Music Theory Entrance Exam
All freshmen music majors and minors, as well as transfer students are required to take a placement exam as a part of the audition and entrance process to the music program. This basic test will be given during the Getting Started Days before Fall Semester officially begins. Please be sure to be at the exam! Upon completion of the exam, you will be placed into the appropriate theory level based on your score. Topics covered on the exam include keys, scales, intervals, etc. and simple aural concepts.
You can prepare for the Theory Entrance Exam by purchasing an introductory music theory text and work through the material on your own. Introductory texts usually include titles such as Introduction to Music Theory, Basic Music Theory, or Fundamentals of Music Theory. A really useful text is Basic Materials in Music Theory: A Program Course by Paul O. Harder.
As you prepare, you should become very familiar with the following topics:
- Rules of basic music notation
- Major and minor key signatures
- Relative and parallel keys
- Simple meter and rhythm
- Major and three minor scale forms
- Basic interval spelling and recognition (up through the octave)
For additional information:
Dr. Bruce Curlette
(937) 766-7565
e-mail
