Your questions answered! - Big Band Arranging SECRETS REVEALED

[@Whesting2476]

Would love to see a video on Thad Jones’ arranging and voicing style, keep up the good work!

[@JohnathandosSantos]

Me too

[@Jaujau933]

You're doing an amazing job 👍🏻 yes there will always be trolls. Close / Closed WHO CARES??? 😁

[@kevinloughman3953]

Your arrangements are exciting and your videos are instructive.; and of course, the band is hot. Thank you. I've enjoyed them.

[@neomaake]

Amazing 🎉 Thank you Elliot, by they way your music is not hideous. Keep doing what you doing. Thank you for taking our feedback positively. It's not easy doing what you do and the fact that you've taken your time to make these lessons?! There ain't a lot of channels out there that are as detailed as you are. And lastly. YES, please add that music for the those dramatic effect. Thanks once again for taking the steps to improve the quality of your work. And one more lastly, people will always complain please don't take that to heart, nor should you be discouraged to continue sharing your knowledge and experience. #thecassowary 🕺🕺🕺🕺🕺

[@markmetzler9108]

Loved your near closing comment on counterpoint. "Video Over". Regarding critical comments from the "Classroom", don't take them too seriously. This is your channel. Do what you feel is right. It is obviously working otherwise you wouldn't have any followers. I love the background music. Just as you won't recommend what not to do, so should the recommendations be from the gallery. You do You.

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

Well said!

[@bmprrr]

Your background music is super vibey and gives your tutorials amazing joyful playful aesthetic and I love it and it makes me inspired. You made amazing connection between your music and my inspiration to grow as a musician. When I hear Pandemonium Big Band I want to make music immediately, write for big band, produce beats and even practice. This is really important not only for big band tutorials but also for any KZbin channel. Every good channel should have it's unique music that sets the vibe.

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

Thank you! I am glad that you share my feelings about it.

[@freddybello8724]

Elliot you are a classy gentleman!!! 17:22 is a superb example of this "Only say what to do" and then a gem "They didn't known any better then but they do now". That's the reason why people keep coming to see your videos. You need to do YAIA #2 :)

[@andrewwegierski9585]

I thought I was the only one who used a computer keyboard for note input and not a MIDI keyboard. Good to know!

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

We might be the only 2!

[@ryantsquared9961]

Would love a video on writing for woodwind doubles and voicings that work for flutes/clarinets

[@bond-suits]

I love the background music in your videos, but I don't love that it's in the background. When you're talking about a musical technique, I like to be able to hear it in my head as you talk about it, and hearing music that isn't specifically about what you're talking about makes it difficult for me to concentrate. And as you say, your music is intrusive! And I want to focus on the music itself.

[@lucianopico6318]

!! I wanted to ask you, when you finish your project when it comes to assigning the parts to each musician, in the case of transposers like the alto, the tenor and trumpet, how do you transpose them to the tonality of each one? Thank you!! I hope you understand the question and congratulations for your contributions!

[@AlanJField]

You can get away without the 5th of the chord if you don't have enough instruments to cover the chord.

[@AlanJField]

FYI: I've found Note Performer to be awesome as well.

[@MikeJamesMedia]

Maybe a bit off-topic, but speaking of closed voicings... When I was a kid, idolizing Buddy Rich and his band, I thought the closing choruses of "Sassy Strut" were tremendously exciting and interesting. (by John LaBarbara, who published parts of the arrangement in Downbeat magazine at the time) Of course, Lin Biviano screaming through the end was a cool trademark of the band at that time, too. Thanks for all the information you share, Elliot! :)

[@lightyear26]

I've found NotePerformer to be pretty good for jazz band writing, but it does need a lot of tweaking before sounding good. You need to add the "Tenuto always on" plugin on every part, otherwise swing rhythms come out all staccato. And the default reverb is awful, but fiddling with it can produce a decent sound. When tweaked well, I find it much better than GM or the SIbelius 7 sound library.

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

I believe it. But once I've done all of that work I might as well have exported the midi tracks into Logic. That said, if it's working for you keep with it!

[@palomis1712]

Hey Elliot! Your vids have been helping me lots with a BB arrangement i'm working on. Would love to see one on cluster chords! 🐱

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

I am so glad! I honestly rarely use clusters in my orchestration. My best advise is to use them sparingly and only when the effect is needed.

