1) “With this first problem, I'm beaming over rests. In this example, the beam disappears if the layer is not currently selected. The rests for both layers are on top of each other. The top image has layer 1 active, and the bottom image has layer 2 active”

The bad news:

You have come across a bug, and the only solution is a time consuming workaround.

Go to

Document Options - Layers

and de-select the option {Consolidate Rests Across Layers}.

Now all beams will show, but you have to, manually adjust the rests for both layers so that they “are on top of each other”.

2) “Also, the stems on the dotted eighths are not aligning”

Actually the stems should not be on the same vertical line. The rule says that the notes on the ‘correct’ stem side should align. Hence the layout is correct as it is; Finale is doing what it is supposed to do.

But why not use only one layer (= with all four noteheads on the same, shared stem)?

3) “In this next example, the vertical placement of the rests seems haphazard and inconsistent. I can move the rests, but I'm not sure exactly what the correct vertical placement is”

a. The second eighth rest ought to be split into two sixteenth rests.

b. The {rest - stemlet} vertical distance should be consistent. Also, consider positioning the (8th and 16th) rests so that their top is on the same horizontal line.

4) “In the first measure below, the double dotted eighths in the first measure are too close to the thirty-seconds”

Go to

Document Options - Music Spacing

Click the button {Spacing Widths…}.

Increase the {Reference Width} to something like 36pt.

5) “The placement of the tremolo on the whole note below looks wrong to me. What is the correct placement?”

On this whole note chord the tremolo should be centered below the lowest whole note, preferably within the staff. Do not put the tremolo above this whole note chord - since a stem would go below the chord, not above the chord.

Thanks, Peter! Let me work with this information and report back.

Everything worked out and I got the score done. Thanks, Peter!