Musical Arranger

OFO No:

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Youtube clip of a Musical Arranger at work

What is a Musical Arranger?

The world of music offers a host of careers. Why not look at becoming a Musical Arranger.

Musical Arrangers write, arrange or create new music for bands, orchestras, singers, plays or films.

To begin a career in musical arranging, a person should have a strong musical background – knowing how to read and write music is a definite requirement.

For those arranging music for orchestras and bands, knowing how to play more than one instrument is necessary.

When working from an original piece of music, a Musical Arranger will add vocals, instrumentation, other melodies, and re-arranging parts like a DJ mashing different songs together.

Arrangers will also alter the original piece to achieve desired harmonization, tempo, and melodies. 

What does a Musical Arranger do?

• listens to tracks of different styles and genres
• composes music scores (written music compositions)
• adapts music for bands, orchestras, or singers to a different style than the original music
• experiments with different sounds, songs, and tempos

Are you … ?

• musically inclined?
• passionate about making music?
• a terrific listener?
• someone who plays an instrument or two or three?
• creative?
• a leader?
• ambitious?
• able to work one-on-one and with large groups of people?

How do I become a Musical Arranger?

Here are a few ideas:

• UNISA

Offers a 3 year programme for Bachelor of Musicology

• UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN

UCT South African College of Music offers Bachelor of Music (Composition)

• UNIVERSITY OF KWA-ZULU NATAL

Offers Bachelor of Music (Composition)

• UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND

TRAINING:

• CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
• Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
• To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education. 
• CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions. 

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER:  Composer … or … Musician

Is becoming a Musical Arranger the right career choice for me?