Berklee and Orchestral Tools Launch Free Educational YouTube Channel

Hosted by composer Alex Lamy, the new channel, Virtual Orchestration, will explore every aspect of the compositional creative process.

January 20, 2023

Today, Orchestral Tools announced the launch of Virtual Orchestration, a new YouTube channel created in collaboration with Berklee College of Music dedicated to learning the art of composing with sampled orchestral instruments. The series is open to all, with episodes aimed at both aspiring and experienced composers looking to expand their musical capabilities.

Hosted by composer Alex Lamy, Virtual Orchestration will explore every aspect of the compositional creative process. The wealth of knowledge made available on this channel has been curated by the faculty of Berklee’s Screen Scoring Department, along with special guest presenters from the professional scoring world. Each lesson is designed to be both inspiring and practical, with a wealth of useful tips and tricks that can be quickly implemented into any composer’s workflow. The first episodes of season one are available now, and the channel will release a new episode every Sunday.

The channel grew out of Berklee's ongoing relationship with Orchestral Tools. Screen Scoring faculty members have already worked directly with the sample library developers to build the Berlin Orchestra, a full symphony orchestra library designed to meet the exact requirements of the Screen Scoring curriculum, and to provide students with a professional-grade toolkit that can support them in the professional world and in the classroom. Importantly, the channel represents a commitment by Berklee and Orchestral Tools to continue the collaboration and provide valuable learning resources for a worldwide audience.

“The Screen Scoring Department is always exploring new ways to educate our students and expand the platform upon which music can be taught through new ideas and technologies,” said Sean McMahon, chair of the Screen Scoring Department. “These are values that Orchestral Tools share with us, and as such it’s been a wonderful project to pool our collective expertise in creating a free learning resource for a wider audience.”

“Whether you’re just starting out in composition or looking to learn some new tricks of the trade, Virtual Orchestration has something to offer,” said Orchestral Tools CEO Hendrik Schwarzer. “We’re thrilled to open the doors to the next generation of composers by making this free resource available. And with the expertise of Berklee behind it, we’re sure that this channel is going to inspire some incredible music.”

Visit the new Virtual Orchestration YouTube channel.