thu Oct 30, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Burbank
Local 47 Musicians Union
Lecture
Thu Nov 6, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
West Hollywood
Off-Site
Thu Nov 13, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Burbank
Local 47 Musicians Union
Lecture
Thu Nov 20, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Westwood
Off-Site
Thu Dec 4, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Burbank
Local 47 Musicians Union
Lecture
Thu Dec 11, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Westwood

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This course applies towards the following certificates & specializations…

Film Scoring
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