

If they’re cautious or scrupulous about copyright-or client confidentiality-you might not be able to find any examples on their website.

#Musical arranger how to
Be clear in your mind what the form of your finished product will be, in order to evaluate your discoveries against your specific needs.įamiliarity with Copyright Issues: Has your arranger ever obtained a license in the form of Permission to Arrange for any work? Does he or she understand the potential liability that can be incurred from a failure to properly license a work for a competitive show? Find an ally who understands how to keep your show protected from the ever-growing likelihood of copyright litigation or prosecution.Įxample Work: Most arrangers will be able to provide examples of their work, or a reel of some kind. Methods and costs vary widely, depending on whether there are real players hired in the making of the track.

If you’re planning to perform to track, find an arranger experienced as a producer. Look for range of stylistic familiarity to avoid hooking up with a musician of limited scope, unless your show is of a specific genre.
#Musical arranger professional
Résumé: What about work experience? Has your prospect worked in shows, played in pits, done Broadway? Worked as a performer at high professional levels? Been arranging for any length of time? What about stylistic variety? Is your arranger a diehard rock-n-roller, or is there also orchestral work in his or her background?Īlthough it may seem desirable to find a winning competitive show in an arranger’s résumé, that item alone will not necessarily speak to the breadth or stylistic flexibility required to write a diverse, exciting, stylistically broad show. Arrangers do have professional credentials, hopefully documented on their websites, but they are not regulated by any authority, and they are not rated by any criteria except your own judgment. How do the arranger’s customers feel about her work? Is he accommodating, timely, conscientious, talented and skilled? Given that arranging is not a regulated or licensed profession, the perception of risk might be greater than, say, for a doctor or lawyer, who need to show evidence of professional credentials in order to work. Reviews and recommendations: Given the bespoke nature of arranging work, one of the most important things to look for is reviews and customer feedback. Given that anybody can put anything up on the internet, and that there is a really wide range of competence, experience, and price range represented, finding the mix that’s right for you takes evaluation of several criteria. You can come up with pages of results for search terms like “find a music arranger,” “show choir arrangers,” or other terms, but then it’s up to you to evaluate your results. Google is a powerful tool, but it gets you only part of the way. Additionally, passion for the subject is very powerful look for indications that the arranger loves what he or she does. Although, as Igor Stravinsky said, “Music is work to be done.” Knowing not only what the work is, but also having taste and fluency in making musical choices, comes from talent. Composition students and faculty might be able to step up to demands of the project, but it should be noted that experience, particularly professional experience (and trips around the sun!) are likely to generate stronger instincts, musical knowledge, and the “show sense” that comes only with time. Music faculty or staff at your institution is another possible resource, or source of recommendation. Although word of mouth and reputation are traditional means of discovery, if you can’t get a name or referral, that pathway won’t get you anywhere. Some directors like to preserve their access and priority with their arrangers, consequently being reluctant to recommend them. In the realm of show choir competition, good arrangers are particularly valuable, given the importance of their work to the success of your competitive show.

In any case, for your project’s immediate need or for a new ongoing creative partnership, you need to find an arranger that’s the right fit for your group. Maybe you do not have one yet, or your arranger has become unavailable arrangers can get busy, backed up, or ensconced in large projects with looming deadlines. If you've got a good one and things are going well, then you've got a valuable asset. Finding a suitable arranger can be a challenge.
