Portamental is dedicated to the exploration of music in all its forms and the promotion of musical understanding for all. Contributors include:
Pianist, instrumentalist, vocalist, arranger, molecular biologist and music theorist. Former Music Director of the Achordants. For arranging services, see Broze Brothers Music; for performing and lessons, see Yuri Broze.com.
Accomplished guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and photographer.
Composer, arranger, double bassist, writer, and didgeridoo builder. Music Director of Brandeis University's Rather Be Giraffes. For arrangement and other sundry music services, check out MusicaRanger.
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As graduation draws neigh, there are hundreds of little aca-seniors that are about to enter the marketplace with downcast eyes as the economy struggles more than a bass trying to sing Michael Jackson. However, if you are savvy and creative, all those skills picked up with your collegiate or whatever a cappella group can be [...]
To counterpoint the post below about über alto parts, here’s something that shows some excellent soprano work. This is a segment of a Cranberry cover of Wonderwall done by UGA Noteworthy. [Audio clip: view full post to listen] This is a definitely a CD recording: you’ll be hard pressed to find a hall with such [...]
Something to spur imagination while I’m working on a new part of the arranging guide: Non-traditional notation. While sheet music is super-handy, and provides a common language to communicate music, sometimes people just don’t speak Wookie, and you have to think outside the box. ~How would you write out parts for someone who doesn’t read [...]
While it’s well and good to know what your group is about, who your target audience is, where you want to take the group, and if your 2nd soprano is single, that doesn’t actually pick your songs. This article is geared towards the practicality of picking songs, and several methods with their pros and cons. [...]
I’ll be putting up my article about vocal percussion soon, but I thought I’d give you all an opportunity to study-up before class. Try to imitate drums in heavy metal songs. Let out your secret love for Linkin’ Park and Metallica, and just give your mouth a go. Put on some Emperor and see what [...]
So maybe you don’t want to peruse the multitude of articles right now, and you just want fast and easy directions of how to do an a cappella arrangement. Will do, but here’s the caveat- this is just one way of going about an arrangement. I would recommend reading the other articles on this website [...]
This case study is on subdivision in parts, both within the bass and the upper voices. Additionally, we’ll touch on a few other techniques, such as accommodating vocal backup parts within your arrangement, changing the feel of a tune, and arranging from memory instead of from a recording. Let’s shall, yes? The tune of the [...]
Sounds like a nice pasttime, doesn’t it? Also with video goodness, and the price is right!
While I shudder at diluting our content here with nothing but post after post of “hey look at this” links, sometimes you read something you just have to share, so here: Jazz Jam etiquette! The first time I read this, I laughed so hard I cried. It’s as if the institution of the jazz jam [...]
When we were seven, we unknowingly listened to the likes of Beethoven, Rossini, Debussy, and even Raymond Scott on an almost daily basis, and we ate it all up. So much for kids not appreciating the classics – looks like all it took to spoon-feed a bit of “The Thieving Magpie” was to sugarcoat it [...]
