Orientation & Registration
During Phase One of Orientation, the Music Department provides new students with a summary of its program and courses, and conducts placement testing. The Music Department's Placement Test is our way of evaluating the level of music knowledge and skills you bring as an incoming student. Faculty advisors use the results from this test to place you in appropriate classes.
If you have had prior musical training, you will take a theory placement exam (click the link to see a sample placement exam that you can print out). Assessment will include rhythmic and melodic dictation, keyboard and aural skills, and a written exam that will involve identification of chords and intervals. The tests will determine which classes are most appropriate for you.
On the other hand, if you have had no previous training, you may elect to bypass the exam and register for beginning-level music courses.
Sample Theory Test (
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Theory placement
Written exam includes:
If you have had prior musical training, you will take a theory placement exam (click the link to see a sample placement exam that you can print out). Assessment will include rhythmic and melodic dictation, keyboard and aural skills, and a written exam that will involve identification of chords and intervals. The tests will determine which classes are most appropriate for you.
On the other hand, if you have had no previous training, you may elect to bypass the exam and register for beginning-level music courses.
Sample Theory Test (
Get Acrobat Reader)Theory placement
Written exam includes:
Dictation includes:
- interval construction and recognition
- triad construction and recognition
- major and minor key signatures
- diatonic triads in major and minor keys
Sight singing includes:
- rhythms
- intervals
- triads
Keyboard placement involves:
- intervals
- triads
- major and minor scales
- rhythms
- Scales
- Chord progressions
- Harmonization of melody
- Performance