MCCCD Program Description

Popular Music Orchestration and Arranging

Course: MTC181

First Term: 2021 Spring

Lecture 3.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 3.0 Load
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S- Standard

Description: Basic orchestration and arranging techniques as used in popular music genres including jazz, pop, and rock music for vocal and instrumental music performance ensembles. Idiomatic uses of harmony, melodic rhythm, voicing, tonal color and notation.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Construct all chord qualities including triads, seventh, and ninth chords. (I) 2. Transpose from concert pitch for all woodwind, brass and rhythm section instruments. (II) 3. Construct logical voicing for like instrument combinations and mixed combinations. (III) 4. Reconstruct melodic rhythm of a given melody. (IV) 5. Demonstrate ability to reharmonize a melody. (V) 6. Construct three-part voicing. (VI) 7. Construct four-part voicing from like instruments and mixed instrument combinations. (VII) 8. Arrange rhythm parts for piano, guitar, bass and drums. (VIII) 9. Evaluate and design introduction, melody, development and recapitulation of form. (IX) 10. Write arrangements for two ensembles. (X)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Review of Idiomatic harmony A. Construction of all chords including triads, sevenths, and ninth chords B. Common chord progressions D. Common chromatic chords E. Common chord substitutions F. Common modulations II. Instrument ranges, transpositions and timbre A. Voice 1. Soprano 2. Alto 3. Tenor 4. Bass B. Woodwinds 1. Flute 2. Oboe 3. Clarinet 4. Saxophone 5. Bassoon C. Brass 1. Trumpet 2. Horn 4. Trombone 5. Tuba F. Rhythm section 1. Piano 2. Guitar 3. Bass 4. Drums and Percussion III. Instrument combinations A. Families 1. Voice 2. Woodwinds 3. Brass 4. Rhythm Section B. Mixed Combinations IV. Melodic rhythm A. Altering Melodic Rhythm B. Counter Melody V. Harmonization of melody A. Voice Leading B. Resolution C. Color D. Bass Lines E. Harmonization of Passing Tones VI. Three part voicing techniques A. Balance B. Variety C. Weight of Sound D. Open, Close and Octaves VII. Four part voicing techniques A. Balance B. Variety C. Weight of Sound D. Open, Close and Octaves E. Voicing considerations for similar instruments F. Voicing considerations for mixed instruments VIII. Writing rhythm section parts A. Piano B. Guitar C. Bass D. Drums IX. Form A. Introduction B. Melody/Verse C. Chorus D. Bridge E. Coda X. Arrangement for three ensembles A. Vocal Ensemble B. Mixed Woodwind and Brass Ensemble C. Mixed Ensemble with rhythm section

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: May 26, 2020

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.