An Aranger

An Arranger

- job description

An Arranger reworks an existing musical composition for a live performance or studio recording, adapting the instrumentation, vocals, and harmonic, rhythmic, and melodic elements to create a new version of a song or musical composition.

They take an existing melody and provide variation by adding to or detracting from parts of the music.

Arrangers have a lot of creative freedom to express themselves in writing arrangements. They might decide to use new chords to support the melody, increase or minimize the instrumentation, adapt for a completely different style or instrumental setting, change the tempo or meter, change the key, add a new intro or ending, or add vocal harmonies. An Arranger can have as much influence on the final version or a piece as the original Songwriter, Composer, or Producer.

- duties (обов’язки)

The duty of arrangers is to write original new adaptations of existing works, to rework and adapt existing compositions by changing instrumentation, adding orchestration, and changing harmony, tempo, and musical style or genre.

- required skills (необхідні навички)

They need a complete understanding of music theory, they should be able to read and write music quickly and easily and have impressive leadership abilities.

Arrangers must have a deep and thorough understanding of a variety of musical styles. They should be able to use Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) and know how to access music and software libraries and collections. Also they should understand how harmony, melody, and rhythm work together to create beautiful music in all kinds of musical settings.

- education

Most (if not all) Arrangers complete some program of formal music training to learn the skills which they need. This might include earning a college degree or diploma from a university or conservatory program. For example, choral conductors, composers and instrumentalists most often become arrangers. And this is due to the fact that most often instrumentalists and choral conductors make arrangements for their groups or bands that they lead.

- places of work

Arrangers are employed in the live music and recording industry, as well as in film, musical theater, radio, and TV. They may work as specialists in music preparation or as music editors. Or they may work with own bands and do arrange for this bands. It’s common to see musicians working in various segments of the music industry using their skills as Music Arrangers.

- pros and cons

pros:

• it's a good part-time or freelance job;
• completely creative work;

cons:

• there is no stability, as the writing of the work depends on mood of the arranger;

• as I already said, most often arrangers are those who have their own bands that they lead, so there is no additional payment for arranging;

• if you work in a government job, arranging is usually considered a professional skill rather than a separate profession.