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Instrumentation Student Work book
Instrumentation involves taking a piece of piano music and rewriting each of the parts for a
different instrument.
 You cannot add new material or “do your own thing”. You must take what is there and
re -write the music for at least four different instruments.
 You really need to be able to read music to do this exercise. (it is highly desirable)
 It is also desirable to be able to use a music notation program such as Sibelius.
Below is an example in its simplest form. In the example below at any one time there are
three different notes being sounded at the same time.
There are three lines of music that could be separated into parts for different instruments
to play. So while a piano could play what is written below you would need three separate
wind instruments to play one line each to get the same effect.
Sibelius File 1A
This is the top
line.
This is the 2nd
line of music
This is the
bottom line
The next step is to create three lines of music on three different staves. One for each line of
music so that three different instrument each playing just one note could create the above
piece of music. Sibelius File 1B
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The next step - All that would be needed now would be to assign each of those
parts to a different instrument.
The example below shows the possibilities of that can be done when re written for three
string instruments
Obviously the part in the bass clef has to be written for an instrument that plays in the bass
clef or is a low pitched instrument. In this example a Cello Sibelius File 1c
Exercise 1 Look at the following piece of piano music. Firstly write beside and colour in with a
different colour each of the separate lines of music. Re write each line on a different stave. You
can do with on the manuscript or the Sibelius file 1d
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An example of music in four parts
In the example below there are four distinct parts Sibelius File 2a
1
2
3
4
Each of the lines will be assigned to a different melodic line and have their own stave.
Sibelius File No 2
Those melodic lines could be each assigned to a different instrument. Sibelius File No 3
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Piano Music
When you look at a piece of piano music there is usually more than one note or even two
notes being played at once. Basically you are deciding what to do with the various lines of
music.
Exercise2 . Look at the piano music below and use a highlighter to pick out the various musical
lines. If you do not have a highlighter, use a pencil and lines to show where the different musical
lines are. Sibelius File 4
Exercise 3. Once you have sorted the parts continues writing them out separately as started for
you below. Sibelius file No 5 has the answer.
Exercise 4. Here is another exercise if you fell that you need more practice. This is a piece of
piano music by the composer Wilhelm Bach and is in three parts. Go to Sibelius File 6 and write
the parts out on separate melodic lines.
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Knowledge of chords and harmony
Ideally before embarking on your instrumentation it is desirable to have a sound knowledge of chords and
keys.
*The task
Is to devise instrumentation for an ensemble. It is to take a piece of piano music and create
instrumental parts for each of the separate lines of music. Some might have to be doubled up.
It is important that before doing this you must :

Know what the instruments are
 Know about the different instrument you wish to write for – articulation performance
indicators – their range of playable notes – how they sound in different registers.
The instruments are broken down into families. (If you did level 1 score a reading you should have covered
this) Within these families you have a group which are considered the main orchestral instruments and
then other instruments which are not so common.
The main “Orchestral Instruments” families
Strings
Violin
Viola
Cello
Double bass
Harp
Woodwind
Brass
Flute
Trumpet
Oboe
French Horn
Clarinet
Trombone
bassoon
Tuba
Less known Instruments
Piccolo
Cor anglais
Bass Clarinet
Double bassoon
Percussion
Timpani
Bass drum
Snare drum
Other
Vibraphone
Xylophone
If you are not sure what these instruments look like or sound like find out.
On your student resources or the CD available there are some examples from you tube of these
instruments being played. Further knowledge will be covered in class.
Jazz instruments- These are instruments associated with Jazz.
Woodwind
Brass
Soprano Saxophone
Alto saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Trumpet
Trombone
Piano /Keyboard
Bass guitar
Rhythm guitar
Drum kit
Possibly vibraphone
Rock Instruments
Guitars
Electric Guitar
Electric Bass
Rhythm Section
Percussion
Drum Kit
Keyboard
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Choosing your instruments
When choosing your instruments choose those that work well together and/or fit the genre of the
music you are setting an instrumentation for. Some instruments sound louder than others. Some work
better with others. For example a flute and two trumpets might not be a good combination.
Knowing about the instruments you choose
It is important to know about the instruments you are choosing.
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Every instrument has a range of notes that it can technically play and a range of notes that is what
is called the playable range.
The instruments also have a range of notes that much of the music that is composed for them
uses. (How many piano pieces do you know that only use the bottom 8 notes of piano)
Many instruments sound different when played with in different pitch ranges
(A good example is the flute which sounds quite mellow when played lower down but very bright
and sometimes shrill in the upper register.)