[@I_M_Nonno]

To the Notation comments at 15:15 - As a big band musician for many decades, I know how to swing. I don't need nor want "morse code" over my notes unless the arranger is looking for something unusual. The duration of a note is set by the Lead Trumpet, 1st Alto Sax and 1st trombone. (right or wrong) Just like a fighter pilot wingman, you soar or crash together, baby!

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

You can save rehearsal time by marking quarter notes either long or short. Yes, it is important for the players to imitate their lead players, BUT you cab make the lead players lives easier by giving them some direction.

[@CalebRumley]

A chart should not be longer than 5 minutes??! I AM TRIGGERED

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

Kaboom!!!….. What I meant to say was “my charts” shouldn’t be longer than 5 minutes. Yours are more interesting than mine.

[@jcat2_086]

I have a question about the difference between arranging and transcribing, If I do an arrangement of a tune that is already arranged for big band, but it sounds almost exactly the same as the previous one except for just a few additions, could that even be considered an arrangement, or is it just a transcription? I feel like if I called it an arrangement, its almost false advertising.

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

You are completely right to feel that way. I agree. The times that I have done what I think you are describing (re-copying a big band chart and adding a 5th trumpet or 3rd trombone, etc.) I have included the actually arranger (Sammy Nestico, Frank Foster, or whomever) and credited myself as "3rd trumpet part added by...". If I am doing something as elaborate as taking a 6 horn chart and expanding it to 13, OR reducing a 13 horn chart to 3 or 6 horns, I will write "reorchestrated by Elliot Deutsch." I hope that helps.

[@michaelmullmusic]

Yeeeeeeaaah Sibelius general MIDI represent!

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

Yeeeesss! We have that in common.

[@gregmilka7452]

6:03 - One-handed copy and paste option that I use: Highlight a section and then click the spinny wheel on the mouse to paste. Game changer for my workflow.

[@aroundtheworldinsong7710]

Hello Elliott, Your background music is great but I love listening to you so it is not needed, you are very engaging without it. I really feel that you are talking directly to me. Using music for intros and endings and more importantly examples is all that is needed. I am learning a ton from you, keep up the great work! Alan

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

Good, positive feedback. I’ve been trying that approach in my most recent videos.

[@Chris16939]

Thank you for all the help you have given me. Thanks also for the clear answers to my several questions. may i say lastly that you videos always cheer me up!

[@ChristopherSiu]

FIRST!

[@sagarkapoor9892]

I have been following your videos regularly and it has greatly greatly helped me. Thank you!!

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

I am so glad to hear that!

[@psunie]

Thank you!

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

You are very welcome

[@bmprrr]

Amazing questions!

[@bashtracks]

Hey, a video response for one of my questions! :D Thanks for these, Elliott, great as always! :-)

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

Thank you for asking!

[@art.tarakanow]

This is just awesome! I wish I could hit thumbs up multiple times. Big YES to every word of this video!

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

Thank you!

[@sttrumpet]

Yes, Elliot! Copy and pasting on PC is Alt+left click. It works in Dorico too.

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

Good tip! Thanks for watching!

[@NCbluesman]

Great vid! Lotta good info. Thank you.

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@richardwilliamsmusic]

Fantastic video and video(s)! I don't know if you've answered this one before, but my question is how do you write the with 5 trombones instead of 4

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

I’ve never done it! I have some ideas of what I’d do, but without the real-life experience I don’t feel like I should answer.

[@richardwilliamsmusic]

@@PandemoniumBigBand Yea I enjoyed your video on the 5 trumpets I believe, so I was wondering about 5 trombones

[@NCbluesman]

Hey! What’s wrong with wanting to sound like the Swing Era???

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

Nothing, I guess. If that's the sound you are aiming for, then definitely harmonize the trumpets without support! Also... happy birthday.

[@NCbluesman]

Was kidding, of course. Great vid, Elliot. And thx for the bday nod. 😎

[@monsterjazzlicks]

Have subbed!

[@bonerici]

Closed voicing part 1 is my favorite

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

That was my first tutorial! I should get on it!