Hello, I’m Ernesto.

I’m a composer, educator, and content creator, and I am sharing some of my knowledge to help other composers and orchestrators bring their creativity to life.

Each Lab is a four-week, live-online class designed to sharpen your skills in specific areas of the craft, from orchestration to percussion writing and more. Taught in a lab-style format, these sessions blend real-world examples, actionable techniques, and collaborative discussion. Whether you're looking to push your writing further or simply stay sharp over the summer, there's a Lab for you.

Join the live sessions or catch the replays, and walk away each week with tools you can use in your own music immediately.

LAB 1

Practical Orchestration

Four week live class: May 25 - June 15

Practical Orchestration is a four-week live lab for composers who want to gain clarity and confidence in assigning musical ideas to the orchestra. You'll learn the frameworks I use to make smart, musical orchestration choices. Each week focuses on a different section of the orchestra: strings, brass, and woodwinds, with real-world examples pulled from public domain scores. Whether you're scoring for ensembles or just want your MIDI mockups to feel more idiomatic, this lab will give you a more intentional approach to orchestration.

Limited to 30 spots; claim your spot now.

LAB 2

Writing for Percussion

Four week live class: June 22 - July 13

Writing for Percussion is a four-week live lab that helps composers unlock the full expressive power of the percussion section. Each week explores a different area: unpitched instruments, keyboard percussion, timpani, and common writing/orchestration pitfalls. You'll learn what’s idiomatic, what’s effective, and how to avoid the mistakes that trip up even experienced composers. With hands-on examples from real scores and lab-style exercises, this lab builds your confidence in using percussion not just for impact, but as an integral, musical part of your orchestral palette.

Limited to 30 spots; claim your spot now.

LAB 3

Realistic MIDI Mockups

Four week live class: July 20 - August 10

Realistic MIDI Mockups is a four-week live lab for composers who want their digital orchestral demos to sound polished, expressive, and convincing. You’ll learn practical techniques for programming lifelike performances using sample libraries, including articulation choices, automation, balancing, reverb, and expression mapping. Each week focuses on a different aspect of mockup creation. Whether you're scoring for film, games, or concert music, this lab will help you bridge the gap between notation and believable audio so your music communicates clearly, even before a single player touches the score.

Limited to 30 spots; claim your spot now.

The Summer Labs Experience

Comprehensive

Each Lab is carefully structured to guide you from foundational concepts to advanced techniques, covering everything you need to build confidence and clarity in your writing. You won’t just get tips, you’ll get a complete framework for thinking intentionally about your composing.

Interactive

These aren’t passive webinars; they’re hands-on, live sessions with space to ask questions and discuss ideas with fellow composers. You’ll be part of a learning community where exploration and curiosity are encouraged.

FAQ

  • Yes! The labs are designed for beginner to intermediate composers. You’ll get practical, real-world strategies you will continue to use as you improve in your craft.

  • Each class runs 1 to 1.5 hours and includes time for live Q&A so you can get your questions answered and go deeper into the material.

  • For Practical Orchestration and Writing for Percussion, no specific software is required — just curiosity and a way to view PDF scores. For Realistic MIDI Mockups, any DAW (Logic, Cubase, etc.) and basic sample libraries are recommended.

  • No problem! Every session is recorded and sent to you shortly after it ends. You’ll have access to all recordings to review at your own pace.