The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum


Ambassador to the Orchestra: The Arranger in Rock and Roll

Suggested Grade Level: 7-12

It often seems that the worlds of popular music and classical music are miles apart, drawing on different histories, different musical practices, and different instrumentation.  But the classical orchestra has played an important part in rock and roll culture.  Classically trained musicians such as David Blumberg, Arif Mardin, Michael Kamen, and George Martin became some of the most successful producers and arrangers in popular music, helping to bring the sounds of the orchestra into rock and roll.  In this class, students will listen to and examine the music of Maxwell, Dusty Springfield, Metallica, and the Beatles and will view exclusive interview clips with arrangers.  The class concludes with an activity in which students help to arrange a piece of music using computer music software, after which they get to hear the results of their work.

Suggested Pairing - Inductee Spotlight: Frank Zappa

Interested?  Click here to book this program!

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Videos are offered as supplemental content to classes.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame interviews composer and arranger David Blumberg, who arranged Gloria Gaynor's chart-topping "I Will Survive". Here, he talks about how he learned to become an arranger.

See below for additional video resources related to this class.

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Selected Song List

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Class Resources

Students will explore how the world of rock and roll ties to classical music.

Registering for this Class

To sign up for this class, click on the REGISTER NOW button below and follow the instructions for program registration. An education department representative will contact you within 2-3 days of the program request submission. If a representative does not contact you within 5 business days, please call the Education Department at 216.515.1202.

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Additional Resources

Photo Galleries

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Videos

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The students now have a better understanding of how music is put together
- An anonymous teacher
My students particularly liked the activity where they became the arranger of a song.
- A teacher in Beachwood, OH
The students were able to hear from actual arrangers and get a first-hand account of exactly what they do in their chosen profession. his could not have been accomplished in a traditional classroom setting.
- A high school band teacher in Corpus Christi, TX
The Rock Hall lesson has been one of the best learning experiences that we’ve ever been involved in. The content was well presented in clear and understandable ways and the online activities during the session were not only educational but entertaining! We will definitely be looking to continue working with the Rock Hall in the future.
- David Wilkinson - Flinders Christian Community College, Tyabb Victoria, Australia