A Guide to the Undergraduate Music Theory Placement Exam
The Undergraduate Music
Theory Placement Exam is given to incoming undergraduates in order to assess
their understanding of basic topics in music theory. The written portion covers the following
topics: clef reading, meter, key signatures, scales, intervals, and chords. The aural skills portion asks the student to
identify rhythms, three-note melodic groups, melodic intervals, and triad
qualities by ear.
Here are a few more
specific notes on the topics covered by the written exam:
Clef
Meter: Be able to
identify simple and compound meters from rhythms written to reflect their
accentuation patterns
Key Signatures: Be able
to write any major or minor key signature (This is most important!)
Scales: Be able to write
any major or minor scale, and be sure to know all three forms of the minor
scale
Intervals: Be able to
identify intervals by size and quality (e.g. Major 3rd, Perfect 5th, etc.)
Chords: Be able to write
the most common qualities of triads and seventh chords