When composing parts for different instruments, how do I find out if the part is playable?

Question

I'm thinking of composing pieces for small ensembles with varied instrumentation. Typically I compose on a keyboard. How do I determine if the musician can easily play the parts I write for them? I can determine the playability of voice, keyboard, drums and guitar parts but not other instruments such as strings, woodwinds and brass. I can hear how the piece sounds approximately by listening to a MIDI sequence. **What are the rules of composition for strings, woodwinds and brass?**

Answer 1

I definitely recommend checking out either Alfred Blatter's "Instrumentation and Orchestration" book or "Anatomy of the Orchestra" by Norman Del Mar as a great resource to learn more about orchestration. Also, I think it's great to just dive headfirst into writing for strings, woodwind, and brass - don't be afraid to mess up or sound sloppy - as well as simply listening to as much orchestral work as possible, whether live performance or recordings. Finally, transcribing pieces by ear, though it can be painstaking, is a fantastic way to build your ear and really learn how to write for specific instruments and know how to arrange them in the context of a piece.