Learn how to write, record, and produce for the rhythm section (drums, percussion, bass, guitar, keyboards, and melody) — no previous DAW experience necessary. Some of the styles covered include rock, pop, soul, R&B, Brazilian, Afro Cuban, funk, and hip-hop. During this process, you will increase your style, vocabulary. and performance skills, while learning a bit of background history, too. These styles are also essential learning for producers and instrumentalists interested in songwriting and composing music for soundtracks, jingles, music beds, and film work. Short 4-8 measure examples are produced weekly with a midterm and final project. By the end of this music arrangement course, you will have a greater knowledge of styles, including scoring, production skills, and creative techniques that can be used to duplicate or combine styles. You will build an impressive portfolio of recordings and arrangements that will enhance your songwriting and production library and impress potential clients.

By the end of this course, you will:

• Understand contemporary styles and their applications in today’s music world
• Recognize style influences and create your own grooves using a root approach
• Recognize the production approaches that define these styles
• Expand your musical language stylistically through leaning identifiable rhythms

Syllabus

Lesson 1 The Great Rhythm Sections

Lesson 2 Pop/Rock

Lesson 3 Brazilian, Part 1: Samba and Bossa

Lesson 4 Brazilian, Part 2: Partido Alto, Baião, and Hybrid Grooves

Lesson 5 Afro-Cuban, Part 1

Lesson 6 Afro-Cuban, Part 2

Lesson 7 Soul

Lesson 8 Motown

Lesson 9 James Brown

Lesson 10 70’s and 80’s Funk

Lesson 11 Hip-Hop and Related Styles

Lesson 12 Your Final Mix

Requirements

Prerequisites

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Required Textbook

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Software Requirements

• Finale (full version), Sibelius (full version) or MuseScoreMost assignments will require you to write, score, and record short four to eighth bar grooves in different styles. For each assignment, you will submit both the score and a recording of your groove. Your score must either be created using Finale, Sibelius, or MuseScore which must then be saved as a PDF file. For your recording, you must supply an MP3 file, whether you choose to record your band playing or sequence the groove using music production software.

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Hardware Requirements

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General Course Requirements

Below are the minimum requirements to access the course environment and participate in live chats. Please make sure to also check the Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements section above, and ensure your computer meets or exceeds the minimum system requirements for all software needed for your course.

Mac Users

• OS X 10.10 Yosemite or higher

PC Users

• Windows 7 or higher

All Users

• Latest version of Google Chrome
• Zoom meeting software (available in the course when joining your first chat)
• Webcam
• Speakers or headphones
• External or internal Microphone
• Broadband Internet connection

Instructors

Dan Moretti

Author & Instructor

Dan Moretti is an American Saxophonist, Recording Artist, Composer, Producer and Educator. He has been on the faculty at Berklee College of Music in Boston since 1996 and currently is holding a full timeposition as Professor intheCWP (Contemporary Writing and Production)department. He was given the school’s “CurriculumDevelopment Award” for his popular on-campus course “Groove Writing”. At Berklee Online the course is called “Arranging Contemporary Styles.” In 2008, his book “Producing and Mixing Contemporary Jazz”was released on Hal Leonard-Berklee Press. In 2010 Dan collaborated with Matthew Nichol and Oscar Stagnaro on the book “Essential Grooves”for Sher Music, which is required for Arranging Contemporary Styles.

Dan has 18 recordings released worldwide. His newest “Invoke” is on the label Dodicliune. From 2000 until the present, Dan has also been active in Europe and America performing his music at festivals and presenting seminars in Italy, Turkey, England, Belgium, Holland, France, Switzerland, Ireland, Africa, Ecuador and Gibraltar as-well-as being a sideman with artists like Nile Rodgers and Chic. Some of the performers he played with are Robert Plant, Stevie Nicks, Chaka Khan, Kid Rock, George Duke, Solomon Burke, and Steve Winwood, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Robert Plant, Kid Rock, Cornell Dupree, Jerry Jemmott, The Temptations, Mike Stern, Omar Hakim, Jimmy Cobb, Dave Samuels, Dave Liebman, Marvin Stamm, Nat Adderly, and The Crusaders

What’s Next?

When taken for credit, Arranging: Contemporary Styles can be applied towards these associated programs:

Associated Certificate Programs

• General Music Studies Professional Certificate
• General Music Studies Advanced Professional Certificate
• Arranging Professional Certificate
• Writing and Producing Music Advanced Professional Certificate
• Orchestration for Film and TV Advanced Professional Certificate

Associated Degree Majors

• Bachelor’s Degree in Music Production
• Bachelor’s Degree in Music Business
• Bachelor’s Degree in Electronic Music Production and Sound Design
• Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Music Studies (Create Your Own Major)
• Bachelor’s Degree in Songwriting