Need help with arrangments

[Falamas]

Hi, I'm new to piano and have started a piano class at school. For our final we have to play two arrangments of Happy Birthday and America. The problem is I have no idea how to arrange a song . How do I go about doing this? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-Thanks

[abell88]

Do you have to have the music written out "properly", or are you just allowed to play it? How exactly was the assignment phrased? Please be as specific as possible about what you have to do.

Also, what is your playing level (I'm assuming you're a beginner)...can you read chords, either on the staff or as chord symbols? Do you read the treble clef fairly well, or play by ear, or are you somewhere in between?

[Falamas]

Hey, Thanks for the response. Yes I am a beginner, only been plaing for a few months. I don't have to have it written out, I just have to play it. Unfortuneately my teacher was not specific enough,as you can tell I don't know what I'm doing. I do know how to read music/chords in both bass and treble. I just have to make my own arrangments for both America and Happy Birthday. I just don't understand what I change. Got any ideas?

[abell88]

So, you have the music already, and you have to re-arrange it? In that case, here are some possibilities...

if the left hand has solid chords, try playing them broken instead. If they are in close position (for example F A C, all two notes apart), spread them out...start on low F, then C, then A.  If they are already broken, play some of them solid.

Play the accompaniment (left hand, presumably) with a different rhythm.

 Play every other phrase of the right hand one octave higher.

 Add little things to the right hand, like a jump up to a solid chord on beat 2 of the word "you" in Happy Birthday.

Jazz up the rhythm of the whole thing -- just fool around with different rhythms.

Change major to minor.

Use different chords...try alternate chords that have a note in common with the melody note you are harmonizing, or add extra notes to the chords you already have .

Play the melody in the left hand, harmonize with the right.

Hope these will get you started!