Immerse yourself in the art of arranging with engaging quizzes and expert answers on Arranging for Songwriters. Discover the creative process of transforming melodies and lyrics into compelling compositions through thoughtful orchestration and arranging techniques. These quizzes are your gateway to understanding how to enhance the emotional impact and aesthetic appeal of your songs through effective arrangement choices.

Whether you are a novice songwriter looking to elevate your music or a seasoned composer seeking new insights, this collection is tailored to expand your arranging skills. Join us on a harmonic journey as we delve into the world of music arrangement, open up new possibilities for your songs and hone your skills as a songwriter.

Quiz 1: What Are Your Goals?

Q1. What are your goals for this course? What do you hope to accomplish? What skills do you hope to improve and what are you hoping to learn more about?

What do you think?

Q2. If you achieve your goals, where would that leave you? What would be the best, most positive outcome? How would accomplishing your goals make you feel?

Identify your best outcome and take a moment to imagine it as fully as you can.

What do you think?

Q3. What do you believe might be your biggest internal obstacle in achieving your goals? What is it within you that holds you back? It might be an emotion, an irrational belief, or a bad habit. Think more deeply—what is it really?

Identify your main inner obstacle and take a moment to imagine it fully.

What do you think?

Q4. Finally, what can you do to overcome your obstacle? Identify one action you can take or one thought you can think to overcome your obstacle.

Make the following plan for yourself:

“If… (obstacle), then I will … (action or thought).”

What do you think?

Quiz 2: New Ways of Listening Quiz

Q1. Which of the following is FALSE about Arranging for Recording?

• You can only use digital elements
• You can work alone and at your own pace
• You can repeat the performance until you get exactly what you want
• You can incorporate any sound or sample you want

Q2. What is the most important arrangement element to consider when arranging for Live Performance?

Enter answer here

Q3. As a listener, what are you doing when you are engaging in Critical Listening? (Select all that apply)

• Critical Thinking
• Finding Flaws
• Discovering Mistakes
• Analysis
• Judgement

Q4. True or False: Critical Listening requires toggling back and forth between a playful state of mind and a critical, editorial facility.

• True
• False

Q5. What is another term used to refer to a Horizontal Arrangement?

• Sonic Palette
• Frequency Range
• Form
• DAW

Q6. Which of the following is a list of instruments organized from lowest to highest frequency?

• Piano, Vocals, Cymbals, Bass
• Bass, Snare, Vocals, Cymbals
• Trumpet, Kick, Guitar, Piano
• Snare, Bass, Cello, Violin

Q7. What are some elements that affect the intensity level in the vertical arrangement?

• Volume
• Rhythmic Subdivisions
• Timbre
• Vibrato

Q8. True or False: Horizontal arrangement deals with the frequency range of a song.

• True
• False

Q9. Which of the following describes the song section known as the “bridge”: (Select all that apply)

• Contains new material
• Usually provides contrast from the verses and chorus
• Sets the stage and tells the story
• Usually contains material from another section

Q10. Which of the following song sections do not usually contain lyrics? (Select all that apply)

• Breakdown
• Outro
• Interlude
• Solo
• Intro/Reintro

Quiz 3: SELF-ASSESSMENT: Create a Horizontal Arrangement of an Original Song

Q1. Did you upload your recording/lyric PDF to the Discussion Forums?

• Yes
• No

Q2. Did you upload a future horizontal arrangement chart to the Discussion Forums along with your recording?

• Yes
• No

Q3. Now that you have created your first recording/lyric PDF and chart, reflect on your work by going back and doing some Critical Listening.

Here are a few guiding questions to think about as you listen.

• What do you like about your song so far?
• What do you hope to edit?
• Did anything surprise you in the process of making the song? For example, was something easier (or harder) to do than you expected?
• Would you do anything differently in the future?

What do you think?

Arranging for Songwriters Week 02 Quiz Answers

Quiz 1: Laying the Foundation Quiz

Q1. What two elements should be included in a basic track?

• A rhythmic part
• A backup vocal part
• A vocal part
• A horn part

Q2. What does BPM stand for?

Enter answer here

Q3. Typically, where should you place the highest note of a song? (Select all that apply)

• In the first verse
• In the III (three) chord
• In the Chorus
• In the I (one) chord

Q4. Choosing the key for a song depends on which of the following factors? (Select all that apply)

• The feel or timbre of the song
• The vocalists range
• The lowest notes of the vocal part
• The highest notes of the vocal part

Q5. True or False: The best rhythm parts are clear, simple, and create a conversation with the vocal part.

• True
• False

Q6. True or False: The horizontal arrangement you create in the DAW is permanent.

• True
• False

Q7. In popular music, the most effective rhythm parts will: (Select all that apply)

• Rhythmically fits together with the vocal part
• Contain a complicated but intriguing rhythmic pattern
• Distracts the listener from the vocalist
• Must remain the same throughout each song section

Q8. According to the “rules” for arranging, when should the chorus first appear in the song?

• Between 20-40 seconds into a song
• Between 50-1:10 into a song
• Between 30-50 seconds into a song
• Between 1:00-1:30 into a song

Q9. True or False: When writing a song, it is good practice to use an idea, subject, or material from the lyric to influence the rhythm choices.

