In what style do you arrange? Any style you want. Most groups prefer traditional "transanging" where I make the arrangement sound mostly like the original recording. However, I always try to make the background interesting to sing and hear, not just continuous repetitive "zhoh doh" and "doo doo" that is so common. If you are more adventurous and want a soul ballad of Achey Breaky Heart, a reggae version of Greensleeves, or a jazz arrangement of Silent Night, I can give you just about anything you want.
Can I hear a sample of your work? |
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Minor Variation, Wake Forest University
How fast can you get it to me?
Archived arrangements are usually sent out the same day that payment is received. Newly commissioned arrangements take about a week. A rush service fee of $75 can put you at the top of the list and get a new song to you withing 3 days of receipt of payment.
 Chi Rho at Wake Forest University |
We're a girls group but we want one of the men's arrangements. can you do that? No problem. Transposing and changing voices is an easy fix, and I can adapt any arrangement in my library for any kind of group. Adapted arrangements do have a slightly higher fee for the extra work.
The song I want isn't in your library. Can you arrange a new one for us? Of course! I specialize in original commissions, tailoring them to your specific group's needs, wants, and strengths. Contact me so we can work together on getting the style, range, feeling, and interpretation just right.
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Why so cheap?
This is not my day job; I'm not in it for the money. I just love making music and sharing music and helping people express themselves through the human voice. But I gotta pay for the website, and time with my family is important, so the wife says I have to charge. Besides, $300-$1000 is prohibitively expensive for a good arrangement (and yes, most other arrangers charge that much). Also, my fees do not include the licenses your must acquire from the publisher to arrange, perform, and record the work. I am a work-for-hire artist, temporarily employed by your group to arrange the songs you are licensing.
Why so expensive?
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The $5 sheet music you can buy at the store is a generic, published arrangement. What you get from me is an original, custom made, personalized piece of music for your group. You're not buying sheet music; you're hiring an experienced musician to craft a specialized product for your group. (But do the math: $5 a pop at the music store for each of your 15+ group members, why not get something original?)
Are you a model? Not currently, but I've been told I should be.
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 Just a group of guys singing O Holy Night |
I thought you listed 'Christian' and 'Secular' Songs separately?
I used to do so, simply as a genre distinction, and because I arrange for some groups that self identify as Christian and primarily perform Contemporary Christian music. But the distinction is arbitrary and problematic for many reasons, and listing them separately caused for a more cluttered layout. So I put them all together in one, big, happy list. There are hundreds of ways I could have organized this site, and I'm still searching for the best one. If you have suggestions or want to hear more of my thoughts on Christian vs. "Secular" music, please contact me.
What about licensing and royalties?
I do not charge licensing or royalty fees, because I do not own the rights to these songs, nor do I acquire said licenses on your behalf. Except in extremely rare circumstances, an a cappella arranger does not even own her own arrangement. I am a service provider, a hired laborer. I perform a work-for-hire service for your group with the specific expectation and agreement that you will pursue the paths to obtain legal licenses to arrange, use, perform, and/or record these songs. The legalities of a cappella arranging, fair use, and derivative works are complicated, so it is important to give credit and compensation where it is due and ask permission to use someone else's artistic and intellectual property. Here are several excellent articles by Jonathan Minkoff about some legal issues in a cappella arranging. 1) There Ought to Be a Law. 2) The Legality of Arranging. 3) Permission to arrange for live performance. 4) Fair Use. 5) Copyright Infringement Lawsuits (Yeesh!).
This is extremely important for mechanical licensing and reproduciton associated with recording. Visit Kohn on Music Licensing for more information. The Harry Fox Agency is the first place to go for acquiring mechanical licenses. Try the ASCAP database or BMI's hyper-repertoire for perfoming rights information. If you're still not sure, talk to your school's or organizations legal department.
This is extremely important for mechanical licensing and reproduciton associated with recording. Visit Kohn on Music Licensing for more information. The Harry Fox Agency is the first place to go for acquiring mechanical licenses. Try the ASCAP database or BMI's hyper-repertoire for perfoming rights information. If you're still not sure, talk to your school's or organizations legal department.
Can we record your arrangements?
I arrange with the expectation and the understanding that you will acquire the appropriate licenses and rights to do so (see above). I do ask that you send me a copy of the recording (CD, MP3, video, etc.) for my archives, and so that I can advertise you on this site.
Can I use a Purchase Order (P.O.) to pay?
PayPal is much faster and easier, and I would greatly prefer that. Purchase Orders can take over a month to get processed and mailed out and received, so it will take much longer for you to get your music. (I recently had a P.O. that took 10 months to get processed. Yuck.) The easiest and most efficient method of payment is through PayPal (including credit/debit cards). But I am willing to work with you if you have no other alternatives.
What are some awards your arrangements have won?
- 2012 Voices Only selection for Make You Feel My Love by Minor Variation.
- Best Religious Album 2011 CARA runner-up for Toward Home by Minor Variation, featuring seven arrangements: Shadowfeet, A Living Prayer, Lovers in Japan, Reign of Love, Angel, Holy Holy Holy, and Something Beautiful.
- Best CAL Album 2010 CARA win for Deltacappella by Deltacappella, featuring Don't You Worry Bout a Thing
- Best Male Collegiate Arrangement 2009 CARA nomination for Christmas Time is Here performed by Chi Rho
- Best Holiday Album 2009 CARA runner-up for The Christmas Album by Chi Rho, featuring four arrangements: Christmas Time is Here, Mary Did You Know?, Away in a Manger, and White Christmas.
- Best Religious Album 2008 CARA nomination for Here is What I Know Now by Chi Rho, featuring six arrangements: 40, Chariot, Don't You Worry Bout a Thing, Indescribable, Unforgetful You, and Word of God Speak
- Voices Only 2007 selection for Don't You Worry Bout a Thing performed by Chi Rho
- Best Male Collegiate Song 2001 CARA nomination for Dive performed by Chi Rho
- And Christopher Diaz on the MouthOff Show called me a "freaking fabulous and prolific arranger extraordinaire," doncha know.