Advanced Composition and Arranging for School-Based Ensembles
Musical ensembles in K-12 public and private school settings often feature a wide range of instrumentation, unconventional vocal configurations, and great variation in student ability levels. As a result, musical arrangements and repertoire that is readily available for teachers to purchase does not apply to the real world of a school’s musical ensembles. Teachers are required to compose their own repertoire or to create new arrangements of existing pieces. In this course, students will advance their practical skills in composing and arranging music for a range of student ensemble contexts. Course activities and assignments will provide students with direct, hands-on experience with various tools in composition and arranging in order to meet student ensembles where they are and provide all students with meaningful and culturally relevant music experiences.