ASMAC Presents A Master Class with Richard Niles and Sylvester Rivers

“Making Hits: How arrangements turn songs into hits”

Saturday, January 25th, 2020
LA Valley College
10:30AM – Check-In, Refreshments & Meet-Up
11:00AM – 2:00PM – Presentation

Master Class Presentation Outline
FORM: Intro — Verse — Chorus — Interlude — Riffs — Instrumental Hooks
STYLISTIC ELEMENTS: Pop – Rock – Soul – Jazz – Dance
NEW SOUNDS: Instrumental combinations – Synthesis and Sampling
TAILORING: the arrangement to the artist and to the lyric
TRENDS: Understanding Current grooves
COVERS: How to Maximize

*Rivers & Niles will analyze hits from their own extensive catalogue*

RESERVE TICKETS HERE

Richard Niles
Internationally acclaimed Richard Niles studied at the Berklee College of Music and has a PhD from Brunel University. Credits in pop and jazz include Paul McCartney, Ray Charles, James Brown, Tina Turner, Mariah Carey, Michael McDonald, Cher, Tears For Fears, Grace Jones, Pat Metheny, Bob James, Gwilym Simcock, Jane Monheit, Bob Mintzer and John Patitucci. His jazz orchestra BANDZILLA has performed and recorded with McCartney, Randy Brecker, Leo Sayer and the Pet Shop Boys. Records featuring his work have sold over 250 million copies worldwide. A composer for film, TV and over 100 TV commercials, in 2019 he recorded orchestral music for Tomb Raider(video game). For 20 years Niles wrote and hosted music documentaries for the BBC. His acclaimed books includeThe Pat Metheny Interviews, The Invisible Artist, Songwriting – The 11-Point Plan, Polymetricsand From Dreaming to Gigging.

Sylvester Rivers
Composer, producer, arranger and pianist Sylvester Rivers has recorded with numerous hit artists including Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, The Jacksons, Dionne Warwick, Nancy Wilson, Kenny Rogers, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Barry White, the Love Unlimited Orchestra, Candi Staton, Marc Bolan & T. Rex, Ray Parker, Jr. & Raydio, Deniece Williams, Johnny Mathis, Aretha Franklin, The Fifth Dimension and many others.  Rivers arranged and orchestrated for the television series, “Fame,” songs for the Kevin Bacon/ Laurence Fishburne film, “Quicksilver,” the film, “Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo,” the television show, and numerous others. He worked with Kenny Rogers on the Platinum album, “Share Your Love” bearing the single, “Through the Years,” Lionel Richie and Diana Ross on the “Endless Love” soundtrack and the Multi-Platinum New Edition album, “New Edition,” among others.”

Los Angeles Valley College – Recital Hall
LA Valley College
5800 Fulton Ave. at Oxnard
Valley Glen, CA
Free parking in lot on corner of Fulton & Oxnard,
enter on Fulton then turn left, just south of Oxnard

CLICK HERE FOR MAP

ASMAC Members – $25
SCL Members – $30
AWFC – $30
Non Members/Guests – $35
Students – $20