Contemporary Writing & Production Courses

This course examines the concepts and techniques of writing flamenco music, which is a vital and growing genre in contemporary music. The course covers the origins of the various styles of flamenco, their individual influences, primary composers of flamenco, overview of popular lyrics, and common composition and arranging techniques in flamenco styles. Students will investigate the various aspects of writing flamenco music: use of improvised structure; binary, ternary, and polyrhythm rhythmic styles; traditional harmonic approaches and concepts; melodic approaches; and the use of microtones. A variety of compositions, arrangements, and orchestrations will be analyzed, including examples of contemporary compositions and new stylistic variations in flamenco that feature the use of electronics and flamenco without guitar. Students will create compositions and/or arrangements for a flamenco music ensemble.

A study of the flute, clarinet, and double reed families based on intensive listening, transcription, live demonstration, and composition. Compositions will include: visual imagery, storytelling, non-Western based concepts and forms, sound exchange, layering sound, and techniques for composition that include improvisation.

Alternative approaches and concepts to writing that can be used in various aspects of songwriting, arranging, and composing for contemporary broadcast media, such as film and TV scores, that will supplement other writing approaches. Using compositional concepts pioneered by George Tremblay and Jack Smalley, the course explores writing techniques based on the use of the 12-tone row concept and the process of extracting consonant melodic components from the rows that are then applied to writing for contemporary musical styles and forms and commercial clients. Some writing projects will be realized through sequencing and live performance.

Study of orchestration in musical theater and the role of the orchestra in a theater piece. Students will arrange and orchestrate songs with a focus on supporting a vocalist, telling the story, and creating a theatrical sound. The class will explore how orchestration can be used as a dramatic element to establish a period, create a mood, and support the narrative. Written projects focus on typical instruments and ensembles used in various theatrical situations. Listening will include songs from a wide variety of musical theater recordings, with examples of piano scores and individual parts from shows.

Students will learn to utilize digital audio workstations (DAWs) to create arrangements of either original or existing musical elements. This course focuses on the creative use of technology in music production. Topics covered include signal flow of MIDI and audio signal within the DAW sound processing plugins, choosing appropriate sounds and combining elements from software synthesizers, alternate approaches to quantizing and refining rhythmic grooves, hybrid production techniques (audio and MIDI), use of the DAW for scoring to picture, and basic synthesis techniques. In addition to having access to the Technology Labs and Production Suites to complete coursework, contemporary writing and production students are expected to have Logic Pro, Pro Tools, and the CWP Major Bundle when taking this course.

Designed to deepen students' understanding of writing for brass ensembles, the course focuses on developing students' compositional and orchestration skills while incorporating extended techniques for brass instruments. Special emphasis is placed on writing for brass quintet, the French horn section, small brass section combinations, and larger brass ensembles in the context of various contemporary music styles. Students will analyze melodic, harmonic, rhythmic, dynamics, voicing, and orchestration choices to create original compositions for brass. Through practical exercises, analysis of contemporary repertory, and writing projects, students will develop their ability to create music that showcases the unique qualities of brass instruments.

This course explores the techniques and the creative options of writing for string ensemble and woodwinds in a variety of styles and combinations. Students learn the necessary instrumentation and orchestration techniques for writing for string quintet and woodwinds, with the addition of different ethnic string and wind instruments from around the world. Content also includes: notation, textures, alternate techniques, solo, and ensemble writing, and principles of hybrid production techniques for creatively combining live players and sound libraries. Composition and arranging techniques such as theme and form development are also covered, with specific reference to the strings and woodwind instrument ensemble.

Emphasis on writing and production techniques that apply specifically to recording situations in various contemporary music settings. This course focuses on the role of the writer, producer, and engineer in the recording studio, the leadership skills of the writer/producer, the business of music production, and current recording techniques.

This course provides an opportunity for musical theater arrangers to work in a real-world situation, orchestrating songs for live performance. Student orchestrators will collaborate with student songwriters and guest artists from the musical theatre industry, working together to create arrangements in a variety of styles for staged reading of original musical theater works for live pit orchestra. Orchestrators will work with the songwriters, as well as the music director and a live band, throughout the workshop, rehearsal process, and live performance. The course culminates in arrangements used in live shows for Berklee's Musical Theater program.