Arranging for orchestra is by no means an easy task. With so many different parts for so many different instruments to have ready, it can often be more beneficial to work with an arrangement that's already in place, if you aren't working on a new composition.

Whether you are looking for scores for smaller orchestras such as a string orchestra, or whether you are after full orchestra sheet music / symphony orchestra sheet music, you are guaranteed find what you're looking for on Score Exchange. With hundreds of scores available, simply search for the piece you are looking for by name or browse through the orchestra scores, with the option to look at the most popular pieces (by sales or by views).

You can browse through the various pieces of traditional orchestra sheet music that are currently available, such as "Amazing Grace" "Joy To The World" or "Concerto In D" by Bach. Once selected, you can then download the piece and begin working on it straight away, either by printing it out or loading your orchestra sheet music PDF on to tablets, via the various apps available. Public recitals of film scores and TV theme music are very popular and these (as well as other well-known pieces) will already have been scored, and so working from a pre-existing arrangement may well be of benefit.

The size and instrumentation of orchestras varies massively. Larger, professional orchestras (sometimes called Symphony or Philharmonic orchestras) will often be feature between 70 to 100 members or more, usually from all the major instrumental groups - bowed/stringed (made up of violins, violas, cellos etc) brass/woodwind (made up of trumpet, tuba and french horn etc) and percussion (various drums and cymbals). Sometimes orchestra and choir work together for an even larger ensemble. Concertos are often performed by an orchestra and a soloist.

Each instrumental section will usually have a "principal" who is in charge of leading their group, and may well be given any of the instrumental solos for their chosen instrument. The principal first violinist is usually also referred to as the"leader" and is the defacto second-in-command of the orchestra, second only to the conductor. It is typical for all members of a large orchestra to audition for their roles, usually in front of the principle of their section, the leader and the conductor. Smaller ensembles can be made up of between 12 to 20 instrumentalists, with a looser organisational structure. Beethoven's influence on the classical orchestra set up cannot be denied, as the "standard complement" of doubled winds and brass instruments is generally attributed to his compositions.

While traditional orchestral recitals of classical works are still very popular right around the country, modern orchestral performances have begun to include elements of popular music, even drawing from dance or other electronic genres. Some orchestras have began arranging the back catalogue of dance acts like Daft Punk or Faithless, in order to attract a younger audience. This can sometimes lead to orchestras incorporating more of a rock or pop instrumentation, with synthesisers, electric guitar, bass guitar and drum kit.