For those of you who bought the books only, this package contains the MIDI files (piano and strings) and MP3 Audio piano examples for Professional Orchestration: A Practical Handbook - From Piano to Strings. Also included are the MP3 Audio piano examples for the Workbook.
The same piano examples are used for each of the three Handbooks - From Piano to Strings, and the forthcoming From Piano to Woodwinds and From Piano to Orchestra, so this one package covers the audio for the entire series of Professional Orchestration: A Practical Handbook titles. The Handbook piano examples and the piano examples from the Workbook have been exported from Sibelius in MP3 format for you.
MIDI files are for From Piano to Strings only. Woodwind and Full Orchestra to be released for separate purchase as each of those Handbooks become available.
Study Approach
First, you study the examples by category in the separately available Handbook (eg. A Practical Handbook: From Piano to Strings), which are organized by specific scoring techniques. Then, in this MIDI/Audio Examples Package, listen to the piano example, then study.
Second, go to the separately available Workbook which has piano excerpts organized by the techniques covered in the Handbook. Then, in this MIDI/Audio Examples Package, listen to the recorded MP3 piano example, then begin scoring the example by the specific technique taught. When scoring examples, be aware that there are many solutions, not just one right "academic" answer. Depending on your level of expertise, you should be able to work out no less than 6-12 different solutions. The "right one" is the one that works best.
Once you’ve scored your examples, you're encouraged to record them using either the orchestral package that comes with your notation program, or by doing a MIDI mockup using your sequencing program, which also builds your MIDI editing and recording skills.