The Two Major Assignments for RHSA Senior Band You need to start an arrangement for Mr.

Carvallo's Senior Band class but dont know where to start?I will run through an easy stepby step process for tackling arrangements of pop, rock and jazz songs, including how to choose songs,voicing considerations, style of backing parts, using technology to make life easier, transcription tricks,and ways to digitise and distribute the arrangement (creating scores, recordings and backingtracks). Due Date 1st Arrangement is due the first week of November , in preparation for our Open House 2nd Arrangement due the day of Our Exam in December (date to be determined by the office) In preparation for our recording date in April

1.Choose a song Tips for choosing a song: Choose a song that will suit the members of our Senior Band Class, and soloists (5th years and grade twelves must demonstrate proficiency on their instrument) Some popular artists nearly always lend themselves well to great arrangements: try listening to a variety of music Dontoverlook public domain songs(folksongs, traditional songs, hymns) because they can often be given a contemporary makeoverthink gospel style, jazz, pop Try to choose something different to everyone else! Listen to music with your arranging ears on all the time You might consider doing an arrangement of an original song Keep track of potential songs to arrange by keeping a playlist of possibilities Choose a song you likeyoure going to spend alot of time working on it even before you get to the first rehearsal, so dont pick something youre not prepared to listen alot! 2.Listen to the song......alot First of all,find a recording of your chosen song. Become familiar with the different parts of the song: melody, bassline, backing parts Make some basic decisions about your arrangement while listening (seeStep3) At some point, its good toput it away 3.Decide the basic parameters of the arrangement This is where you can start to think creatively. Perhaps youd like to change the original song completely, or maybe youll choose to be fairly faithful to the original concept. Some basic things to think about: Will the song feature a solo? (expected from 5th years and grade twelves) What is the song structure? Map out theverse/chorus/intro/outro/bridge, and remember that you dont necessarily need to be faithful to the original version And the fun part...deciding the musical style, key, speed and overallfeeling.These elements can really make an arrangement unique. Will you use a jazzstyle accompaniment for a gospel song? Will a Britney Spears song become a reggae Classic etc.

 Will an uptempo pop song become a heart felt introspective ballad? Will your version be in a different key to suit vocalist or range of the instruments featured? Use a different voice part for the solo? Be faster or slower than the original? 4.Gather materials: You may have found a recording of the original version of the song, but there are other resources you can use to give you a headstart in creating your arrangement.Theres no point in spending hours transcribing a song from a recording if you can find the sheetmusic or a MIDI file of your chosen song at little or no cost. At the very least, finding the lyrics, sheetmusic or MIDI file can save you time writing out the melody and bass line and will allow you to spend more time tackling the creative aspects of your arrangement. Lyrics and Sheet Music You can find the lyrics to almost any song online.Do a search for the song title plus the wordlyrics. Sheetmusic The easiest way to purchase sheet music is via download from an authorised website SheetMusicDirect:https://www.sheetmusicdirect.com/ SheetMusicPlus:http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/ TheMusicRoom:http://www.musicroom.com.au/enAU/ Dont forget that you can often transpose the sheet music before printing out your purchased copy MIDIfiles There are thousands of MIDI file sitestry typing your song title plus the word MIDI into Google.You can also try these: MIDIZonehttp://www.freemidi.org/ Electrofreshhttp://www.electrofresh.com/ HitTraxhttp://www.hittrax.com.au/ 5.Consider how youll record your arrangement and how your group will learn the song: Youll need to share your arrangement with your group some how and there are a number of different options.You may like to consider the following: Does the current group sight read music well? Do the players have the skills to excecute what you wrote? ( be careful with the range of each instruments e.g. Screaming trumpet parts) Will the group learn the music in time for our performances. An audio recording of each part? Will they be able to find a recording of the song? Will you use a combination of these? Notation The easiest way to notate your arrangement is by using a specialist notation software program.The best options are: Sibelius Finale MuseScore(free) Manuscript and pencil

