Learn how to arrange music in a variety of contemporary musical styles. Explore phrasing, instrumentation and a range of rhythms appropriate to contemporary rock, pop, country, hip-hop, disco, reggae, shuffle and Latin musical styles Apply conventional and creative techniques to developing melody, harmony, structure, and texture appropriate to your arrangement and use technology to produce scores suitable for working with other musicians.

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One page from lesson 5 is available to view:

• 5.5 Voice Leading

Syllabus
Lesson 1: Arranging fundamentals.

• Arranging fundamentals - Introduction
• The musical score
• The orchestral score
• The big band score
• The contemporary band score
• Getting underway
• Fundamentals
• Assignment 1

Lesson 2: Transposition.

• Transposition - Introduction
• Three golden rules for transposing music
• Transposing instruments
• Transposing instruments - Historical factors
• Transposing instruments - Practical factors
• Assignment 2

Lesson 3: Writing for Drum Kit.

• Writing for drum kit - Introduction
• The role of the drum kit
• Drum kit notation
• Writing considerations
• Let's examine some drum kit parts
• Assignment 3

Lesson 4: Writing for Bass Guitar.

• Writing for bass guitar - Introduction
• The role of the bass
• Writing considerations
• Let's examine some bass parts
• Writing a walking bass line in a jazz style
• Assignment 4

Lesson 5: Writing for Keyboards.

• Writing for keyboards - Introduction
• The role of the keyboard
• Keyboard notation
• Writing considerations
• Voice leading
• Let's examine some keyboard parts
• Assignment 5

Lesson 6: Writing for Guitar.

• Writing for guitar - Introduction
• The role of the guitar
• Guitar notation
• Writing considerations
• Let's examine some keyboard parts
• Assignment 6

Lesson 7: Writing for Saxophone.

• Writing for saxophone - Introduction
• The role of the saxophone
• Saxophone notation
• Writing considerations
• Let's examine some saxophone parts
• Assignment 7

Lesson 8: Getting Underway.

• Writing introductions and endings
• Reharmonising a melody
• Where do I begin?
• More words of wisdom
• Assignment 8

Lesson 9: On with the Show.

• Rhythmic possibilities
• Re-phrasing the melody
• Articulations, dynamics, and other notation devices
• Last word on articulations, dynamics, and other notation devices
• Assignment 9

Lesson 10: Bringing it All Together.

• Layout considerations
• Rehearsal figures
• Timesavers
• Where do we go from here?
• Assignment 10