Do you want to play an arrangement of a piece on your flute? You can commission flute music from an arranger.
Then, you won’t have to try and read bass clef to play a cello line. And you can save your time for things like teaching or performing. Read on to learn if you should commission an arrangement!
Why Commission a Flute Music Arrangement
Commissioning an arrangement of flute music can be a great option for performers and teachers. Consider a few reasons why it’s worth paying an arranger.
Hire a Flutist
You can commission an arranger who is also a flutist. That way, they’ll understand how the flute works and what is or isn’t easy or practical to play. This can be super helpful if you want the arrangement to work for students.
As a multiple flutes specialist, I can arrange a flute solo or chamber piece for various concert flutes from the piccolo to the contrabass. Compared to a general arranger, I can play the parts to ensure they’ll work.
Of course, commissioning flute music also allows you to support your fellow musicians. If you can afford to, it’s a great way to give back to the community and help a new arranger or composer get their career going.
Get New Repertoire
Commissioning an arrangement also gives you access to new music. Sure, the piece itself may already exist. But an arranger can take it and make it work for the flute or whatever flute-based ensemble you want.
Then, you can diversify your repertoire to beef up your music library. You can share the music with your students or assign parts to your flute choir. If you’re tired of playing the same old stuff, an arrangement can keep things fresh.
Plus, you can commission an arrangement of a well-known piece. That can help you draw in new audiences for your concerts or recitals. Pair the popular piece with lesser-known works that you want to play.
Save Yourself Time
Technically, anyone can learn to arrange music. But it takes a lot of time to arrange a piece, and you have to invest in the right tools. You’ll need a computer and tablet as well as some notation software.
If you’re already busy with teaching and gigs, hire an arranger. They can turn a piece into something new for you. You won’t have to take time away from things that may pay you money sooner.
Plus, an experienced arranger may be more proficient in notation software. Therefore, they can complete the project in less time. And you won’t have to stress yourself out learning how to use it.
Why Not Commission a Flute Music Arrangement
Before you commission flute music from an arranger, consider some of the drawbacks. As much as I love to offer this service, it’s not for everyone, and that’s okay.
Plenty of Existing Repertoire
For one, there’s already a ton of music out there for flute. You can find a variety of flute solos from the Baroque era until modern day. The flute ensemble repertoire is also growing each year.
So you may be able to find enough music for your next recital without having to commission a new arrangement or original work. Of course, you should want to support living musicians with commissions.
But I understand that a lot of us can’t do that. Luckily, there is a lot of music out there for the flute. You can buy or download the music and start to play it right away.
Pop Copyright Restrictions
Some of the most fun flute music to play (in my opinion) is arrangements of pop songs and/or pop melodies. I love to arrange these on my own, but I don’t know the legalities of accepting commissions of them.
So if you want a specific arrangement of a pop song, you may be out of luck when it comes to commissioning someone to do the work. Fortunately, you can learn how to do it yourself if you have the time and desire.
Or you could talk to a lawyer and get their thoughts on commissioning arrangements of copyrighted works. That way, you can still get the music you want without breaking the law.
Can Be Expensive
Of course, then there’s the fact that commissions can get expensive. If you have a long or complex project you want arranged, it’s gonna cost you more than something simple.
You have to decide if it’s worth spending the money. For some musicians, it’s absolutely worth it to get a quality piece of music to play. But if you’re tight on cash, it might not be worth it (at least not right now).
Be sure to have a budget in mind before commissioning someone. Then, you can ask how much they charge to determine if you can afford to hire them.
How to Commission a Flute Music Arrangement
If you want to commission flute music from an arranger, you should do so! Consider the steps to take when bringing your project to life.
Set Your Budget
I already mentioned this, but it bears repeating. Before you contact anyone with your request, look at your bank account. Consider how much money you can put toward the arrangement.
Also, think about the project itself. For example, an arrangement for solo flute will cost a lot less than a flute choir arrangement of the same piece. That’s because the flute choir arrangement requires more parts.
Similarly, arranging a shorter tune will cost less than a full symphony. You can look at a few websites to get an idea of how much an arranger will charge.
Find a Music Arranger
Next, you’ll want to look for the person you want to hire. Consider their experience and if they specialize in anything. For example, I specialize in arrangements of flute music.
So while I’d love to help with a piano project, it’s not in my wheelhouse. And there may be someone who can arrange for piano but not for flute.
Some arrangers list their prices on their website. I don’t currently because I like to do custom pricing based on the project.
Review Their Work
You’ll also want to look at the arranger’s portfolio. Listen to any works they’ve arranged, and ask for perusal scores or at least a score preview. Then, you can make sure they’ll do a good job on your project.
Look at the arranger’s website and social media accounts. You should be able to get an idea of what they can do. If you like what you see, go ahead and move forward with that person.
Otherwise, keep searching for music arrangers. Then, you can find someone who you’ll want to work with on your project.
Contact the Arranger
Once you’re ready, you should contact the music arranger you want to hire. Ask if they’re accepting commissions, and give your project details. Then, the arranger can send you a quote and an estimated turnaround time.
You can set the terms of the project, like how long you’ll have the exclusive rights to perform the arrangement. Make sure you agree with the arranger on everything.
If there are any questions and concerns, bring them up sooner rather than later. Then, the arranger can address your concerns. And if they can’t, feel free to move on to someone else.
How Much Does an Arrangement Commission Cost?
Commissioning an arrangement can cost a little or a lot. The pricing will depend on the instrumentation, length of the music, and the arranger’s experience.
Some commissions may cost as low as $100, while others will start in the thousands of dollars.
Can I Just Arrange Music Myself?
You can arrange music yourself, but you may not want to. It’s a different skillset from performing and teaching. You need a good understanding of music theory and of the instruments you write for.
So if you don’t want to learn all of that, that’s okay. You can commission an arranger. And if you want help with arranging copyrighted music, you can get an arranger to teach you or edit your work.
Final Thoughts
If you want to commission flute music arrangements, go for it. Arrangements of existing music can help add to the flute repertoire. Plus, you don’t have to spend the time learning to arrange music.
Do you want to commission an arrangement from a flute specialist? Learn more about my arranging commissions!