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The Music Stem / Courses / Arranging

Study harmony, form and production

Arranging

Score music for a small ensemble with clear choices of register, voicing, groove and density.

Before you start

Triads in root position and inversion, a steady sense of the beat, and some playing experience.

Start Arranging
Listen to a study from the first lesson: Register is a musical decision

The lessons

  1. Register is a musical decision. Choose where each instrument plays, high or low. Open
  2. Bass line and harmonic orientation. Write a bass line that makes the harmony clear. Open
  3. Spread voicings and voice economy. Spread chords across the group so each part moves as little as it needs to. Open
  4. Groove communication. Write parts that tell every player how the groove feels. Open
  5. Density and contrast with cues. Build and release density, and write cues the players can follow. Open
  6. Deliver an ensemble score. Prepare a finished score that a small group can play. Open