Exam Breakdown

Part 1: Theory

• • • Key Signatures: Identify and write key signatures for major and minor keys.

    • Scale degrees: Identify scale degrees in major and minor melodies.

    • Intervals: Spell and identify simple and compound intervals above or below a given note. 

    • Transposition:  Transpose a melody into a given major or minor key. 

    • Chords: Spell and identify triads (major, minor, and diminished) and 7th chords (Mm7, M7, m7, o7, and ø7). 

    • Roman Numeral ID: Identify chords on the grand staff using Roman numerals and correct inversion symbols, including triads (major, minor, diminished) and dominant 7th chords. 

    • Meter ID:  Add barlines to excerpts in simple or compound time (2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 2/2, 6/8, 9/8, or 12/8). Identify the meter of excerpts from the literature. 

    • Stem Direction:  Determine the correct stem direction for a group of given notes in treble or bass clef.
      
      

Part 2: Aural Skills

• • • Tuning: State whether a given pitch is flat or sharp given a reference pitch. 

    • Major/Minor Mode ID: State whether a given melodic excerpt is in the major or minor mode. 

    • Intervals: Aurally identify an ascending or descending interval. Intervals include all simple intervals (P1–P8). 

    • Chords: Aurally identify a block chord as major, minor, diminished, or dominant 7th. All chords are played in root position. 

    • Melodic Dictation: Transcribe a stepwise melody in major or minor. Rhythmic values include whole, half, quarter, dotted half, dotted quarter, and 8th notes.  Examples are 2 measures in length. 

    • Rhythmic Dictation: Transcribe a simple or compound rhythm. Rhythmic values include whole, half, quarter, dotted half, dotted quarter, and 8th notes.  Examples are 2–4 measures in length.

    • Chord Dictation: Transcribe the chord progression for a 2-bar harmonic progression. Chords include only I and V in major or minor. All chords are in root position. 

    • Meter ID: Aurally identify the meter of a song excerpt. Options include 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8, 9/8, or 12/8. 

Part 1a: Fundamentals (Written Theory) 

You will have 45 minutes to complete this section of the exam. It includes each of the following sections: 

• • • Key Signatures: Identify and notate key signatures for major and minor keys.

    • Scale Degrees: Given a melody in major or minor, identify and notate the scale degree of each note.

    • Intervals:  Identify and construct both simple and compound intervals above or below a given note. 

    • Transposition: Transpose a diatonic melody in major or minor to the indicated key or by the specified interval (e.g., up a minor 3rd).

    • Chords: Construct and identify triads and seventh chords by type, including major, minor, augmented, diminished, M7, m7, Dom7, º7, and ø7. Examples may include chord inversions.

    • Roman Numerals: Given an example from the repertoire, identify the chords using Roman numerals. Examples include triads and 7th chords in inversion. 

    • Meter Recognition: Analyze an example in simple or compound time, draw in the appropriate barlines, or identify the meter by type. Meters include 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8, 9/8, and 12/8. Additional multiple-choice questions will cover reading time signatures.

Part 1b: Fundamentals (Aural Skills)

You will have 45 minutes to complete this section of the exam. It includes each of the following sections: 

• • • Tuning: Listen to a pitch and determine if it is flat or sharp. 

    • Major/Minor Mode ID: Listen to an excerpt from the repertoire and determine whether it is in major or minor.

    • Interval Recognition: Identify the size and quality (e.g., M3, m7, A4) of ascending, descending, and harmonic intervals. Examples include simple intervals only (P1–P8).

    • Chord ID: Identify a blocked chord as Major, Minor, or Dom7 (Mm7).

    • Scale Degree ID: Listen to an excerpt from the repertoire and identify the scale degree at the beginning and end of the melody.

    • Melodic Dictation: Transcribe a melodic example in major or minor. Melodies will be mostly stepwise, with rhythmic values including whole, half, and quarter notes.

    • Rhythmic Dictation: Transcribe a 2-measure rhythmic example in 6/8 time using rhythmic values that include dotted half notes, dotted quarter notes, quarter notes, and eighth notes.

    • Meter ID: Listen to an excerpt from the repertoire and determine the meter. Examples include 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8, 9/8, and 12/8.

Part 2: Written Theory

You will have 90 minutes to complete this section of the exam. It includes each of the following sections: 

• • • Transposition: Transpose a chromatic melody or chord progression into the specified key or by the interval stated (e.g., up a minor 3rd). The chord progression is presented in lead sheet notation (e.g., F#, B7, Dm, Gmaj7, C/G).

    • Analysis in Repertoire: Analyze two musical excerpts, answering questions about selected chromatic harmonies (secondary dominants and mode mixture), sequences, modulation, phrase structure, cadences, and overall form. Questions are multiple-choice.

    • Harmonic Analysis: Identify Roman numerals in a short chromatic excerpt from the repertoire. Topics may include modulation, secondary dominants, mode mixture, and chromatic embellishing tones.

    • Chord Spelling: Spell two chromatic chords given the key and Roman numeral. Chromatic chords may include secondary dominants and borrowed chords (mode mixture).

    • Voiceleading: Part-write a short 4-voice SATB chorale-style progression (8–12 chords) with two voices on the treble staff and two on the bass staff. Chords are provided in Roman numeral and lead sheet notation and include both diatonic and chromatic harmonies. Apply basic common-practice voice-leading principles throughout.

Part 3: Aural Skills

You will have 60 minutes to complete this section of the exam. Headphones are recommended. The final section includes sight-singing, so ensure you are in a space where you can sing and have access to a computer with a functioning microphone.

This section includes the following components:

• • • Instrument ID:  Listen to a musical excerpt and identify the instrument(s) you hear. Questions are multiple-choice and include instruments common to Western art music and popular music.

    • Transcription: Transcribe the melody and bassline of a musical excerpt. The excerpt may feature rhythmic subdivisions in simple or compound time, chromatic embellishments, skips or leaps to chromatic tones, and modulation.

    • Aural Analysis: Answer multiple-choice questions about a musical excerpt, including identifying chromatic harmonies by type, the key to which the excerpt modulates, and phrase relationships.

    • Modulation ID: Given the starting key, identify the key to which an excerpt modulates. Modulations may be to closely or distantly related keys.

    • Rhythm Dictation: Transcribe a 2–4 measure rhythm in simple or compound time, including subdivisions.

    • Sight-Singing: Sight-sing one diatonic and one chromatic melody. You will be provided with the melody and a tonic note. Use the "record" button on the screen to record your performance, and the "play my answer" button to review your recording. Submit your recording or re-record if needed.