Summary

Arrangement is one of the most important aspects of creating a good song, whether it's dance music, pop music, or any other style of music. I encourage you to listen to as many styles of music as possible, and try to pick out the different sections of music and ponder what they are being used for. Are they projecting higher energy? Lower energy? Do they build, or are they emotionally static?

The different sections of a piece of music are extremely important to telling the story that we want to tell. Having a great beat and bassline are good, but if they aren't put in a larger context, then they aren't really saying anything.

Using subtractive arranging to create dance music is a great way to make sure that the piece feels continuous and doesn't take huge detours when it's rolling along. It also makes it easier to hear how all of our parts are working together over time, and gives us the ability to leave the song and come back to it without having the feeling...