✅ Players are not instruments!

• If there are two flute players in the ensemble, you need two separate flute parts!! (same for the other winds and brass)
• It’s helpful to think about this while you write, but a requirement when engraving!

<aside> 💡 Orchestration Tip: If you are not sure what to do with the extra players, rather than just having them always play in unison you might consider the following:

1. Reinforce at the octave
2. Enhance the harmony and add richness by stacking chord tones.
3. Dovetail - break apart phrases so players can breathe!

</aside>

✅ Condense players on the same instrument into one (or two) staves.

• In other words, flute 1 and 2 condense into one staff in the score but do not do this for the parts!

• Typically winds and brass condense two players per staff, but sometimes you might see three players on a staff.

  • 4 Horns divide into two pairs: 1+2 and 3+4. Horns 1 + 3 play higher notes.

• If they are playing unison, write “a2” over the staff. (or a3, a4, etc. depending on how many players are in unison)

• If the parts are independent, you would use different “voices” in your notation program, which will usually put stems up for the first voice (player #1) and stems down for the 2nd voice (player #2).

• If only one player is playing, you indicate that with the player number:

  “1.” for player 1 ”2.” for player 2, etc.

✅ Tempo is indicated above the score and above the strings.

Score Order:

• Standard Orchestra:
  • Woodwinds
  • Brass (Horns above trumpets)
  • Timp
  • Perc
  • Keyboards
  • Strings
  • Other Instruments:
    • Plucked Strings and harp above or below keyboards
    • Voices and instrumental soloists: Above the Strings
• Small Ensembles:
  • High to Low or Orchestral Order
  • Piano at bottom