Unit 1 Arranging
Close Study Focus Creation
Discipline High School Ensembles: Music
Unit Focus
Students apply their knowledge of a song and style to create a new arrangement for a chamber ensemble (4‐6 musicians). The arrangements will apply melodies to various voices and creatively address accompaniment parts through variations in rhythms, harmonies, and countermelodies.
Essential Questions
- What does it mean to be an arranger?
- What is the difference between a verse and chorus?
- How can different instruments change the overall sound of a piece of music?
- Why is it important to have a vision when composing or arranging music?
- How can you use your skills as a musician to transcribe music?
- What makes the Chorus …show more content…
While listening to the song, students will have two separate cards labeled Verse & Chorus and when either section of the song is played, students will hold up the corresponding index card. This activity can be repeated until students are comfortable identifying verses and choruses.
Students will arrange a song of their choice by delving deeper into the song through an analysis of the piece. Students will need to identify the Key, Scale, Genre, Length of Verse and Chorus, Roman Numeral Analysis for Chords in order to create Harmony and Bass line, develop a rhythmic accompaniment, as well as assign instruments for their arrangement that will complement their overall vision for the song. This will be down through use of the Song Identification Chart, Chord Chart, use of keyboard instrument/personal instruments/voice, written drafts on staff paper and digital transcriptions through use of music composition software such as Finale. The final product will consist of a MP3 recording of the arrangement as well as a sheet music copy with parts and score. -Key