• True
• False

Q10. True or False: According to the “rules” for arranging, a typical song should be at least 4:25 minutes long.

• True
• False

Quiz 2: SELF-ASSESSMENT: Create a Basic Track of an Original Song

Q1. Does your basic track include a vocal part?

• Yes
• No

Q2. Does your basic track include a main rhythm part?

• Yes
• No

Q3. Did you perform your basic track while listening to a click or percussion track?

• Yes
• No

Q4. Did you upload your basic track to the Discussion Forums?

• Yes
• No

Q5. Did you upload a picture of the horizontal arrangement for your basic track?

• Yes
• No

Q6. Now that you have created your basic track, reflect on your work by going back and doing some Critical Listening.

Here are a few guiding questions to think about as you listen.

What do you like about your basic track so far?

What is happening with the tempo, rhythm, and key?

Did anything surprise you in the process of making the basic track? For example, was something easier (or harder) to do than you expected?

What are some things you are looking forward to adding to the basic track to complete your vision of the song?

What do you think?

Arranging for Songwriters Week 03 Quiz Answers

Quiz 1: Finding the Groove Quiz

Q1. What is the essential function of the bass part?

• It links the rhythm and groove to the harmonic structure
• It adds a countermelody to the guitar part
• It provides an instrumental hook whenever needed
• It plays the ostinato throughout the song

Q2. What is the definition of groove as defined in this class?

• Time Feel
• How all the parts fit together to create a rhythmic texture
• The style the music is played in
• The way that a player or group of players interpret the beat
• How the beat is subdivided

Q3. What two parts do we rely on heavily to influence the groove of a song?

• Bass
• Vocals
• Guitar
• Drums

Q4. Which of the time signatures below are in compound meter?

• 4/4 time signature
• Common time signature symbol
• 6/8 time signature
• 2/4 time signature

Q5. Which of the time signatures below are in odd meter?

• 7/4 time signature
• 9/8 time signature
• 3/4 time signature
• 6/8 time signature

Q6. Which of the following drum kit elements are played with the feet?

• Bass Drum
• Snare Drum
• Floor Tom-Tom
• Crash Cymbal
• Hi-Hat

Q7. True or False: In Drum Kit Notation, notes with stems pointing down indicate that the instrument is played with your hands.

• True
• False

Q8. Which of the following is a list of drum kit elements organized by lowest to highest frequency?

• Crash, Kick, Mid-Toms, Hi-Hat
• Kick, Snare, Hi-Toms, Crash
• Snare, Shaker, Low-Toms, Hi-Hat
• Shaker, Ride, Snare, Kick

Q9. Which elements of the drum kit are used to help discern longer phrases? (Select all that apply)

• Hand Percussion
• Snare
• Toms
• Kick

Q10. True or False: In Drum Kit Notation, the “x” note head is used for cymbals.

• True
• False

Quiz 2: SELF-ASSESSMENT: Add a Groove to Your Original Song

Q1. Did you create a drum beat to accompany your original song

• Yes
• No

Q2. Did you add a bass line to your drum beat to complete your groove?

• Yes
• No

Q3. Did you write a paragraph about why you chose this drum beat and how your new groove supports your basic track?

• Yes
• No

Q4. Did you upload your original song, three drum beats, your basic track with groove, and the explanation paragraph to the Discussion Forums?

• Yes
• No

Q5. Now that you have added a groove to your original song, what final elements are you looking forward to adding to it to complete your demo?

What do you think?

Quiz 2: Instrumentation and Vocals Quiz

Q1. Fill in the blank: Mid-range instrument parts work well when they are arranged in a(n) __ conversation with the vocal part.

• Call and Response
• Closely Voiced
• Identical
• Competing

Q2. What does the A in ADSR refer to in regard to sound envelopes?

• Attack
• Attach
• Ascend
• Auto-tune

Q3. What does the S in ADSR refer to in regard to sound envelopes?

• Sound
• Syncopation
• Swell
• Sustain

Q4. When someone refers to “The Envelope” in a synth, which envelope are they referring to?

• The frequency envelope
• The sustain envelope
• The amplitude envelope
• The filter envelope

Q5. The cello range is similar to the frequency range of what other parts? (Select all that apply)

• Piano
• Bass
• Voice
• Guitar

Q6. What is the most “singable” area for a cello?

• Anything on the C string
• Anything on the D string
• Anything on the G string
• Anything on the A string

Q7. True or False: The cello part for a song should be written similar to or exactly the same as the bass part.

• True
• False

Q8. Horns are usually found in what type of context(s)? (Select all that apply)

• Ceremonial
• Dance
• Celebratory
• Country

Q9. Which of the following instruments are commonly found in “horn” sections? (Select all that apply)

• Clarinet
• Trumpet
• Saxophone
• Flute
• Trombone

Q10. Different parts in an arrangement can become a distraction for the vocal when: (Select all that apply)

• The rhythm has an intricate melodic pattern
• The part is in the same frequency range
• The part is played as a conversation with the vocal
• The part is played in a different octave