Arranging
$11,200
Complete certificate tuition
(Plus Registration Fee $175)
The Master Certificate in Arranging features Berkleemusic’s most advanced and in-depth Arranging curriculum. You’ll build the strong foundation and gain the vital tools you’ll need to become an accomplished arranger, across a variety of genres, instruments, and styles.
Beginning with Arranging 1: Rhythm Section, you’ll learn how to write for the rhythm section (drums, bass, guitar, and keyboards) and create killer arrangements that really groove. This course directs you on everything you'll need to create an effective arrangement—including rhythm section notation, adaptation of the melody and chords, intro's and endings, articulations and dynamics, and how to create an emotional contour throughout the arrangement.
In Arranging: Small Ensemble and Horns, you’ll further develop your writing and arranging skills for smaller bands and larger ensembles and learn techniques that can be applied to both live instrumentation or sequenced/sampled sounds. You’ll explore the properties of the horn section—including the trumpet, trombone, and alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones—and study techniques and melodic embellishments that will give you a basic understanding of writing/arranging for these instruments.
Next, you’ll apply these foundational skills to the program’s third course, Arranging: Contemporary Styles. In this course, you'll learn to create and apply your own grooves and style mixes to your arrangements with the same techniques used by many successful contemporary artists and producers in a number of styles, including rock, pop, soul, R&B, Brazilian, Afro Cuban, funk, and hip-hop.
You’ll then move onto Arranging: Advanced Horn Writing, where you’ll learn more advanced arranging techniques for the rhythm section and horn section. You'll learn unison, 2, 3, 4, and 5-part writing, and study techniques for voicing chords, orchestration, articulations, and background lines. You'll also learn advanced topics of harmony, such as tension substitutions and lower interval limits, knowledge that you can use to create more expressive and captivating music for both live instrumentation or sequenced/sampled sounds.
You’ll conclude this certificate program with Arranging: Woodwinds and Strings, the most advanced arranging course offered by Berkleemusic. Throughout the course, you'll gain a true understanding of the sound and personality of woodwind and string instruments, exploring the fundamental properties of each instrument or group of instruments—its extreme range, practical or useable range, and inherent idiosyncrasies. You’ll also learn how to apply this information to actual songs, arrangements, and compositions—and in a variety of commercial music settings, such as television and film.
After completing the program’s core course work, you’ll choose three electives to steer your studies in your own direction. You’ll choose from courses covering a wide array of topics, including foundational theory, production, and songwriting. You’ll gain the flexibility and knowledge necessary to create dynamic arrangements and become the kind of musician you want to be.
Substitutions may be requested for electives. Please contact our Continuing Education Registrar at registrar@berkleemusic.com or call (617) 747-2146 to see if your request suits the overall academic requirements for your chosen program.
Required Courses
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Arranging 1: Rhythm Section
Suzanne Dean (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Essential learning for anyone interested in arranging music for a band, Arranging 1: Rhythm Section explores all aspects of writing and arranging for the rhythm section.
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Arranging: Small Ensemble and Horns
Jerry Gates (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Develop your writing and arranging skills for smaller bands and larger ensembles and learn techniques that can be applied to both live instrumentation or sequenced/sampled sounds.
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Arranging: Contemporary Styles
Dan Moretti (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Learn to create your own original grooves by analyzing, writing, sequencing and recording the rhythms and styles that have influenced western contemporary music.
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Arranging: Advanced Horn Writing
Jerry Gates (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Take your arranging abilities to the next level of development by studying more advanced techniques for voicing chords, orchestration, articulations, and background lines.
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Arranging: Woodwinds and Strings
Jerry Gates (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Gain a practical, real-world understanding of the sound and personality of woodwind and string instruments, and learn how to properly apply them to songs, arrangements, and compositions.
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+ 3 Elective Courses ↓
Recommended Electives
Please contact our Continuing Education Registrar to request elective substitutions.
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Film Scoring 101
Donald Wilkins (12 Weeks, 3 credits)
Create original music to accompany a visual medium by learning fundamental to more advanced film scoring techniques.
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Desktop Music Production
David Mash, Michael Bierylo (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Master the tools and techniques for producing great-sounding music at home…and create high quality recordings ready for CD or MP3!
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Getting Inside Harmony 2
Michael Rendish (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Take your harmonic development to the next level by gaining a solid footing in more advanced principles including melodic and harmonic tension, chord substitution, and chromatically altered chords.
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Music Theory 101
Paul Schmeling (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Get the musical foundation you need to take your skills to a higher level. Learn to read, write, really listen…and put theory into practice every day!
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Music Notation Using Finale
Jonathan Feist (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Create great-looking music quickly and easily with the powerful Finale music notation software, and learn techniques to maximize speed, control, and accuracy.
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Music Notation Using Sibelius
Tom Rudolph (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Learn to create lead sheets, choral and instrumental scores, drum maps and guitar notation, and explore many other ways to use Sibelius for your own personal and professional needs.
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Orchestration 1
Ben Newhouse (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Learn to write and apply traditional orchestration techniques to both sampled performances and live orchestral performances.
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Contemporary Vocal Arranging
Bill Elliott, Sharon Broadley-Martin (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Master the concepts of vocal writing and arranging — from basic to more advanced—and learn to write vocal charts in a number of contemporary styles, including jazz, folk, pop, and R&B.
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Jazz Arranging
Brian Lewis (12 weeks, 3 credits)
Become a more versatile and sought-after jazz arranger. Jazz Arranging explores techniques that will allow you to write effective jazz arrangements for all types of instrumental combinations, from bop and hard-bop, to big band jazz ensembles.
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Berklee College of Music is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
