Graduate Competency Exams in Music Theory
All graduate students in music theory must pass these exams as part of their degree requirements. The exams are also required for the Music Theory Pedagogy Certificate. Competency in keyboard harmony, part writing from a figured bass, and harmonization of a melody are evaluated through these exams. One or more of the exams may be taken any semester at the student's discretion. Exams will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis and may be taken as many times as needed to pass. Each exam is described below.
A.
Listening: Music Literature Identification (required
for all graduate degrees in music theory and composition)
This
exam is given on the first Wednesday of Fall term
and on the first and last Wednesdays of Spring
term. It will be administered at 2:30 in KMU
206. You will hear twenty-eight 45-second excerpts
drawn from a list of repertoire compiled by the music
theory and composition faculty, which includes major
works from Machaut to the present. The
repertoire list may be downloaded here or obtained
from Dr. Mathes. Master's level students must
identify 14/28 correctly (composer and work) to pass;
doctoral students must identify 21/28 to pass.
Degree-seeking students must take this exam each time
it is offered until achieving a passing score.
B.
Keyboard Harmony (required for graduate
degrees in music theory and for the music theory pedagogy
certificate; recommended for composition majors)
This
exam will be conducted on the third Wednesday of Fall
and Spring semesters, beginning at 2:30 in Dr. Rogers's
office (Longmire 406). Each exam will last approximately
10 minutes, and at least three members of the theory
faculty will be present. A sign-up sheet will be posted
on the bulletin board outside Dr. Rogers's door (beside
Longmire 406) the week prior to the exam.
You will be asked to play one or more examples from each of the components below. You may retake parts of the exam that you do not pass; you may also elect to take only portions of the exam at one time. The exam is performed entirely without notation. To pass a section, you must demonstrate appropriate harmonic progressions and voice-leading with adequate fluency. The exercises may be played slowly, but each should maintain a clear beat and meter. Obviously, you will want to maintain typical keyboard style (i.e., one voice in the left hand and three in the right).
You should prepare the following exercises in all major and minor keys up to four sharps or four flats. The examining committee may ask you to repeat a progression in a different key or mode. All progressions should be long enough to establish the tonic, illustrate the required feature, and end with a conclusive cadence. (Usually 7-12 chords is sufficient.)
To help you prepare for the exam, you may wish to consult the keyboard harmony appendix of Aldwell and Schachter's Harmony and Voice Leading, which is on reserve in the Music Library.
C.
Part Writing and Melody Harmonization
These two questions will be on the same exam, given on the tenth Wednesday of the semester from 1-5 p.m. A figured bass of approximately 10 measures in 4/4 time must be realized in SATB texture. The part writing must be error free. A melody of approximately 10-12 measures must be harmonized in SATB texture. The part writing must be error free and the progressions should be in the style of common practice tonal music. You may check your work at a keyboard.
