At my recent talk on composing and arranging at Anglican High, I highlighted to the O-Level music students on the importance to deepen one's understanding of music theory in order to be a superior music arranger. Then one of the them asked me this question, "Would ABRSM Grade 8 theory suffice?"
Haha!
Best part is: America doesn't seem to have the ABRSM/Trinity equivalent kind of graded exams for music. Correct me if I'm wrong?
What topics in music theory are important then, to be a superior music arranger?
Almost all topics are important; though the more apparent ones are Parts of Music/Textures/Layers, chord identity and chord structures, types of bass playing, principles of counter melodies... See More
Almost all topics are important; though the more apparent ones are Parts of Music/Textures/Layers, chord identity and chord structures, types of bass playing, principles of counter melodies formations, sub-harmonies and super-harmonies, types of modulations, types of rhythms, syncopation, etc.