Formatting Parts - DEMONSTRATION - Big Band Arranging SECRETS REVEALED

Watch me format parts for a big band piece. In this video I describe each choice I make and the reasons behind my decisions.
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Watch all of the other lessons in the series: kzbin.info/aero/PLhbsseOoCd5cotmZ4StxcZrj3EMJ5JL2S
If you are interested in private arranging lessons over Zoom, send an email to: [e-mail]
All of the background music was recorded by the Pandemonium Big Band.
#bigband #jazz #arranging

[@joeabbo8113]

Brilliant....lot of great info

[@RobertToddJr]

Haven't watched it yet, but judging from the thumbnail pic, it's going to be great!

[@mgbasinski]

Great demo, Elliot, and worth the time spent on it. I have to say, for myself, this is stuff I've always taken the time to do for my own arrangements (for all the reasons you call out), just seems like common sense, but I've always been surprised that sometimes this level of part-grooming doesn't get done. THANK YOU for including the importance of well-placed page turns for the rhythm section (as you pointed out, we are usually playing the whole time, and with BOTH HANDS).

[@michaelmullmusic]

The un-glamorous but incredibly important side of making charts! Thoughtful and clear formatting, just like a clear roadmap on a chart, definitely falls into the "you don't know what you've got until it's gone" category. Great info as always Elliot! And shout-out to Brian and the kids at West Ranch!

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

Yes! I'm looking forward to hearing them rehearse that chart later this week.

[@ColinDean1]

Big and clear!!!! Love it

[@AaronHettingaMusic]

Excellent advice for newer copyists throughout! The only thing that I'd spend just a few extra moments tweaking would be the places where you have final page with only 4-5 staff lines. The program default spacing places them much tighter together than what was used on the previous pages. Giving those lines a little extra room to take advantage of some of that extra page real estate would feel less cramped (not evenly spacing to fill up the last page, just more closely matching the preceding pages).

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

Great tip.

[@gilevansinsideout]

I'm all for formatting parts! If you want a good performance then make good parts!

[@everettkelly487]

So much awesome information! I didn't know about hiding staffs in the piano part, thats a game changer. Same with the reset note spacing button!

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

So many hidden, useful features!

[@KonradKoselleck]

Great video, Elliot. Every second you invest in lay out pays of in more time for music during rehearsing. I use in Sibelius the function “page break in score gets staff break in part”. That automates your first edit quite convincingly.

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

Ooh. That sounds like a time-saver! I’ll definitely try that function on my next chart.

[@jeffgouge7456]

This is so DARN Helpful!!!!!!!!!!!! soooooooooooooo practical.... thank you for all of your information.... (Jeff in Springfield MO)

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

You're very welcome!

[@sid5537]

Amazing channel! Thank you! The only thing is I wouldn't use that font. Pori looks better in my opinion. Or moderna

[@JulianDiaz-Tpt]

Great video. Thanks for all your work!

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@monsterjazzlicks]

Have subbed!

[@charleskleesattel6477]

Excellent. The only comment I would make is the last 2-3 minutes should be the lead. You will never be able to stress too strongly how a well copied part impacts a rehearsal... and your future as an arranger. The comment you made about enharmonics for the 'kids' really applies to everyone. And sometimes double sharps or flats can creep into a part. Anything that takes rehearsal time is a major problem. If it's a professional group, it is a waste of money, amateur groups is a loss of respect. Thankful computes and music programs like Sibelius have taken the missing parts and pitch mistakes out of the mix. You might sometime show how you check your charts before you print parts or sign off on them.

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

Absolutely. Great points

[@NCbluesman]

"Those people are fools"! Excellent.

[@Adam_Velez]

Great video as usual; and the longer run-time for this subject is fine. There's so much that goes into being a good copyist/engraver. I'm a graphic designer (textbook interiors, mainly), so I go into even more detail than you when I'm creating parts-my design training for maximizing legibility and comprehension cross over fully into creating really clean and easy to read parts. Cheers!

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

I believe it. After posting my score-formatting tutorial last week I had a great video call with a talented copyist who gave me a bunch of great tips how to do even better. I'll probably make a follow up to both of these videos with even better tips. That said, these tips would get people 90% of the way there!