5.TranscribingTips If youre transcribing the melody from a recording, here are a fewtips: Use headphones! Find a quiet place to work Use technology to help you:Audacity is a free audioediting program which will allows you to slow down the tempo of a song (without changing the pitch).You can also transpose a very low passage up an octave to make it easier to hear 6.Get the melody down If youre notating your arrangement with a software program, a good place to start is by writing out the melody & lyrics.This will allow you to map out the form of the song and provide a basis for the rest of the arrangement. If youre using a notation or sequencing program it wont matter which part you write the melody into for nowyou can always copy and paste it into a different part later on if necessary. I usually write the entire melody for a song into one part and then add in repeat bars, doublebarlines at the end so so that the song structure is in place.Dont forget to write in the lyrics toothey help you keep track of where you are in the song. 7. Strong bassline (my personal opinion) Melody+strongbassline=good arrangement If you can get the basics rightthat is a strong bassline to accompany your melodyyoure 80% of the way there. So what makes a strong bassline? Its harmonically sound When you play the melody and the bassline together, the song can stand on its own (ie. you dont need any other parts to make it work) 8. Add in some interesting inner/backing parts Thebackingparts are where you can add alot of interest into your arrangement.Some tips: Make them rhythmically interesting Use a different texture to melody and bass You may like to consider having different instruments playing at different times in the song. Everybody doesn't have to play at all times. All instruments in Senior Band must have sensible parts including the Strings section. DO NOT HAVE EVERYONE IN A SECTION PLAY THE SAME NOTES all the time, please remember to have parts for trumpet 1,2 3 and 4, trombones 1,2,3 , tenor 1,2 etc You get the idea. Be imaginative with the music, you can also use the same harmonies in different sections to add colour. Mix it up a little 9.Make a good arrangement outstanding One of the best ways to enhance your arrangement is to use CONTRAST: One section unison, then break in to parts Begin sparsely ( then increase fullness by adding other parts Change the style of backing parts in different sections:ie. arpeggio patterns followed by a chordal section or short, staccato chords followed by a counterpoint section Use variety and try not to make the arrangement too heavy. Last year alot of the arrangements had to many instruments playing the same parts at the same time. DO NOT FORGET TO WRITE PARTS FOR OUR PERCUSSION PALYER e.g. Drums,congas,shakers, etc

10.Sharing your arrangement:teaching and learning If you notated your arrangement,you can simply printout a master copy for Mr. Carvallo and our peer tutors will make photocopies for the class. To save time and trees you can mail PDF versions to section Leaders and please upload a copy to your wikispace.You can also create an audio file of your score which students can download as a backing track to better facilitate personal practise. . Othertips Listen to recordings of other bands and take note of what makes an arrangement work and what doesnt.There are lots of places to find good music on the internet. Ways to Add Variety or Harmonize a Melody Unison or Octaves o Same or different instruments o Color (e.g. Flute + Viola) o Articulation (e.g. Trumpet plus Marimba) Harmonize o Two part3rds or 6ths most common. Other intervals can be used for special effects. o Chordsclose position o Chordswith added color tones o Chordsindependent from rhythm of melody o Embellish or change the harmonization Melodic embellishment o Neighbor tones o Decorated melody Use of Motion o Contrary Motion o Similar or Parallel o ObliqueOne part moves and another is stationary Countermelody o Fill in the spaces in the melody Pedal Point o Low or high Ostinato o Repeated rhythmic pattern as a counterpoint Rhythm o What is the pulse of the piece? o Add rhythmic interestpercussion or other rhythmic ideas Further Considerations Decide on your general approach. Make some decisions about style, instruments, assignment of melody, assignment of background harmony and rhythm parts, and difficulty of the piece. An arrangement is likely to have more than one section, so you will have to do this more than once. Also, think about possible intros, transitions and endings. Consider the key. Also consider key changes for various effects Do parts or rhythms need to be simplified or made more interesting? Consider movement. Does the piece go somewhere? Also, consider the

