Music Arrangement Course

Lesson 1 • What Arrangers Actually Do

Defines arrangement versus composition and orchestration, establishing the arranger's creative scope. Grounds all subsequent chapters in a shared professional framework.

Lesson 2 • Listening Like an Arranger

Develops analytical listening skills by deconstructing professional recordings into arrangement layers. Trains the ear to identify decisions that will be practiced throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Reading and Writing Lead Sheets

Teaches chord symbol notation, melody notation, and lyric placement on a lead sheet. Lead sheets are the primary communication tool between arrangers and performers.

Lesson 1 • Diatonic Harmony in Arrangement

Applies diatonic chord functions to arrangement decisions such as substitution and reharmonisation. Connects basic theory to practical voicing choices made in real arrangements.

Lesson 2 • Extended and Altered Chords

Introduces 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths plus altered tensions for jazz, pop, and film contexts. Expands the harmonic palette students draw from in all subsequent arrangement work.

Lesson 3 • Harmonic Rhythm and Pacing

Examines how the rate of chord change shapes energy and momentum in an arrangement. Students adjust harmonic rhythm to match the emotional arc of a piece.

Lesson 4 • Reharmonisation Techniques

Teaches tritone substitution, secondary dominants, and chromatic approach chords to refresh familiar melodies. Students reharmonise a given melody using at least three distinct techniques.

Lesson 1 • Groove Anatomy by Genre

Analyses the rhythmic DNA of funk, rock, jazz, Latin, and R&B grooves through transcription. Students identify genre-defining rhythmic patterns they can apply in their own arrangements.

Lesson 2 • Syncopation and Rhythmic Tension

Explores syncopation, anticipations, and rhythmic displacement as expressive arrangement tools. Students use rhythmic tension and release to shape the emotional contour of a section.

Lesson 3 • Bass Line Construction

Teaches melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic considerations for writing effective bass lines. Students compose bass lines that define the harmonic foundation and reinforce the groove.

Lesson 4 • Rhythm Section Roles

Defines the distinct rhythmic functions of drums, bass, guitar, and keys within an arrangement. Establishes how each instrument contributes to the collective groove without clashing.

Lesson 1 • Imitation and Canon Techniques

Explores imitative entries, canons, and fugal devices adapted for modern arrangement contexts. Students write a short imitative passage for two or more melodic instruments.

Lesson 2 • Melodic Development Techniques

Covers sequence, inversion, augmentation, and fragmentation as tools for developing a melodic idea. Students transform a simple melody into varied statements across an arrangement.

Lesson 3 • Harmonising a Melody

Teaches block harmony, drop-2, and drop-3 voicings for harmonising melodies in multiple parts. Students harmonise a given melody in four voices using smooth voice leading.

Lesson 4 • Two-Voice Counterpoint Basics

Introduces first- through third-species counterpoint as a foundation for polyphonic arrangement writing. Students apply species rules to create clean two-voice textures in their arrangements.

Lesson 1 • Writing for Rhythm Section

Focuses on idiomatic writing for piano, guitar, bass, and drums as a coordinated unit. Students write a complete rhythm section chart that locks rhythmically and harmonically.

Lesson 2 • Blend, Balance, and Doubling

Teaches how instrument combinations affect blend and how doubling reinforces or colours a line. Students choose doublings that enhance the arrangement without muddying the texture.

Lesson 3 • Instrument Ranges and Transpositions

Covers written and sounding ranges, transpositions, and idiomatic registers for common ensemble instruments. Prevents notation errors and ensures parts are playable by real performers.

Lesson 4 • Horn Section Writing

Covers voicing, articulation, and rhythmic unison writing for trumpet, trombone, and saxophone sections. Students write a four-bar horn soli using idiomatic jazz and pop techniques.

Lesson 1 • Intro, Outro, and Vamp Design

Covers techniques for writing compelling introductions, endings, and vamps that frame the arrangement. Students write intros and outros that establish and resolve the arrangement's identity.

Lesson 2 • Transitions and Modulations

Teaches pivot chord, direct, and chromatic modulation techniques for smooth or dramatic key changes. Students insert modulations into an existing arrangement to heighten emotional impact.

Lesson 3 • Building and Releasing Energy

Explores orchestration density, register, and dynamics as tools for shaping the arrangement's energy arc. Students map energy levels across a full arrangement and revise for maximum impact.

Lesson 4 • Common Song Forms Analysed

Examines verse-chorus, AABA, through-composed, and rondo forms as structural templates for arrangers. Students identify the form of professional recordings and map their arrangement decisions.

Lesson 1 • Jazz Arrangement Conventions

Covers big band voicing, soli writing, and jazz form conventions including head-solos-head structure. Students arrange a jazz standard for a small combo using idiomatic jazz techniques.

Lesson 2 • Pop and Contemporary Arrangement

Examines production-oriented pop arrangement including layering, hooks, and sonic space management. Students arrange a pop song with attention to frequency balance and hook placement.

Lesson 3 • R&B, Soul, and Funk Styles

Analyses the rhythmic, harmonic, and textural hallmarks of R&B, soul, and funk arrangement traditions. Students write a funk arrangement featuring a tight rhythm section and horn punches.

Lesson 4 • Film and Media Scoring Basics

Introduces spotting, hit points, and underscore writing as arrangement tasks specific to visual media. Students write a short underscore cue timed to a picture lock using arrangement tools.

Lesson 1 • Portfolio Presentation and Critique

Students present their completed arrangements for professional critique, articulating their creative decisions. Builds communication skills essential for working with directors, producers, and performers.

Lesson 2 • Project Planning and Brief Analysis

Teaches students to analyse a creative brief, define instrumentation, and build an arrangement map before writing. Connects all prior planning tools to a real-world professional workflow.

Lesson 3 • Drafting and Iterating the Score

Guides students through a structured drafting process including sketch, full score, and revision stages. Students apply feedback loops to improve harmonic, rhythmic, and textural decisions.

Lesson 4 • Mock Rehearsal and Score Revision

Simulates a rehearsal session where students identify and fix notation errors, balance issues, and playability problems. Develops the professional skill of revising a score under real performance conditions.