If possible listen to examples of the instruments you wish to use- either on You Tube or ask the
teacher for examples. ( there is a CD with examples please ask to view and listen to this)
There are two types of instruments –Those at concert pitch. What they see on the page is what
we hear and transposing instruments. The music they read is not what we hear.
Transposing instruments.
These are instruments that do not play the actual notes they read. If a clarinet which is in Bb reads the
note of C it actually sounds Bb.
If an instrument does not have Bb Eb etc written beside it is not transposing.
It is important to have an understanding of transposing instrument if you choose to use them in you
instrumentation.
Below is a list of the common transposing instruments and what they transpose at
Instrument
What it reads
What the instrument plays
Clarinet in Bb
Reads the note of C
Sounds Bb a 2nd lower
Trumpet in Bb
Same as the Clarinet
Instrument
What it reads
What the instrument plays
French horn in F
Reads the note of C
Sounds F a Perfect 5th lower
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Saxophones
Instrument
What it reads
What the instrument plays
Alto saxophone in Eb
Reads the note of C
Sounds and plays the note of Eb a
major 6th lower
Tenor Saxophone in
Bb
Sounds quite a bit
lower than what is
written.
Baritone Saxophone
Eb
This is almost a bass
instrument.
Reads the not of C but sounds the
Bb 9 notes lower
Sounds a Major 9th lower than
what is written
Reads the note of C sounds 13 notes
lower than is written
sounds 13 notes lower than is
written
One octave plus
a major 6th.
Other transposing instruments
Instruments
What they read
What we hear the instrument plays
Guitar
Electric bass
Double Bass
They read the note of C
Acoustic guitar
They all sound 8 notes or an octave
lower. Acoustic guitar
sounds these notes
Bass Guitar – When writing music for a bass guitar be aware that is actually sounds an
octave lower ( 8 notes) than what is written.
When writing music in Sibelius you can have the instruments sound what you are writing.
If you write the notes on the top stave for the baritone sax what you will hear is on the
bottom stave
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Instrument Ranges of Notes
Below is a guide to the possible ranges of various wind and guitar instruments and a guide to their suitable
playing range.
Reads
Sounds
Actual Range
Playable Range
Concert pitch
Concert Pitch
Sounds Maj 2nd
lower
Sounds M6th lower
Music will be written 6
notes higher
Sounds M 9th lower
Concert Pitch
Sounds a P5 lower
Sounds M2nd lower
Concert pitch
Concert pitch
Sounds an octave
lower.8 notes lower
Sounds an octave
lower – 8 notes lower
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Writing for instruments on Sibelius
There are a number of websites you can go to that have examples of the instruments actually playing. Ask
your teacher for examples of what different instrument sound like.
 Most times when you are writing for different instrument using the Sibelius file if you write an
instrument out of range it will show up as RED on the stave.
 When writing for different instruments check out the following guide.
Instrument
Flute
Top range
Shrill and very clear
Middle range
Still clear more
mellow
Clarinet
Oboe
Shrill quite piercing
Very clear
More mellow
Still clear
Bassoon
Almost like a cello
Very clear and bright
Very clear almost
piercing
Clearer sound
Normal range clear
Trumpet
Horn
More mellow but
still quite loud
Normal range
Often used in
harmony parts
Normal
Low Range
Husky and sometimes not
heard above other
instruments
Husky darker sounding
Husky not easily heard
against other instrument
Can be quite gruff.
Blends in more
Not so noticeable blend in
to harmony parts. Can be
slightly gruff.
Trombone
Quite loud and clear
Low pitch blends in can
sound quite gruff
Alto
Very clear sometime Normal range
Fill in for harmony parts.
saxophone
quite shrill
Not so easily heard.
When writing out music for different instruments you don’t have to have the highest pitched
instrument playing the top melodic line. The pitch of the musical line in the piano part can be
changed.
Sibelius File No 9 Below is a small piece of piano music. Listen to it on a Sibelius file there are two
different versions of the same piece. Notice the first version just has the saxophones written but
not sounding at the correct pitch.
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Sibelius file 10 here is the same piece of music with the instruments transposed for the performers
to play the music
You can write for different instrument at concert pitch as above then click the little
Bb key signature beside the score word at the top.
This will change the instrument to have the correct transposition. You still hear the correct notes.
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Different ways of looking at the music - The top part can be given to other instruments to play.
What cannot change is the actual music itself. Sibelius File No 11. The tenor saxophone has the
melody line while the alto sax is playing the harmony part. Listen to the example
Exercise 5 Choose one or two of the following piano pieces and write a small instrumentation for
the first three bars of music for one of the following instrument combinations.