[@tooter1able]

Hi Elliot--Regarding formatting, do you follow the infamous Sibelius "Red Note" format for parts " too high"? What's the highest you'll put for example in the sax parts? Thanks

[@chrisfrostmusic]

Great stuff Elliot and I watched to the end! One question about piano parts. My band tends to play from written out bass parts. In my own composiitons I've followed suit but tend to copy in the bass line as a cue into the LH of the piano part so that the pianist knows what the bass is doing and can play something that doesn't clash or muddy everything. Am I just wasting my time and paper etc doing this? Is it standard in any way or just pointless? Thanks.

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

I have seen old piano part written this way. But unless you mean for the piano to double the baseline, or need for the pianist to see a specific cue, then it is better to leave it out of the part.

[@NelsonRiverosMusic]

Super helpful Elliot! How do you add a bracket around the text: FILL in a drum part? its the bracket thats not completely closed. Thanks!

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

I honestly don’t think instructions like fill should be enclosed in brackets. That may just be a personal preference.

[@NelsonRiverosMusic]

@@PandemoniumBigBand Agreed. Elliot, looking through your videos; you have anything on Shout Choruses? I need to do on for my arrangement 16 bars. I have started but looking for the ideas to voice the ensemble. Thanks

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

@@NelsonRiverosMusic You should watch my video titled "Shout Chorus"

[@danielryanmusic]

Hey Elliot, maybe I missed it but what shortcut are you using to force the notations on to the same line etc?.. Great content by the way

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

You are looking for a function called “make into system.” I believe the quick keys are command+shift+m (on a Mac)

[@NelsonRiverosMusic]

Hi Elliot. we were asked to put rehearsal numbers in our scores, when looking at the whole score. They can be added large with a box around them. But when I go to format parts they are in the way and it looks cluttered. The numbers are already there by default. But personally I don't think they are needed. I see you don't have them. They are places funny places throughout the parts.

[@Baritoonisti]

Is that Sibelius what you are using?

[@mgbasinski]

Other question is that I wondered why you opted not to have 1-bar repeat in the guitar part (e.g. at letter A) and why you don't use 1-bar repeats in some of the camping sections? Not that big a deal, just curious. Maybe for normal musicians (who read well), they would rather just see the music written as they go thru, don't care that it is repetitious... but for sucky sight-readers like me, I prefer the repeats (as I end up learning / memorizing the bits pretty fast)

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

I occasionally use repeat bars in non-drum parts. I usually only use them when I need to fit 8 bars (or more ) in a system to facilitate the page turns. It happens occasionally. In my experience, the non-drummer musicians aren't as used to seeing repeat bars in their parts.

[@mgbasinski]

I do have one a couple questions for you regarding the use of 1 or 2 bar repeats: you showed how you use that in the drum part, but I noticed you did NOT put in any bar repeats at letter A (and C and L)? You have a specific groove that you have written out, that I think was a 2-bar thing; I often use a 2-bar repeat thing (Finale "staff styles" includes that, I don't know about Sibelius?)

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

This chart has a very specific drum groove during that part and it doesn't repeat exactly. But good question!

[@richardwilliamsmusic]

Again, how do you force measures to one line?

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

First select all of the measures. Then press "option + shift + m". This only works in Sibelius.

[@richardwilliamsmusic]

@@PandemoniumBigBand Oh wow!! Thank you!! Huge tip!

[@richardwilliamsmusic]

How do you have the title of the song display on the other pages besides page 1?

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

Look for a text style called "Header (after first page, inside edge)"

[@richardwilliamsmusic]

@@PandemoniumBigBand Where do I go/what do I do after going to "Header (after first page, inside edge)"?

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

Then click at the tope of your score or part... type the title of the piece.

[@richardwilliamsmusic]

​@@PandemoniumBigBand I'm sorry, I'm not completely getting it. Click on the top of the score? Where? And in the Text Style Head (after first page, inside edge), do I type the name of my piece at the top in "Name" on the "Font" tab, or something else?

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

Hit me up by email and we can get on zoom and I'll just show you: [e-mail]

[@NelsonRiverosMusic]

Hi Elliot, sent you something by email if you have a minute to look at . Thank you!

[@jeffgouge7456]

Can you address your rules for using accidentals in your parts...

[@PandemoniumBigBand]

Ooh... great topic

[@Salsuero]

No rehearsal mark at bar 128, even though it's a double barline? Shame, shame!