Arranging in the Digital World: Techniques for Arranging Popular Music Using Today's Electronic and Digital Instruments [Paperback]

I've been hanging around music for a while, but am more of a "seasoned hobbiest" than anything else. Yet there was only a couple of things I found useful in this book. Because the book is called "Arranging in the Digital World," I was expecting to get a book that taught some arranging, including some discussion about common ways to use a keyboard in an ensemble. Instead, the author fails on both of these points. First, in the introduction he states, "Our focus will be on sequencing techniques... rather than actual writing techniques." Last time I checked, arranging was WRITING appropriate parts. So, maybe this book should have been entitled, "Sequencing in the Digital World," since the author doesn't go into any depth about the kinds of parts you might want to write. The author also assumes that you are a seasoned keyboard player already (who else uses midi?) and so skips discussing keyboard altogether with this dismissive quote, "I assume you are already familiar with the piano..." I don't know how a serious book on arranging can say nothing about what keyboards might typically play in an ensemble.

Other than a sample midi song fragment or two in a handful of styles (mostly jazz & latin), there just isn't much "arranging" to be found. You can read the whole book in an hour and it's not likely that you'll ever pick it back up again. ...

It's unusual for me to be negative about the totality of a book, a movie, or whatever; however, this how-to from the press for reknowned Berklee College of Music barely scratches the surface of the amazing art of combining notes and sounds to become a symphony or a jazz trio. I kept expecting more as I progressed through this short paperback, but by the end this seemed to have been the semester project of a frosh or sophomore for which he'd earn a B- for submitting it by the deadline. There are lots of bits of information needing further explanation or exploration. Things are brought up but not developed in a way which would help a beginner. And there just ain't much for someone with experience.

Considering that a major pro musician is quoted on the backcover saying, among other sentiments, it's "A Godsend". It was this review which hooked me into buy "Arranging". Now I'm wondering about this musician or the editor of critical reviews.

If I were to try to direct a beginner to real help, I'd suggest studying the manuals which came with her keyboard and software. Usually these are very useful as one develops a foundation of understanding this digital musical world. I'd also tell her to re-re-re-read the manuals every so often. Then there's the internet. Frankly, there are some major which let us access among the best resources on MIDI and digital recording -- for the beginner to the expert.