Aaron and Drew introduce themselves and answer a handful of questions from the community.

Show Notes

Intro Music: "Pistachio" by Drew Zaremba, recorded by the University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band

https://music.unt.edu/store/lab-2015

Ending Music: "Take Your Time" by Aaron Hedenstrom, recorded by the University of North Texas One O'Clock Lab Band

https://music.unt.edu/store/lab-2016

Index/Questions

Introductions (0:32-04:28)

Drew's Story (04:28-07:47)

Drew's site: http://drewzaremba.com/

Aaron's Story (07:47-12:46)

http://www.aaronhedenstrom.com/ 

Q and A (13:10) 

Question 1 (13:58)

• Paul Birk: When arranging, do you find it helpful to do a 3-line sketch of your ideas, designating lead lines and accompanimental figures within a form before actually scoring the arrangement?

• John Williams Scoring Session Indiana Jones

Question 2 (21:09)

• Justin Pierce: As an arranger, what are your favorite books/transcriptions/exercises to practice on piano?

• The Jazz Piano Book by Mark Levine

• http://www.shermusic.com/0961470151.php

• Billie Holiday - I Love You Porgy (Decca Records 1948)

• https://www.jwpepper.com/2104842.item

• https://global.oup.com/ushe/product/jazz-composition-and-arranging-in-the-digital-age-9780195381009?cc=us&lang=en&

http://www.michaelabene.com/

• Richard Sussman

• http://www.richardsussmanjazz.com/

Question 3 (26:10)

• Cole Dapprich: What is the best way to handle doubling in an arrangement, specifically in Finale 2012 or 2014? How do I switch a part to a double and then back within the same file?

• http://www.finalemusic.com/blog/instrument-doubling-with-finale-2012/

Question 4 (27:38)

• Toshi Clinch: How do you work out the price of a commission for a client?

• Gordon Goodwin: http://www.bigphatband.com/

Question 5 (36:05)

Toshi Clinch: When selling your own arrangements, how do you decide on the price?

• Legality of selling arrangements: http://ostrowesq.com/no-you-dont-own-your-arrangement-of-that-hit-song/

Question 6 (38:18)

Toshi Clinch: What tactics do you have when you have writer's block but still have to meet a deadline?

• Sharp-9 chord: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominant_seventh_sharp_ninth_chord

Question 7 (43:50)

Toshi Clinch: How often do you find yourself following general arranging rules when writing, and how often do you find yourself breaking away from those rules?

• Aleatoric Music: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleatoric_music

Question 8 (50:29)

Toshi Clinch: As a professional arranger, how often do you work on your own material vs. working on material for others?

• Drum and Bass music: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_and_bass

Question 9 (55:35)

Toshi Clinch: How do you go about finding arranging work and maintaining a consistent workload?

• Aaron Hedenstrom Orchestra: Aaron Hedenstrom Orchestra: A Father's Love

Question 10 (1:06:12)

Chris Sharpe: What factors do you take into consideration when making an instrumental arrangement of music originally written with text? Do you feel the need to compensate for the lack of text?

• Night and Day (Cole Porter): Night And Day - Cole Porter

• Ella Fitzgerald version: Ella Fitzgerald - But Not For Me

Question 11 (1:09:22)

Camille DeVore: What are your schematics for setting up an arranging workstation (with regards to gear)

• MIDI controller: https://www.sweetwater.com/c513--MIDI_Controllers

 Question 12 (1:15:00)

Scott Neary: I would love to know how you break into the world of commission writing, arranging, and breaking into the professional world beyond writing for your own projects

• See Question 8 at 55:35

Question 13 (1:15:18)

Jordan Coffing: I wanted to know how you communicate with clients who are either non-musicians or not very musically educated?

• Rich DeRosa: http://richderosa.com/

Question 14 (1:21:56)

Eddie Eby: I would like to know how you guys approach writing in a new style or for a new ensemble?

• Romantic-era Composers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Romantic-era_composers

 Question 15 (1:27:40)

David Rice: I'd like to see how you guys approach writing drum parts: what do you guys feel is a good balance between writing out hits and just using slashes?

• Drumset notation: http://www.timusic.net/debreved/jazz-notation-chords-drums/