Music Arranging

Dennis Enns, B Mus, ARCT

Fall 2015 Thepianoguy63@gmail.com
3 credit hours 604 789 9004
Course Fees Thursday
1:15-2:30
Class Room
The mission of Columbia Bible College is to equip people for a life of
discipleship, ministry, and leadership in service to the church and community.

I. Course Description
A guided study course in arranging music for varied settings. Basic areas covered will be
musical styles, forms, and techniques for worship band, instrumental or choral arranging.
Although all these areas will be discussed and analyzed, the student will be required to focus on
worship band or choral/instrumental arrangement and produce a piece of significant merit as a
final project. Further topics may include orchestration for winds/ strings/brasses/percussion,
instrumental writing techniques and choral styles and voicing.
Prerequisite - Contemporary Music Theory III & Keyboard Lab II & Applied Music.

Objectives

By the end of this course, each student will:

1. to increase knowledge of music styles

2. to expand musical understanding, horizons and appreciation
3. to develop confidence in using theoretical knowledge and applying it in a practical setting.
4. to develop skills in arranging music for a church setting.

Upon satisfactory completion of this course, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of:
- Music styles: Gospel, Pop, Rock, Country, Folk, Latin, Celtic and Jazz
- Techniques for worship bands
- Instrumental and/or choral arranging
- Orchestration
- Instrumental writing techniques
- Choral styles and voicing
2. Demonstrate ability to:
- Arrange music in a variety of musical styles
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- Communicate arrangement to a choral or band setting

- Orchestrate music for a small instrumental section

II. Course Textbooks

NA

III. Course Requirements

1) Class attendance. 13 hours
2) Weekly Class Assignments... 26 hours
3) Midterm Exam... 2 hours
4) Final Exam. 2 hours
5) Final Project. 47 hours

Total Hours. 80-90 hours

Marks will be based on:

1. Weekly written assignments. Students are expected to spend an average of 2 hours per week
on assignment outside of class.
- Ongoing 20%

2. Midterm and Final Exams

- Midterm exam week.. 10%
- Final exam week. 20%

3. Final Project
The student will be expected to arrange and perform music of significant length and depth. The
musical arrangement should include elements that have been worked on through the semester. It
should demonstrate variety in style and good orchestrations. The student will be expected to
present the finished project in a worship setting and submit a videotape or audio tape of the
performance.
- Final exam week.... 50%

Mark Distribution:
Weekly Assignments 40% As assigned in class
Midterm Exam 10% Midterm exam week
Final Exam 20% Last lesson of semester
Project 30% As assigned in class
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Course Outline (subject to change)

September: Class 1 - Review of Contemporary Theory III

Class 2 - Instrumental and/or Choral Arranging Basics
Class 3 - Instrumental Writing Techniques
October: Class 4 - Orchestration
Class 5 - Choral Styles and Voicing
Class 6 - Musical Style: Pop, Rock
Class 7 - Musical Style: Country, Folk
Class 8 -
November: Class 9 - Musical Style: Gospel
Class 10 - Musical Style: Jazz
Class 11 -
Class 12 - Musical Style: Celtic
December Class 13 - Musical Style: Latin
Class 14 -

IV. Academic Policies

For all CBC Academic Policies please refer to the Academic Manual on the CBC website.

Students are expected to be informed about these policies, particularly the following:

Attendance Policy
Late Assignment Policy
Academic Integrity
Grading Grid

V. Special Instructions
- Only one unexcused absence is allowed which carried a 2% loss on student's semester grade.
After 2 absences, your letter grade will be reduced one step per absence (e.g. B- to C) and the
Registrar will be informed. After 3 unexcused absences the student will no longer be able to
pass the course and will receive a Withdrawn Failing mark but be able to continue the lessons as
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a audit.
- Students are responsible to advise the instructor about excused absences (max = ONE; e.g.
illness, athletics game, ministry team commitment or Academic Dean-approved field trip). For
any illness, the student should: contact the instructor at his/her office (telephone message at
CBC or email) the day of the absence. The instructor must be informed the day of the absence
for it to be considered as an excused absence. For games and other commitments the instructor
must be informed before the lesson date. It is the student's responsibility to be familiar with the
Class Participation Policy outlined in the Student Handbook.

VI. Selected Bibliography

As supplied by teacher.