an arranger's toolkit

In this book, William Spencer-Pierce has constructed a compendium of insight and knowledge that is essentially a college level education in itself, no matter what musical grouping you might be dealing: Band, Orchestra, Chorus, small group, big group, whatever.

Chapter by chapter, William explores the nearly limitless possibilities of all the fundamental musical elements...

Front to back, this is not Arranging for Dummies, this is Arranging for the Serious Musician. As a life-long creator of music myself, I highly recommend this book.

Tom Rasely

Professional Guitarist-Composer

Oswego, NY

This text is a transformative toolkit, enabling teachers to make music accessible, captivating, and intellectually stimulating.

Written in a lucid yet engaging style, the book seamlessly blends scholarly rigor with pragmatic clarity. Enriched with over 250 meticulously curated musical examples, Spencer-Pierce illuminates time-honored techniques for scoring.

It's adoption as a required collegiate text would ensure graduates are fully equipped to navigate the multifaceted realities of ensemble teaching, whether orchestrating for a symphonic ensemble or adapting for a diminutive, small group.

Sam Bortka

Professional Saxophonist & Educator

New York City, NY

An eminently informative, delightful read...it is an excellent text for arrangers specifically and would work well as a course textbook or for individual study. 

However, it is also invaluable for anyone selecting repertoire, as the parameters for grading literature get to the specifics of how to identify music that will best showcase and elevate your ensembles. 

Each section is concise and vivid, and leads so organically to the next, that when I arrived at each chapter's exercises I found I really wanted to write them out...a must-have for arrangers and others working with ensembles.

Sally Renee Todd

Concert Pianist & Educator

Louisville, KY

This book is aimed at those who would put their stamp on music for both educational and professional realms... 

Each chapter begins with an inspirational quote from a fun variety of sources, not just musicians. We hear from Frank Zappa and Felix Mendelsohn, as well as Helen Hayes and Bennett Cerf. At the end of each chapter are helpful reviews and suggested exercises.

Arranging for Developing Ensembles becomes one of those gems in the music library that would be accessible for both teacher and student. As with anything, the byword is patience with the material and with yourself.

Ronald Keaton

Actor-Songwriter-Playwright

Solo Chicago Theatre

SoloChicagoTheatre.org

This book breaks down what can often feel like a complicated process in a practical and approachable way. Spencer-Pierce does a masterful job of blending music theory with hands-on advice and examples, so readers not only learn the concepts but also gain the confidence to apply them.

Because it is both clear and rooted in real-world practice, this book would be a valuable addition to an undergraduate Music Education program or a personal teaching toolkit.

D. Lynn Reed, Ed. D

Asst. Prof. of Educational Leadership Indiana University Southeast, Delta State University