Beginning Big Band Arranging Techniques - Summer 2025

Jamey Simmons, Instructor

www.jameysimmons.com

931 575 1429     James.Simmons@mtsu.edu

Materials – Instrumental Jazz Arranging, by John Wilson and Mike Tomaro, and materials provided by instructor.

Every Monday in July, 7 – 8:30 p.m. CST

Cost - $200

Prerequisites – Students should have a fair grasp of jazz rhythm, and chord/scale theory.  For study, see the Mark Levine Jazz Theory Book.

Goals for the course

-          Produce a clearly written, artistic, and personally expressive sections of an arrangement of a blues or jazz standard for standard jazz ensemble (5,4,4,4). We will not have enough time to score an entire arrangement, but aim to give you the ability to study further.

-          Perform midi mock-ups of arrangement ideas for your class peers, and perform your arrangement mock-ups online

-          Use melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic techniques discussed for saxophone sections, brass section and rhythm section of a big band.

-          Use music notation software to produce a score and parts

Upon purchase you will receive a zoom address and password; a detailed schedule and course materials will be emailed at least 2 weeks after purchase.