Modern Orchestration Masterclasses / Viola: acoustic articulations and how to reproduce them with music software

Taught by: Helen Noir

£15 off SWAM Viola 3 for people who purchase this workshop!

Aimed at electronic musicians wanting to begin working with orchestral instruments and musicians, this workshop will begin a tour of the standard orchestral instruments by teaching the standard articulations for the viola, along with some of the best practices for writing for this instrument, and how to programme viola VSTs for realism. We'll be demonstrating playing styles with a professional viola player before moving to working with VSTS, and will be using Spitfire's industry standard sample library, BBCSO (both the free version and Professional), as well as SWAM's incredible modelled instrument, Viola 3.

Viola player:

Charlie Stock is a London-based freelance viola player. Adept at multiple styles from classical to pop, she has performed and recorded with artists such as FKA Twigs, Lana Del Rey, Jarvis Cocker, Rihanna, Bat for Lashes, Giorgio Moroder, The Irrepressibles, The Clientele, Dana Gavanski, Graffiti Classics Comedy String Quartet, Swindle, Kojey Radical, Theo Adams company, St Pauls Sinfonia, The Heritage Orchestra and The London Symphonic Rock Orchestra.

She is also a member of experimental post-punk trio Bas Jan and currently touring with their new album ‘Baby u Know’.

Level

What you'll learn

Understand the range and standard articulations for the viola
Begin to write playable and idiomatic music for the viola, whether for an IRL musician or a VST
Create realistic viola lines, for solo and section, using VSTS (including Spitfire's BBCSO and SWAM's Viola 3) with an understanding of range, articulations, dynamics, expression and modulation
Communicate as a composer with a viola player (by understanding what can reasonably be asked of the instrument and what experimental techniques might be possible)

Course content

Masterclass Material

The Viola - Modern Orchestration Masterclass - Helen Noir

Chapter 1: Modern Orchestration Masterclasses: An introduction to writing for the viola - Articulations

1. Anatomy of the Viola
2. Range of the Viola
3. Legato
4. Vibrato
5. Staccato (tenuto_spiccato)
6. Marcato_accent
7. Pizzicato (regular and Bartok_snap)
8. Tremolos_Trills
9. Col Legno
10. Double Stops (and triple_quadruple)
11. Harmonics
12. Glissando_Portamento
13. Sul Pont, Sul Tasto, Flautando
14. Mutes
15. Extended Techniques
16. Qualities of Different Strings

Chapter 2 / Modern Orchestration Masterclasses: An introduction to writing for the viola - Articulations

1. Using Reverb
2. Mixing
3. Volume dynamic balancing
4. VCAs
5. EQ & Distortion tips
6. Working with Sample libraries
7. Spitfire BBSCO Discover Legato
8. CC Controllers
9. Solo Viola Samples
10. Staccatos and 'shorts'
11. Glissando portamento
12. SWAM Instruments
13. Size of instrument CP
14. Walkthrough programming controllers (cc)
15. Expression
16. Velocity
17. Avoiding high expression values
18. Bow position bow pressure
19. Flautando
20. Double stops
21. Open strings finger positions
22. Bow on bow off
23. Drawing automation
24. Play modes timbre pitch advanced menus
25. Vibrato Rate
26. Up bow down bow
27. Sordino mute
28. String resonance and open strings
29. Pizzicato col legno cont.
30. Making ensembles groups of SWAM violas
31. Pitch
32. Reverb
33. Menus expressivity
34. Tremolo
35. String resonance open strings
36. Pizzicato col legno
37. Making groups ensembles of SWAM violas
38. Pitch ensembles

Membership plan: Going Deeper | Topics: Music Production

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Requirements

A computer and internet connection

Who is this course for

Musicians who want to begin work with orchestral instruments

Useful links

SWAM Viola - SWAM Viola | Audio Modeling Spitfire Audio — BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover (Free) Spitfire Audio — BBC Symphony Orchestra Professional

About the workshop leader

Helen Noir (she/her) is a London-based soprano, composer, orchestrator & producer. She writes soundtracks for film, fashion and theatre, most recently for Joseph Wilson's Isn't it a Beautiful World, which premiered at BFI London Film Festival in October 2021. She works specifically with directors and designers to take music from initial composition through recording, orchestration, production and mixing. She also performs regularly with cult performance art group Theo Adams Company, and is an operatic session vocalist.