Tag: orchestration

Learn how to write music for strings and help your string arrangements shine with these tips for orchestrators. For more help, check out Soundfly’s course Orchestration for Strings.

  • Why the Gorillaz’ “5/4” Isn’t Actually in 5/4

    Why the Gorillaz’ “5/4” Isn’t Actually in 5/4

    + Welcome to Soundfly! We help curious musicians meet their goals with creative online courses. Whatever you want to learn, whenever you need to learn it. Subscribe now to start learning on the ’Fly. If a music lover happens to be a fan of both technically complex music, and popular genres like rap, electro, hip-hop, and dance EDM, then the Gorillaz’ 2001…

    Read more

  • Sounds of Battle: Compositions That Defined the Wars of the Early 20th Century

    Sounds of Battle: Compositions That Defined the Wars of the Early 20th Century

    In 1942, half-starved and weak from war and lack of supplies, members of Leningrad’s Philharmonic Orchestra gathered in the midst of the looming threat of bombardment to pull off one of the most extraordinary musical feats of all time. The city had already endured almost a year of brutal siege by the German Army —…

    Read more

  • Soundfly Mainstage: Our New One Month Intensive Courses for Deeper Learning

    Soundfly Mainstage: Our New One Month Intensive Courses for Deeper Learning

    We’re really excited to announce that we’ve just published three entirely new courses on Soundfly.com! But perhaps more importantly, these courses are part of a new learning product that is entirely different than anything we’ve done so far and will help you better achieve your goals. Our new courses are part of a program we’re…

    Read more

  • Putting the Maelstrom of Politics to Song: PUBLIQuartet’s Live Score of the Final Debate

    Putting the Maelstrom of Politics to Song: PUBLIQuartet’s Live Score of the Final Debate

    Last Wednesday, October 19, presidential candidates Donald J. Trump and Hillary R. Clinton faced off in the third and final debate leading up to the 2016 US presidential election. With absolutely no reasons remaining for viewers to continue to tune in to further coverage of this news media maelstrom, Stephen Colbert and his team at The Late…

    Read more

  • Loud Silence & Quiet Sound: The Illuminating Music of Toru Takemitsu

    Loud Silence & Quiet Sound: The Illuminating Music of Toru Takemitsu

    Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996) was arguably the most well-known and influential Japanese composer of the 20th century. In addition to composing prolifically for the orchestra, Takemitsu wrote many chamber works, solo guitar music, electro-acoustic pieces (incorporating the use of magnetic tape loops and found sounds), a number of pieces that feature soloists playing traditional Japanese instruments…

    Read more

  • What Happens When You Mess with the Keys of Iconic Movie Theme Songs?

    What Happens When You Mess with the Keys of Iconic Movie Theme Songs?

    By Ian Gordon As a self-taught musician, it can be difficult to find the terminology appropriate to describe musical concepts. I’ve always been a “how does this sound?” type of guy when working with others, as little I have to say translates appropriately to those who have formal musical backgrounds. My relationship with music is…

    Read more

  • 14 of the Most Influential Latin American Composers of the 20th Century

    14 of the Most Influential Latin American Composers of the 20th Century

    Unless you’re a classical guitar student, odds are your music education is sorely lacking in the works and legacies of Latin American classical composers.

    Read more

  • Why We’re Rolling Out Online Courses with a Human Touch

    Why We’re Rolling Out Online Courses with a Human Touch

    We’re obsessed with uncovering better ways to teach and learn. Everyone in the Soundfly office takes on weekly writing challenges to push ourselves to learn more musically. We read books about practicing and how people learn. We talk to psychologists and neuroscientists about the process of learning. And we’re constantly looking to invent new approaches, both online and off, to help people…

    Read more

  • How to Improve at Writing Music by Hand

    How to Improve at Writing Music by Hand

    The most confusing part of reading a handwritten score is the fact that music spacing and phrasing are not always considered when writing.

    Read more

  • Sampling as Instrumentation: How Recorded Noise Found Its Way Into Music

    Sampling as Instrumentation: How Recorded Noise Found Its Way Into Music

    + Learn to create and arrange original, instrumental hip-hop music from sampling pioneer RJD2 himself in his new course on Soundfly, RJD2: From Samples to Songs. When we turn on the radio to any pop station, we hear sampling. When we utilize any MIDI instrument technology within our DAWs and hardware, we hear sampling. It’s everywhere, and it’s due…

    Read more

RJD2: From Samples to Songs