Steve PMHMusic arrangers are often heard of but never seen. They’re at the backstage of every live performance and take credit for all reworked compositions.
In 2009, I had the honor of meeting Louis Andriessen in Vancouver. He’s one of the most influential arrangers and composers in Dutch history. The thing is, he was on the stage for approximately 3 minutes, then disappeared for the rest of the performance.
To me, it’s astounding how much music arrangers contribute to music yet never get the recognition they deserve. They’re the unsung heroes that bring all the notes on the music sheet to life.
So, what is a music arranger exactly?
At a Glance
A music arranger is someone who takes a song or a track, alters some elements, and reworks it into something different. If you see a violin cover of a rock song or an orchestra performing the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack, it was composed by an arranger.
Music arrangers are just as impactful as the original composers. They’re people who are particularly adept at visualizing new compositions using their immense creative freedom.
What’s So Special About Music Arrangers?
Music arrangers work with everyone involved in a musical piece. They’re the most versatile, and usually, the most educated. You’ll find that most arrangers can play more than one instrument, have a deep understanding of music theory, and can compose music across different genres.
Arrangers can be found in the orchestra, theaters, record labels, and all over the film industry. Performers rely on them to explain how the notes are played and at what tempo.
Producers and conductors hire arrangers to rework popular songs. They can change the instrumentation, tempo, harmony, or even, the whole genre!
Who Can a Music Arranger Work With?
- Record producers
- Music directors
- Orchestrators
- Bandleaders
- Conductors
Personally, the perfect example of an arranged track has to be the electric guitar version of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. It’s played at a faster tempo and features a lead electric guitar, a backup rhythm electric guitar, and some crazy drumming.
Even though the two versions are vastly different, they share the same foundations as the original. They’re the same melody and played in the same key. You can almost see Beethoven jamming his timeless piece on a 1958 Gibson Explorer, and maybe that’s what arranging music is all about.
What Does It Take To Become An Arranger?
To become a music arranger, you must master music theory first. Music theory isn’t bound to one instrument and is the first step towards ‘understanding’ music.
So, if I reach an acceptable degree of music theory competence, can I be a music arranger? Well, I can, but you wouldn’t wanna hire me.
The thing about arranging music is that it concerns all aspects of music. From the foundations of music theory to all the intricate instrumentations in between. Arranging a piece with a guitar in it would at least require some basic knowledge of playing the guitar.
Generally, good music arrangers know how to play at least a couple of instruments. They also ought to be familiar with a lot of genres to widen their scope. Finally, they need non-stop experimentation and a good portfolio.
Education
There’s no formal degree required for you to become an arranger. A music degree will teach you music theory and heighten your technical skills, but they won’t necessarily make you a capable music arranger.
Looking back, if I had the opportunity to get a Bachelor’s degree in music, I would’ve. Not for the curriculum, but for the connections and opportunities I would’ve acquired. You could be the most talented music arranger with zero exposure.
Finally, picking up an instrument or two and going to classes will give you a significant edge. The younger you are, the more I urge you to experiment with different instruments.
Career
Music arrangers are, in essence, freelancers. They hop from one project to another and are generally in control of their schedule. The only downside of freelancing is frequently dealing with tight deadlines.
Arrangers can work from home in their own studios, work on-site at theaters, or in other studios.
The career options are various.
Technical Skills
Aside from learning music theory and an instrument or two, arrangers need to have other professional skills to succeed.
- Can work on a DAWand other production software
- Has a basic understanding of orchestration
- Can conduct a musical piece
- Can transpose and transcribe a piece by ear
Interpersonal Skills
Becoming a music arranger means you’ll have to deal with a lot of people. From composers and producers to performers and directors, the ability to leave a good impression is an integral part of an arranger’s career.
Of course, this means that the arranger needs to be confident, outgoing, and social. They also need to display great leadership skills and verbal communication.
Equipment
Yes, a music arranger can only use a laptop to produce, but there’s a plethora of other equipment that may be essential for some projects.
Digital Audio Workstation
A digital audio workstation is the most important tool for a music arranger. It’s used to create, edit, and record audio files.
It doesn’t matter which DAW you choose, there’s no ‘best’ DAW for music arrangers. It all depends on features, ease of use, and style of composition.
DAWs are considered the medium in which the physical instruments meet the virtual production tools. Everything is processed within the software, and you can manipulate the audio files however you like.
For windows, I recommend you use Ableton. It’s one of the most prominent software in music production. For mac, you can’t look at anything other than Logic Pro. You’ll find that most celebrity arrangers and producers use it, and for good reason.
MIDI Controller
A MIDI controller is essentially some buttons and sliders. The buttons can be programmed to play certain notes, like a piano, and the sliders control things like volume, bass, treble, effects…etc.
A music arranger will need a MIDI controller to create melodies and arrange drum sequences. The MIDI controller can be replaced if you have the actual instrument you want to use, like a plug-in guitar or keyboard.
High-Quality Headphones
Low-quality headphones almost sound like another arrangement of what you hear from high-quality headphones. They’re an absolute necessity to color the different layers of sound and give the full experience.
A music arranger has to have studio headphones that are accurate and powerful. This is a crucial step for arranging, mixing, and mastering.
Audio Interface
An interface may be required if the arranger is working with instruments such as guitars or instruments that aren’t compatible with MIDI controllers.
They act as a bridge between the instruments and the laptop, coming with jacks that support an instrument, a microphone, and XLR connections.
This is especially important if you’re in a live performance. An audio interface will help you translate all the analog signals into a digital audio file.
If you need an audio interface, buy a two-channel audio interface to be able to put the audio on your DAW.
Studio Microphone
Finally, a music arranger wouldn’t be able to record anything without a studio microphone. A common mistake is to buy a conventional microphone and use it for live instrumentations and vocals.
Arrangers go for either a conventional studio microphone or a cardioid microphone. A cardioid microphone is better suited for speech and is used for pieces that are vocal-heavy.
The Life of a Music Arranger
Music arrangers lead an exciting life. They’re constantly hopping from one project to another and get to meet and interact with a lot of people.
Job Satisfaction
Surveys were conducted to gauge how satisfied music arrangers are with their jobs. One survey said that 86% of music arrangers were satisfied with where they are. Another concluded that 80% were satisfied and over 85% felt that they make the world better by their work.
Salary and Quality of Life
From the previous surveys, it’s evident that music arrangers are typically happy people. This is true, but not all the time.
Two things determine the arranger’s quality of life. The first is the number of projects they’re getting into.
Taking too many projects simultaneously and enduring high stress for big chunks of time can leave them struggling. Some projects take longer than others, and overlapping timelines can cause problems.
The second thing is exposure. Arrangers with high exposure can land a project any time they want.
They have the freedom to choose which project suits their tastes and which doesn’t. On the other hand, not having enough exposure can be a nightmare for new arrangers.
Arrangers with not enough connections can struggle to land a gig, and they’ll usually turn to unpaid projects to boost their reputation. This can become stressful and even require you to find a part-time job.
If you put in the hard work and make a name for yourself you should be fine. You can enjoy a lucrative career once you gain momentum. Arrangers get paid an average of $45,000, with some careers reaching over $200,000!
