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Modern Orchestration Principles
Norman will guide you through the orchestration process, focusing on achieving maximum brilliance and expressivity. Each class explores a different orchestra section, using a renowned composer as a reference. We’ll start with strings and John Williams, move to woodwinds with Alexandre Desplat, then tackle brass with Bernard Herrmann, and wrap up with the full orchestra featuring Danny Elfman.
Participants should have entry-level knowledge of orchestral instrument instrumentation and basic proficiency with either Dorico, Sibelius, or MuseScore.
Course Level
- Intermediate
Dates (all times are ET)
- 30 minute online Introduction: Monday 12 January 2026 at 6pm ET
- Class 1: Monday 19 January 2026 from 6:00 – 7:30 pm ET
- Class 2: Monday 26 January 2026 from 6:00 – 7:30 pm ET
- Class 3: Monday 2 February 2026 from 6:00 – 7:30 pm ET
- Class 4: Monday 9 February 2026 from 6:00 – 7:30 pm ET
Location
- Online Only
Instructor Bio
Dr. Norman Ludwin is a distinguished figure in the field of orchestration and film composition. With a Doctorate in Composition, he has made significant contributions to Hollywood as a working orchestrator and session bassist. He teaches orchestration and film composition at several prestigious institutions, including UCLA’s Film Scoring Department, the Film Scoring Academy of Europe, Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya, and ThinkSpace Education.
Over his illustrious career, Dr. Ludwin has worked on more than 200 motion pictures, contributing to blockbuster films such as “Spider-Man: No Way Home”, “Incredibles 2, “Coco”, “Star Wars: Rogue One”, “Jurassic World”, and “Star Trek Into Darkness”.
His unique approach to analysis and deep understanding of orchestration has set him apart in the industry.
Dr. Ludwin’s impact extends beyond his work in film, as he has authored 13 books on orchestration and composition. These books are widely regarded as essential texts in the field, available in four languages, and used by institutions around the world.
He is also highly regarded as a lecturer, having delivered presentations at numerous prestigious institutions worldwide, such as the Berklee College of Music, Vienna Music Institute, Royal Conservatory of Belgium, Madrid Conservatory of Music, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Zurich University of the Arts, Hochschule für Musik und Theater München, Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the University of Toronto, among others. His seminars and master classes are consistently met with enthusiasm from audiences, reinforcing his reputation as a leading educator in the field of film music and orchestration.
Learn more at musicnewapproach.com
