WMUS 525 Advanced Contemporary Arranging Techniques for Worship

There is a growing need for worship leaders and pastors of worship to write and arrange songs strategically for the unique needs of their congregations. These worship arrangers need an understanding of the principles of arranging as well as significant “hands on” experience in contemporary worship music styles, including vocal, choral, and instrumental groups. These creative arrangers need to write for large and small ensemble groups.

Readings and lecture presentations

No details available.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus, Student Expectations, and Introduction to Biblical Worldview training, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. Each initial thread must be at least 400 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge by referring to course materials. No formal citations are required. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 250 words and offer substantive, constructive ideas to the discussion.

Song Mapping Assignment

Song mapping is useful for learning the big picture of how songs are arranged and for planning arrangements by thinking conceptually before the student writes the first note of his/her arrangement. For this assignment, the student will analyze one song using the song mapping technique and then arrange a song of his/her choice using the song mapping technique. The student will submit a Word document or PDF for each song by completing the song map template provided. 

Arranging a Rhythm Section with Vocals Assignment

This assignment allows the student to show the level of his/her understanding and gives the opportunity to create a rhythm section chart that could be used at a church with a full rhythm section. The student will use Dorico software to create the multi-instrument arrangement in the chosen genre (Rock/Modern, Folk/Country, R&B/Gospel).

Song Mapping Your Rhythm Chart with Vocals Assignment

For this assignment, the student will create a song map for the rhythm section chart song he/she arranged, briefly describing what each vocal and instrument is doing. The song form should follow that of the rhythm section chart he/she created. The student will submit a Word document or PDF of the completed song map using the template provided. 

Amazing Grace Reharmonization Rhythm Section Assignment

This assignment allows the student to show the level of his/her understanding and gives the opportunity to reharmonize “Amazing Grace” and create a rhythm section chart that could be used at his/her church or a church with a full rhythm section. Using Dorico software, the student will create a reharmonized version of Amazing Grace in the chosen genre (Rock/modern, Folk/Country, R&B/Gospel). The song must follow the requirements for the number of sections and instrumentation.

Choir Arrangement Assignment

This assignment allows the student to show the level of his/her understanding and gives the opportunity to arrange a 4-part or more choir arrangement that could be used at a church. Using Dorico software, the student will create an arrangement in the chosen genre (list provided), following the vocal, instrumentation, and song section requirements.

A Cappella Arrangement Assignment

The a cappella style of writing, as taught in the lesson from the module: week this assignment appears in, is filled with left hand (tenor/bass) arpeggiations of chords and other methods of accompaniment. This assignment allows the student to explore and demonstrate his/her understanding of this principle. The a cappella style of arranging continues to be popular as illustrated by the Pentatonix version of “Mary Did You Know.” This is an important genre of vocal writing and one the student will want to experiment with through this assignment. For this assignment, the student will write an a cappella arrangement in Dorico of any song/hymn of his/her choosing.

Rescore You Are Good Assignment

In this assignment, the student will practice taking a worship song and adding orchestration to it. This may be useful for the student if he/she serves in a church or if he/she works with a school group, band, etc. and wants to add additional instruments. It is fun to add these additional colors to the song, and the student wants to be creative as he/she writes these parts. This assignment will help the student continue to gain confidence and think like an arranger. Using the provided Rescore You Are Good arrangement by Don Marsh as a model, the student will rescore the woodwinds, brass, and strings sections of measures 1-36 of the song “You Are Good” using Dorico software.

Hallelujah Chorus Assignment

Although this arranging course is primarily directed toward contemporary styles, we have determined that there is a consistent demand within the church or secular community to adapt classical iconic selections like Messiah. The assignment allows the student to demonstrate his/her understanding of the traditional/classical approach to scoring and allows him/her to practice developing this useful skill. Using the provided Whaley/Marsh excerpted orchestration of “Hallelujah Chorus” to complete the assignment, the student will delete the brass parts of the orchestration within Dorico and write his/her own original parts to the piece. 

Final Project Assignment

Using Dorico, the student will create a full-length arrangement of a worship song, hymn, or original song (with approval of the instructor). The song should include appropriate vocal, rhythm, and orchestral parts. The arrangement will be at least 36-40 measures in length with orchestral accompaniment. There will be a choice of style; the student can either choose a worship (or original) song with 3-part vocals and sweetening orchestration or a hymn (or original song) with 4-part vocals and symphonic orchestration.