Getting Started

Where and How Do I Start?

Picking a Piece

You're probably reading this section because you have a piece you really want to see performed. That's great! If you don't, or even if you do, consider the following before beginning an arrangement:

1. Is it memorable/recognizable?

2. Is it musically interesting? Can it be enjoyed by people who don't know the source material?

3. Is it musically feasible? Is it too hard to play? Is it possible with our instrumentation?

4. Is it too complex for you to be able to arrange it in a reasonable amount of time?

5. Most importantly: do you like/love it? Are you ready to spend 10-20 hours listening to the piece over and over again?

After you’ve decided on a piece, see whether you can find a high quality (320kbps is preferred) audio of the piece. Youtube videos aren't always high definition enough for you to pick out the details.

Transcription, Arrangement, or Medley?

Transcriptions are the most straightforward. Do you want to be faithful to the original? Then do a transcription. You just have to write down whatever notes you hear from the reference track, although even this is easier said than done! If this is your first time arranging, you might want to start here.

Arrangements give you a little more freedom, as you can add in some of your own twists and play around with the instrumentation. There's no hard and fast line that determines whether a score is an arrangement or a transcription.

Medleys string multiple pieces together. These are often difficult to pull off, as you have to transcribe/arrange several different songs, and you sometimes will have to come up with original transitions between pieces.