Every orchestrator refines their workflow throughout their years of composing and orchestrating. Each time you write a song or orchestrate a piece, you learn something new and streamline your process. In this post, I share my approach to each orchestral score and other compositions I write. I can break down my process into six steps. (This process is for multiple scores as in an entire album).
Step one: (music notation PDFs)
- Import the mxml file into the music notation program to tidy it up.
- Proofread the entire conductor score and parts multiple times to catch any errors.
- Export the conductors’ score as a PDF. Then export all the parts as one PDF.
- Do this for each composition.
Step Two: (conductor score title pages)
- Use a word processor to create the front title pages for each of the conductors’ scores.
- Proofread the covers to ensure the information is correct on each title page.
- Convert all of the front title pages of the conductor scores to PDFs.
Step Three: (Conductor score back covers)
- Using a word processor, create all of the back cover pages for the conductors’ scores, once again proofreading to ensure all the information is correct on each back cover.
- Convert all the back covers of the conductors’ scores to PDFs.
Step Four: (part title pages)
- Using a word processor, create all of the part title pages, once again proofreading to ensure all the information is correct on each title page.
- Convert all of the title pages for the individual parts to PDFs.
Step Five: (assemble conductor score)
- Using a PDF editor, assemble the front cover of the conductor score, conductor score music notation, and back cover of the conductor score, creating one completed conductor score PDF file. Do this for each conductor score.
Step Six: (assemble part scores)
- Using a PDF editor, open up the parts score PDF.
- Insert the part’s title page and blank pages as needed. Ensure each part’s first page of music is odd-numbered. It’s vital when the music is open; the first page appears on the right-hand side of the score.
When these six steps are finished, the score is ready to be sent off for distribution. Thanks for reading; I’m just a music teacher having fun; catch ya on the next one.