This course develops the student's ability to formulate and develop their own composing and arranging ideas, informed by historical, contemporary and stylistic concepts and practice.  This is achieved by listening, and analyzing historical and contemporary arranging and composition techniques and then applying them in other contexts. In considering past and present arranging and composition musical practice, the student is introduced to issues of range, transposition, register, blending, 2 and 4 horn-harmonised writing and large combo score and part writing.

This course fosters: ability to analyse, criticise, evaluate and interpret music from score, sound and other sources; an understanding of the methodologies used in arranging for various ensembles; research skills; problem solving and critical reasoning; an open-minded attitude to musical invention; a sensitivity to  conceptual issues involved in the musical process; and ability to meet practical requirements and deadlines.

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

Demonstrate competence with arranging and composition concepts including -

1. ranges
2. register
3. piano voicings
4. rhythm section writing
5. small group concepts
6. horn writing
7. 4 horn-harmonised writing
8. large combo score and part production

• 12 weekly music arrangement assignments (60%, each focusing on one or two specific learning  outcomes)
• one major music score (40%, learning outcomes 1-8).

One 3-hour workshop per week.

Departmental consent.

Good familiarity with the essentials of jazz arranging and composition, such as acquired through the completion of MUSM1230 and MUSM1231 Jazz Harmony, arranging and composition 1 and 2