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 25 or 6 to 4
As recorded by Chicago / arr. Mike Story
The innovative music from the jazz/rock group Chicago is as fresh and exciting today as it was when it was first released. Mike Story has crafted a driving arrangement of one of their ... more
Grade 2 (00-36464)...$45.00  |
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 California Gurls
As recorded by Katy Perry / arr. Doug Adams
Not to be confused with the Beach Boys classic, this hot chart is the multi-week #1 mega hit by Katy Perry from the summer of 2010. Strong block scoring and... more
Grade 2 (00-36457)...$45.00 |
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7 Tips for Choosing Effective Arrangements
Michael Story
Alfred Author
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Each year, band directors are inundated with literally hundreds of new publications vying for a spot in their music libraries. To make an intelligent decision on which compositions or arrangements are suitable for their bands, the director must have a set of criteria as a guide. Although almost all music has some educational value, here are some guidelines in choosing the most appropriate music for your ensemble:
1. Difficulty Level - Will the piece be too hard or too easy for your group? Students will become bored with music that is too easy, and may become discouraged with music that is too difficult. Is the piece consistent with the ranges and technical abilities of your ensemble? Will ALL students be challenged by the music (not just your Flutes, 1st Clarinets, and 1st Trumpets)?
2. Quality - Are ALL the parts (not just the melody) interesting, musical, idiomatic, and written in a comfortable range for your students? Has the composer or arranger chosen an appropriate instrument or section to play the melody? Do the interior parts, countermelodies, and bass lines make musical sense? Avoiding parallel fifths may be a thing of the past, but good voice leading is still essential. Is the piece in the “right” key for the melody and accompanying parts?
3. Form - Does the piece achieve a balance of REPETITION and CONTRAST? For example, the more repetitious the form, the more varied the orchestration should be, and vice versa. Is the introduction interesting and does it set the “mood” of the piece? Is the ending conclusive and satisfying?
4. Originality - Is the piece unique, original, and well planned out, avoiding cliches and “formulaic” writing?
There's MORE! Click here to read the full article. |
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Shorties #17: Perfect for the Stands!