Flute
Clarinet in Bb
Oboe
Bassoon
Sibelius File No 12
Choose three instruments
Sibelius File no 13
Sibelius File 14
Violin
Violin
Viola
Cello
Alto sax ( in Eb
Trumpet in Bb
Tenor Sax
Bass guitar
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Articulation
Once you have grasped the concept of organising the parts for different instruments. The next step is to
understand the actual instruments themselves and the various forms of articulation and the effects.
It is expected that you will have an understanding of dynamics and basic articulation which cover all
instruments.
Staccato staccatissimo Martello Accent Tenuto
Phrasing Phrases are used to capture a musical statement. A phrase will define musical shape with a
curved line over the notes.
Slur Is used to indicate smooth playing. In a string instrument a slur is
used to indicate playing with one bow while in a wind instrument or voice
it is use to indicate playing with one breath.
Other terms Some of these are used to describe how the music should be played
Detache
Legato
Fermata
Dolce
Cantabile
Simile
Marcato
Smorzando - morendo
To play in a detached manner
To play smoothly
Pause
Sweetly and nice
In a singing style
Carry on in a similar style
Marked
Dying away
There are many other terms that can also be used to describe how the music can be played
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String Instruments
Violin
viola
Cello
Double Bass
A string instruments uses a bow. The down bow is more forceful than the up bow and is often
found on the first beat of a bar.
The down bow is shown by
The up bow is shown by
A curved line is used to indicate the music will be played by one bow.
This will create a smoother effect
The bowing will follow on unless otherwise stated
Other terms for stringed instruments
Pizz or pizzicato – This is where the strings are plucked instead of bowed.
Arco – The strings are bowed.
Be aware that if you put pizzicato for a solo violin it sounds quieter than if it was bowed. Using
pizzicato against another instrument such as a clarinet the violin might not be heard that clearly.
Double Bass – Pizzicato is often used by the double bass player creating a similar effect to an
electric bass guitar.
Legato – A group of notes is played smoothly by one bow
Portato played with a single bow but with a slight break between the notes notated as a series of notes each bearing a staccato dot, placed under a slur
Con sordini - Sordini is another term for mutes. A mute is placed near the top of the violin and
creates a softer more subdued sound. – This might be used for a very soft errie solo.
Wind instruments
Slur – If a slur is placed over a group of notes that is to indicate the
music being played with one breath. When writing for wind instruments
it is important to realise they do need to breath.
Changes on one note. A wind instrument can change dynamics on one note
Other variations can include
Trumpet – can also use a mute which will change the sound.
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Putting it all together
Step 1 is to choose your piece of music.
Step 2 is to decide what instruments you will create your instrument with
Step 3 is to look through your piano score and how you are going to organise your instruments
Pre-task Activity look at the piano score below and then examine the two different versions of
instrumentations done for this score. For each one, identify good points and possible problems or
aspect that might not work.
Tchaikovsky snow Drop
When you play the next example the mute the piano part.
Did you see some problems? Read the comments on the next page
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Problems with that combination of Instruments.
1. The combination of instruments might be questioned – A trumpet is much louder than a violin
and flute. It might be better to substitute the trumpet part with a clarinet or viola
2. While the bassoon part has been put down an octave you could try moving this up and here a
different effect.
3. May be the flute might be better up an octave also. Be aware there is a discord in the first bar
with the f and g played together.
4. You could try shifting one of the middle parts up an octave. Remember you cannot change the
actual music but you can change the pitch
Sibelius File 15b - Here is another version of the same piece with the flute up an octave. This
means you can hear it much better.
The violin is taking the middle part of the three notes while the viola takes the top of the three
notes
Viola
Violin
Bassoon
In terms of instrument ranges and combinations this is much more successful
You need to think about pitch. In the original piano part the bottom three notes are cluster
together. This could be broken up.
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Listen to yet another version of the same piece with the bassoon part taken by the cello an
octave lower. The violin part is actually middle note taken up an octave.
Sib file 15c
Yet another combination might be to use Flute Clarinet Guitar Bass guitar Sib file 15d
Note the bass guitar and the guitar both sound an octave lower than what is written
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In this next example of the same piece the notes in the guitar have been spaced out and re
arranged. Note the same notes are used and the same rhythm. Sib file 15 e
More Practice. Take this example of piano music. You do not necessarily have to have all four
instruments playing all the music. There may be occasions where only one or two play. Sib file 16
Use it to plan what you might do – choice of instruments- Where could you double up? Sib file
16b suggestions you might like to carry on or try and create your won example.
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Look and if possible listen to the example below and see how the piano part has been adapted
for the various instruments.