accompaniment. Does the accompaniment create a sense of forward movement when appropriate? Chord Voicing ideas Use safe Chord Voicing from the chords Choices for voicing sections Complete chords in each sectionww, strings, brass. Each section should have a balanced sound Overlapping or interlocking. Example: Woodwinds have the 3rd and 5th, brass has the root and third, bass has the root, and strings have the 9th Work with all the elements to sketch out the main sections of an arrangement. You may find that when you make a decision on one sectionsuch as assigning clarinet to the melody in a certain key, it goofs up what you wanted to do for accompaniment. This process will take some time, and repeated experimentation. If you try to rush this, you will likely have an inferior arrangement. Add introductions, transitions, and endings. Check the issues for basic orchestrationrange, balance, blend, masking, dynamics, color vs. tutti, voice leading, chord voicing, etc. Does your arrangement need to be adjusted Common problems with parts and scores No rehearsal letters/numbers No rehearsal letters/numbers in the middle of multimeasure rests No dynamics Dynamics on the score...but not part. Usually it is because you actually hooked it to the line above when you placed the marking on the score. Dynamics above the line. They should be below the line in instrumental music. Extra empty measures at the end. Delete highlight them and push delete. Composer/arranger name missing Music too big, or not enough measures per system. Look at the format before you print. This is sometimes tricky. No articulations. Score should be transposed. ! Instruments out of range. Consult Carvallo or have Finale do this for you. Or just Google it. My printer ran out of ink. Plan ahead! This is not an excuse that will help you. Parts dont agree with score. If you make changes, make them on the score and print out the parts again. Finale parts and score are linked. Not enough time spent on the assignment. This is the biggest problem that occurs with this assignment. All the items above are evidence of this. Other evidence includes minimal instrumentation (example: melody only for a long time), awkward voice leading, harmony that does not make sense, missing instruments, missing sections (intro, ending, transitions) and generally sloppy work

Characteristics of a Good Arrangement It must make formal/musical sense Changes arrive at appropriate places, with appropriate degrees of contrast. o Supply sufficient variety and freshness of color to maintain interest. o Enhance the phrasing. o Ensure clarity of the various musical elements. o Sounds musical, rather than being like a bunch of arbitrary variations Every element and part for the players contributes something. Players (and audience) stay interested. The music is easily playable as possible, always using the simplest means to create the desired effect. The arrangement considers the capabilities of the intended performers Creates richness in musical effect Has clear character, and uses all your resources to make the character apparent Uses the whole ensemble effectively An effective piece of music demonstrates: o Craftsmanship (attention to details of notation, dynamics, transposition, printing, etc.) o Originality (something that sounds fresh) o Aesthetic interest (overall artistic communication and effect) See the Grading Rubric. This rubric takes the principles I just indicated above. Parts must be written for the following -Trumpets 4 or 5 parts -Saxes A1, A2, T1, T2, B -Trombones/baritone, 4 parts -Rhythm Section -Piano, Drums, Guitar, Bass, -Percussion and drums -Strings-violin, cello Avoid an arrangement where everyone plays all the time. This results in a boring effect. Rubric for Band Arranging Rubric Grade Notation Transposition Interest Overall Level 4+ 92-100% Staff is appropriate and readable Dynamic, expression, style, tempo markings included and properly placed. Reduction to fit music to paper Instruments/voices All transpositions correct Clefs Correct Ranges & Keys Playable and Appropriate for instrument and level. Improvement Interesting partwriting and good voice-leading. Variety of textures and colors. Use of Key Change to create interest and contrast Balance between sections appropriate and melody and Creative and Original solution to the arranging problem. Appropriate composed intros, transitions, codas Directions for the assignment followed well

labeled through the Parts appropriately semester labeled and extracted. Improvement through the semester Level 4 80-91% Most of these items present. EX: Most Dynamic, expression, style, tempo markings included and properly placed. Some of these items present EX: Some Dynamic, expression, style, tempo markings included and properly placed. Few of these items present EX: Few Dynamic, expression, style, tempo markings included and properly placed. None of these items present EX: No effort made to do notation appropriately. Most of these items present EX: Most ranges are appropriate.

accompaniment scored well. Improvement through the semester -Transcription somewhat accurate Most of these items present EX: Most of the writing shows a variety of interesting texture and color

Arrangement is musically compelling Source copy included -An accurate Transcription Most of these items present EX: Most of the piece was creative and original

Level 3 70-79%

Some of these items present EX: Some ranges are appropriate.

Some of these items present EX: Some of the writing shows a variety of interesting texture and colour

Some of these items present EX: Some of the piece was creative and original

Level 2 60-69%

Few of these items present EX: Few ranges are appropriate.

Few of these items present EX: Most of the writing is boring.

Few of these items present EX: Little of the piece was creative and original

Level 1 50-59%

None of these items present EX: No ranges are appropriate.

None of these items present EX: No attempt was made to include interesting texture and colour

None of these items present EX: No creativity or originality shown. Arrangement was copied.