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Assessment
Arranging classes, in combination with ear training, harmony and music technology courses, will provide you with a broad-based
musical vocabulary, important skills for your major studies, and a well-rounded musical background. Every entering student is
placed into one of the following Arranging courses based on the proficiencies, skills, and knowledge demonstrated on the
arranging section of the Entering Student Proficiency Assessment:
PW-111 Music Application and Theory
AR-111 Arranging 1
AR-112 Arranging 2
AR-201 Chord Scale Voicings for Arranging
For more writing and arranging information, also see the Glossary of Terms Used and Recommended Reading List.
AR-111 Arranging 1
Arranging 1 is intended to give students a practical understanding of concepts and techniques of writing for the rhythm section
with and without a lead-line instrument/voice in a variety of contemporary musical styles. The Arranging 1 content includes the
musical concepts of melody, rhythm, harmony, and form as applied to the principles and techniques of writing and arranging for
the rhythm section (drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, basic percussion) and a lead line in a solo instrument, two horns (trumpet, alto
or tenor saxophone), or voice. Focus is on the conceptualization process of combining individual components to create a musically
satisfying arrangement. Various contemporary musical styles and the musical concepts that comprise them are studied, including
writing from the "bottom up" (groove-driven) and "top down" (working with a melody in a lead instrument or voice). Writing
assignments incorporate combinations of acoustic, electronic, and/or MIDI instruments. Music notation by hand is also an
integral component.
integral component.
Textbooks:
Arranging 1 by Bob Doezema
Arranging 1 Supplemental Material Second Edition by Jay Kennedy, Donny Nolan, and Tommy Kamp
Music Notation by Mark McGrain
AR-112 Arranging 2
Arranging 2 provides a basic understanding of the craft of writing for small groups of wind instruments in combination with the
rhythm section. The course encompasses the study of the properties of trumpet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, trombone, and
baritone saxophone, and the writing/arranging processes of standard and spread voicings, approach techniques, melodic
embellishment, and guide tone backgrounds. Focus is on applying the writing processes to soli and background writing for two-,
three-, four-, and five-part combinations of these instruments. Music notation by hand is an important aspect of the course.
Textbooks:
Arranging 2 by Bob Freedman and Ted Pease
Arranging 1 by Bob Doezema
Arranging 1 Supplemental Material Second Edition by Jay Kennedy, Donny Nolan and Tommy Kamp
Music Notation by Mark McGrain.
Textbook:
Chord Scale Voicings for Arranging by Ted Pease and Ken Pullig
Ear Training 1
Development of basic ear training skills through singing and dictation studies. Study of songs, intervals, and exercises in the major
scale. Study of basic rhythm patterns.
Textbooks:
Ear Training Workbook 1
Ear Training 2
Development of basic ear training skills through singing and dictation studies. Study of diatonic materials including jazz standards,
bass lines, melodic sequence, intervals, triads, seventh chords, and common harmonic progressions. Rhythmic study will derive
from patterns occurring in classical and contemporary music.
Textbooks:
Ear Training Workbook 2
Ear Training 3
Ear training skills developed through singing and dictation drills. Selected chromatic syllables are presented through core melodic
motives, forming the basis of melodic reading, melodic dictation, and the study and recognition of common harmonic models.
Rhythm studies will be similarly presented through rhythmic core motives.
Textbooks:
Ear Training Workbook 3
Ear Training 4
Modal singing and dictation studies. Interval studies, two- and three-part dictation. Advanced chromatic studies.
Textbooks:
Ear Training Workbook 4
Harmony
Harmony classes, in combination with arranging, ear training, and music technology courses, comprise Berklee's core curriculum.
All students are required to take the four foundational harmony courses, as listed below under "Requirements," and will provide
you with a broad-based musical vocabulary, important skills for your major studies, and a well-rounded musical background. You'll
learn the fundamentals of music theory by examining and analyzing contemporary popular music.
During your initial week at college, you will take a music placement test called the Entering Student Proficiency Assessment, and
the results will determine the harmony course in which you will be placed.
The Harmony Department also offers a minor and several elective courses. See a full list of Harmony Department course
offerings.
For more information about Harmony resources, see the Glossary of Terms Used in Harmony and Recommended Reading List.
Entrance Requirements
All students are required to take harmony courses, but entering students are placed into one of the four harmony courses based
on the proficiencies, skills, and knowledge they demonstrate on the Entering Student Proficiency Assessment (ESPA).
You may earn advance placement beyond the first courseMusic Theory and Application (PW-111)by achieving a satisfactory
score on the Harmony and Arranging portions of the ESPA.
What the Program Gives You
1. The student will be literate in the fundamentals of contemporary music theory (note identification, intervals, chord spelling to the
13th, scale construction including (diatonic scales, modes, non-diatonic scales).
The English proficiency exam is not required for native English speakers.
The English proficiency exam is not required for native English speakers.