Hey, listen to my arragement and let me know what you think

[Arkietuba]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFuhNR_R3CQ

So, apparently lot's of folks are huge fans of this in our band and outside the band. I've had a few people offer me some money for it but I would like to see what you more "distinguished" folks had to say.

Yes, I'm aware that the dancing is......sub-par....and the tubas aren't doing the same thing and the bass t-bone held one note WAAAAAY too long but other than that...what do you think?

[TubaRay]

I would like to see what you more "distinguished" folks had to say.

I think you have us mistaken for folks who know something....

[Todd S. Malicoate]

In order to evaluate your arrangement, I clicked on the first "Related Videos" link to hear the source...that is undoubtedly the most boring piece of "music" I've ever heard. It's also incredibly offensive...what is the obsession with all the foul language? "I'm on a boat, I'm on a m***** f*****' boat." How artistic.

That said, you did a nice job dressing it up a bit with the woodwind line. I'm not sure the same line

works particularly well over all the chords, though.

There's WAY too much unison and not nearly enough chordal support. That may have been your intention, as that's pretty much the same as the original. I just don't think you need so many instruments playing the bass line and the melody in unison. You have a chord progession of Am - C - F - G to work with, so how about some chords? How about a counter-melody in the middle voices?

This is less of an arrangement than a transcription. Don't be afraid to add your own creativity to an arrangement to help create some interest. Don't just take down the lines "ear training dictation"-style and put them on paper.

I hope that's not too harsh, but you did ask for criticism. I does very little good to simply pat you on the back and say "good job." You are indeed fortunate to be in a situation where you can have your work played and hear for yourself what you like and dislike. If you are interesting in arranging, I hope you take full advantage of that good fortune and continue to write for the band.

[Arkietuba]

No, I don't mind the harshness. I was trying to transcribe more so than arrange. I do tend to write more harmony but our director wanted more open 5ths and unison stuff so we would be percieved as louder. I had in my original version, a more "choral" like opening with the trombones and trumpets playing chords and the mellos playing harmony to it...but it got turned into playing shorter notes, and in unison...plus a completely different middle section to give the woodwinds a break...but that got changed as well. Ok, a lot of what I did originally got changed and it does sound good but I would prefer my original one but I do see why we are playing this version.

This is only good example of my stuff on youtube and unfortunately it's the only one of my arrangements that's not 100% "my" interpretation. Most of my ideas are still there but my style isn't represented well in it.

Overall, I'm happy with it but I wanted to see what other's thought of it from a community that I respect (well...sometimes )

I have recieved offers from some directors from surrounding states to pay me for it and I do have stuff being played by Univ. of Texas and Oklahoma State so I guess I'm not doing bad for an undergrad!

[Todd S. Malicoate]

I have recieved offers from some directors from surrounding states to pay me for it and I do have stuff being played by Univ. of Texas and Oklahoma State so I guess I'm not doing bad for an undergrad!

Interesting. What do you have being played by OSU?

[Arkietuba]

Not entirely sure since our director (Steven Smyth, alumn of OSU) sent them some of my tunes and didn't really say.

I do know they are playing "Presidential" but that's about all I know...maybe more songs...maybe not.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

I do know they are playing "Presidential" but that's about all I know...

Nope. They aren't playing that one. Anything else you thought they are playing?

psst...note the "Stillwater, Oklahoma" to the right...

[Arkietuba]

Yeah, I noticed that...haha

Well, I don't know what they are playing...I was told that they were playing that but guess not. Maybe they did last year or two years ago? I don't know. They have my arrangement either way...haha