Orchestration
My long-term goal is to become a strong arranger and orchestrator in the tradition of people like Quincy Jones, Nelson Riddle, and George Martin. I'm interested in understanding harmony, counterpoint, voicing, orchestral colour, score reading, arranging, and composition.
The theory books don't seem linear.
For those of you who became competent arrangers and orchestrators, what path did you take?
If you were starting over today with the goal of becoming a professional-level arranger/orchestrator, what would you prioritise first, and what would you study simultaneously rather than sequentially?
And at what point would you move from self-study to a tutor?
I'm particularly interested in practical advice from people who work in film, jazz, big band, studio arranging, or orchestral writing.