Before you may enroll in graduate music theory courses, you first must demonstrate proficiency in harmony, form, counterpoint, sight-singing, and aural training, as determined by the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ diagnostic test. This test is given to all auditioning students. Those who do not show proficiency must take and pass the MUTH400A / MUTH400B course (see below) before undertaking graduate-level study in music theory.

What will be on the diagnostic test?

Harmony, Form, and Counterpoint:

  • Realize a figured bass which contains diatonic and chromatic harmony, demonstrating excellent voice leading
  • Analyze chords and non-chord tones in a chorale texture
  • Analyze an 18th- or 19th-century work for its overall form as well as phrase structure and general compositional devices
  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of post-tonal theory, including set theory and serial techniques

Sight-Singing and Aural Training:

  • Sing, at sight, melodies in treble, bass, alto, and tenor clefs which will include chromaticism and modulation
  • Use solmization such as fixed do, moveable do, numbers, etc.
  • Aural identification of intervals and various chord types
  • Harmonic dictation of chorale-texture examples which will contain diatonic and chromatic harmony

What to Expect from MUTH 400A/B

MUTH 400A

MUTH 400A General Theory: Review of Musical Structure: Provides review in fundamentals of tonal harmony, post-tonal theory and form. Course designed for graduate students; credit is not applicable toward degree requirements. Must be satisfactorily completed within the first two semesters of study at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½.

Prerequisite: assignment by placement testing.

MUTH 400B

MUTH 400B General Theory: Sightsinging-Eartraining Review: Provides review in fundamentals of sightsinging in four clefs, and melodic and harmonic dictation including chromatic harmony and modulation. Course designed for graduate students; credit is not applicable toward degree requirements. Must be satisfactorily completed within the first two semesters of study at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½.

Prerequisite:assignment by placement testing.

Summer Preparation for Theory Placement

While there are many ways in which you might prepare, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ recommends some of the newer online theory programs developed within the past couple of years.

Additional Resources
  • Tonal Harmony by Kostka, Stefan, and Dorothy Payne (McGraw-Hill): This is the harmony textbook which a number of the ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ theory faculty use. Although it is in 6th edition, the content changes very little from edition to edition. While the current edition costs almost $100 for the textbook, an earlier edition (used) can be purchased online for under $10. In this book, there is a section on fundamentals.
  • : Outstanding online source for tutorials and exercises.