Arranging & Orchestrating Archives • Maestra

The Do’s and Don’ts of Writing for Drums

Writing for drums doesn’t have to be intimidating! Drummer, Percussionist, Bandleader and Music Educator Elena Bonomo leads a workshop on how to write clean, readable parts for drumset. From understanding the basics of drum set notation to creating your own parts, Elena will give you the tips you need to make every drummer happy.

Gospel Music: Good News and Great Sounds

Gospel music is timeless, endearing, holds universal appeal – so much so that it turns up in secular music also. Let’s explore gospel music, look at some innovative compositions and arrangements, and maybe arrange something on the spot!

Everything About Opera In 90 Minutes

In this workshop, we’ll talk a little bit about the opera world, how operas are commissioned and developed, how to write for the classical voice, and how to think about orchestrating for unamplified voices, among other topics.

Afro Harping: Alice Coltrane

In this workshop Dr. Jackson explores how we can thoughtfully consider race and gender as frameworks for listening and interpreting music and also shares excerpts from her solo album that celebrates the rich diversity of black musical expression.

Writing Dance Arrangements in Collaboration with a Choreographer

We will be talking about the various ways music is developed for choreographic sequences in the theater, from a more traditional approach to less traditional (and in Nadia’s case, more common) methods being used, often when working with choreographers who come from outside the traditional theater world.

Orchestration: Making a Small Band Sound Phat

This class is about how to voice instruments and create a sonic space that feels full using smaller ensembles. Get the most bang from what you’ve got!