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Essential Dictionary of Orchestration: Book

$12.99 USD
$12.99 USD
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Essential Dictionary of Orchestration Cover Image
Essential Dictionary of Orchestration: Book

Essential Dictionary of Orchestration: Book

The Most Practical and Comprehensive Resource for Composers, Arrangers and Orchestrators

By Dave Black and Tom Gerou

Item: 00-17894
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Description
At last, an orchestration book tailor-made for the classroom musician on a budget. Any teacher, student or professional musician, whether a composer, orchestrator, arranger, performer or enthusiast will find this thoroughly comprehensive dictionary full of the most needed information on over 150 instruments. Designed for quick and easy reference, the Essential Dictionary of Orchestration includes those much-needed instrument ranges, general characteristics, tone quality descriptions, technical pitfalls, useful scoring tips and much more!

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Additional Details
Series: Essential Dictionary Series
Publisher: Alfred Music
Page Count: 352
ISBN10: 0-7390-0021-7
ISBN13: 978-0-7390-0021-2
UPC: 038081167367
SKU: 00-17894

More about this title

About the Author: Dave Black

Dave Black

Dave Black is a percussionist and composer whose career spans performance, recording, and music education. He earned his Bachelor of Music in percussion performance from California State University, Northridge, and has performed and recorded with major entertainers and productions worldwide. His compositional output includes over 60 published works through major publishers, many of which have been recorded and licensed for television and film, including the feature Drumline.

Black's contributions to music education are substantial and widely recognized. He has authored or co-authored more than 30 educational books, including Alfred's Drum Method (the world's bestselling percussion method) and Sound Innovations for Concert Band. His accolades include 26 consecutive ASCAP Popular Composer Awards, two GRAMMY Award participation certificates, the Percussive Arts Society President's Industry Award, and multiple Drum! Magazine and Modern Drummer recognitions for his educational materials. His publications have achieved combined sales exceeding two million units and are used by music students globally.

Why we love this

This reference book cuts through the noise by focusing on what orchestrators actually need in a teaching context: instrument ranges, tone characteristics, scoring pitfalls, and practical tips organized for fast lookup. At 352 pages covering over 150 instruments, it's comprehensive without being overwhelming, making it genuinely useful whether you're preparing students to understand an orchestra, arranging ensemble music, or checking a detail mid-rehearsal.

Who it's for

Composers, arrangers, and orchestrators of any experience level will find this a working reference on their desk. Teachers introducing students to orchestral color, secondary music students learning to score, and professional musicians checking instrumental capabilities will all benefit from its organized, accessible format.

How to use it

Keep this on the shelf during score study sessions with upper-level composers and arrangers, or reference it when teaching a unit on orchestration and instrumental color. Band directors preparing students to transition to orchestra or understand professional scores will find the instrument characteristics and technical notes particularly valuable for listening guides and analysis.

Skills your students will build

  • understanding instrument ranges and transpositions across 150+ orchestral instruments
  • recognizing tone qualities and characteristic sounds for scoring and arrangement decisions
  • identifying technical limitations and scoring pitfalls specific to each instrument
  • applying practical orchestration tips to their own compositional and arranging work
  • reading and interpreting scores with greater awareness of orchestral color and capability

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