The symphony orchestra is a complex organism in which people play together and follow a conductor, while mastering their instrument at the same time.
The courses in the theory and practice of orchestral playing aim to provide understanding of the entire process of musical communication, from the scored work to the sounding result. The theory includes sections on the fundamentals of music theory, room acoustics, instrument acoustics and auditory perception. The practical course that is offered in parallel entails participation in the KTH Academic Orchestra for two years. Orchestral works that are representative of various periods are studied and rehearsed in detail. Frequent recourses to the theoretical sections provide background to the conductor’s instructions, and explain how the interpretation is an outcome of the piece’s structure as composed, its instrumentation, the hall acoustics and how the conductor within these constraints chooses to render the piece. In addition, there are field visits to professional orchestras and seminars with conductors and musicians, that give insights into the possibilities of professional performance. The course aims to improve both the amateur musicianship of the participants and their background for understanding classical and contemporary music from more than one perspective, thereby contributing to a richer musical experience.