Music 675

• Get creative and find the music that makes sense
• Audience appeal is great but so is player appeal
• My process is the same for writing athletic band charts
• Tone colors and ranges still apply!

• Tempo! Marching Band vs. Basketball
Band
• Complexity! Marching Band vs.
Basketball Band
• Endurance, Form, Repetition
• Make things interesting to play and interesting to listen to.

• 1 Flute/Picc part
• 1-2 Clarinet parts
• 2 Alto Sax parts
• 1 Tenor Sax part
• 2 Mellophone parts
• 3 Trumpet parts
• 2 - 3 Trombone parts
• 1 Euphonium part
• 1 Tuba part
• Full Drumline and Front Ensemble

• Opener, Production, Feature, or Closer
• Stands or SPITS?
• Basketball Band
• Purpose of the music itself….
• Keys - flat keys - Dark = Ab or Db,
Brighter = Bb or F

• Keys
• Assignment of Melody
• Form!!
• Specific accompaniment rhythms
• Numbers of harmonizations of the melody
• Chord progressions
• Location and creation of counterlines
• Doublings and Orchestration
• Length

• Typical Doubling(smaller band):
• Melody in trumpet 1, Clarinets in unison, flutes one octave higher
• Trumpet 2 harmonization doubled by alto sax
1 and mello 1
• Trumpet 3 harmonization doubled by alto 2 and mello 2
• All others on Bass/Rhyhm lines in octaves

• Doubling for weaker trumpet/stronger woodwind bands:
• Melody in trumpet 1 with flute and clarinet 1 and octave higher and clarinet 2 in unison
• Trumpet 2/3 not split
• Second harmonization of melody is played by all horns and saxes.
• All others on Bass

• Block Scoring System - average high school band - most common
• Trumpet 1 doubled one octave higher in flute and clarinet - clarinet 2 in unison
• Trumpet 2 doubled by mello 1
• Trumpet 3 doubled by mello 2
• Three independent trombone parts, doubled in alto saxes and tenor sax.
• An independent Bass line on tuba doubled at the octave by euphonium.

• Advanced/Filmore System
• Trumpet 1 doubled one octave higher in flute and alto in unison
• Trumpet 2 and 3 doubled one octave higher in clarinet 1 and 2, and alto sax 2, tenor and horns 1 and 2 in unison
• Trombones on 3 split parts
• Tuba doubled by Euphonium at the octave.

• Full Scoring System - Advanced, big bands
• 3 Trumpets in great range and undoubled
• Countermelody in flute, clarinet, and horn
• Trombones either split on melody or driving rhythmic line/ accomp
• Euph either double tuba at octave or plays horn line
• Tenor sax doubles third trombone or Tuba
• Altos either double trombones or strengthen counterline.

• 3 part chordal accompaniments are often more effective than sustained chords
• Your arrangement should have forward motion in these lines and groove without percussion.
• Accomp should be in the style of the melody and move when the melody does not.
• Think syncopated patterns that repeat in one or two bar patterns.
• Trombones work well for this purpose.

• Two Harmonizations are not always required
• Maybe state pure melody first, strong… then repeat with one harmonization.
• Reserve 3 part harmonizations of the melody for exciting moments in the tune.

• Can serve as tension and energy builders.
• You can create your original counterlines or use material from another tune.
• Counterlines move at a speed opposite to the melody and move against the melody
• Made up of chord tones not found in the melody
• Should make sense when played alone

• Closer? Make sure coda is longer that the introduction. Perhaps think the opposite for an opener.
• Intro slower, ending/coda fast and in your face
• Intros - make use and variation/segments of the main theme
• Repeating rhythmic figures could serve as building blocks for and intro as well.
• Ending ideas - block chords with massive percussion, counterline over a single melody note or tonic, Augmenting a segment of the theme

• I listen to a lot of music and study lots of scores.
• I sing what I want while writing. The band in my head is very good and super exciting
• I use the piano to sketch and I play trumpet or sing to develop counterlines.
• Always think about what is interesting and captivating.
• Your arrangements should have motion without percussion and should make sense from beginning to end.