Musical Theater Arranging and Orchestration

Department - CWP
Offered - Spring
Course number - CW-257

Study of orchestration in musical theater and the role of the orchestra in a theater piece. Students will arrange and orchestrate songs with a focus on supporting a vocalist, telling the story, and creating a theatrical sound. The class will explore how orchestration can be used as a dramatic element to establish a period, create a mood, and support the narrative. Written projects focus on typical instruments and ensembles used in various theatrical situations. Listening will include songs from a wide variety of musical theater recordings, with examples of piano scores and individual parts from shows.

Credits: 2
Course Chair: Matthew Nicholl
Prerequisites: AR-112
Required of: None
Electable by: All