FAQ

Who is eligible to take the exam? 

Students of all ages and levels may register for technique/repertoire exams.

Passing a theory exam is no longer required to take a technique/repertoire exam. (Updated 2025).

When and where is the Musicianship Exam held each year? 

The exam is held annually on a weekend in early May at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). 

Please check our home page for this year’s exact dates and registration deadlines.

What days and hours is the exam held? 

The exam takes place over two days:

• Saturday: approximately 9:00 AM–4:30 PM

• Sunday: approximately 12:30 PM–4:30 PM

Where are the exam rooms located at UNLV? 

The exam is held in two neighboring buildings on the UNLV campus:

• Alta Ham Fine Arts Building (HFA)

• Lee and Thomas Beam Music Center (BMC)

You can view and download room maps directly here:

• HFA Exam Room Map

• BMC Exam Rooms Map

Where can we park on exam day?

Parking is available at: 

• The parking lot off Maryland Parkway on the east side of the HFA Building 

• Cottage-Grove Parking Garage

Is there a specific dress code for the exam?

We encourage students to dress in comfortable, appropriate recital attire!

What should students know about arriving at the exam location? 

• Arrival: Students should arrive at their assigned exam room at least 15 minutes before their scheduled exam time. Please allow sufficient time for parking and walking to the exam location.

• Confirming Your Room: Upon arrival, check the posted schedule on the exam room door to confirm the room and schedule.

• No check-in is required. Students should wait quietly outside the exam room until the previous exam has ended. Once the room is available, please enter promptly and respectfully.

What can students expect during the exam?

At the beginning of the examination, the student will hand the original scores to the adjudicator. The adjudicator will then confirm the student's name, exam level, and repertoire selections with the student.

The examination will then proceed in the following order:

Technique Portion 

Repertoire Portion

Once the Repertoire portion is finished, the student may wait for the adjudicator to complete the comments, then collect their music, and exit the exam room.

For a detailed demonstration of what to expect during the exam, please watch Exam Demo video.

Note: Exam results are not given on site. Results will be emailed to the teacher within 7-14 days after the examination.

Is video recording allowed during the exam?

To protect student privacy and maintain a distraction-free environment, video and audio recording are not permitted inside the exam rooms.

Can parents stay in the exam room and listen?

Parents and guests are not permitted to accompany students into the exam rooms.

Exceptions may be made when necessary for accessibility or other special circumstances; please contact the Exam Chair in advance.

How do I register for the exam and when is the registration period? 

Registration is completed through our website's online registration page. 

The registration links for each instrument will be active during the registration period.

You can also find all current exam dates, registration period, and fee details listed right on the registration page.

What information is required to complete the registration? 

The following information is required: 

• Student's and teacher's names and email addresses

• Teacher's LVMTA membership status

• Exam level

• Titles of the technique piece(s)

• Titles and musical periods of the four repertoire pieces

Payment is processed by credit or debit card at the end of the form.

How do I know if the registration was submitted successfully?

Registration is successfully submitted when the payment has been completed. 

An automatic confirmation email will be sent to both the teacher and the student.

What happens If the payment doesn't go through?

If payment fails, the registration remains incomplete. Please try resubmitting. 

If you do not receive the confirmation email after resubmitting, please contact the Exam Chair to verify your registration. 

When will the final exam schedule be sent to teachers? 

The final schedule will be emailed to teachers approximately one week before the exam.

What are the requirements for selecting the Technical Piece/Etude? 

The requirements vary slightly by instrument:

• Piano

  • • Primer level: not required.

    • Levels 1–7: must be at least 16 measures long and performed hands together.

    • Levels 8–10: Select one Etude from the Required Etude List.

• Harp

  • • Primer level: not required.

    • Levels 1-10: Must be at least 16 measures long and performed hands together.

• Flute & Strings

  • • Must be at least 16 measures long.

Can shorter technical pieces be combined to meet the minimum measure requirement? 

Yes. Shorter technical pieces may be combined to meet the 16-measure requirement.

Are simplified editions or arrangements permitted for Levels 3–10? 

No, repertoire selections for Levels 3–10 must be original compositions.

Can a student perform a different piece from the one submitted on the exam application? 

No. Because schedules and adjudicator packets are prepared in advance, students should perform the pieces listed on their registration. 

Are photocopies allowed ?

No. Photocopies of copyrighted music are not permitted as a substitute for the original score.

Original scores for all pieces must be presented at the exam.

Photocopies may be used solely to facilitate page turns or for the adjudicator's reference when a non-memorized piece is performed.

What is the penalty for using unauthorized photocopies?

Using an unauthorized photocopy results in a 25-point deduction per piece.

Can I use free sheet music downloaded from IMSLP?

IMSLP scores are accepted only for out-of-print works.

If you have questions about your music edition, please check with the Exam Chair beforehand.

Do Technical Skills need to be performed from memory? 

Yes. Technical Skills must be performed from memory for all levels, Primer through Level 10.

Does the Technical Study/Etude need to be memorized? 

No. The Technical Study/Etude for Levels 1–10 does not need to be performed from memory.

No Technical Study/Etude required for Primer Level.

How many repertoire pieces must be memorized?

Primer: Memorization is not required.

Levels 1–10: At least two pieces must be memorized.

What are the requirements for receiving a certificate? 

Students who score 70% or higher on both the Technique and Repertoire portions will earn a Technique/Repertoire Certificate celebrating their achievement.

What are the requirements for receiving the Trophy? 

A student will receive a Trophy in addition to the certificates when they pass both the (1) Theory Exam and the (2) Technique/Repertoire Exam at the same level within the same calendar year.

What is the Special Award? 

The Special Award recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional achievement and continued progress over four consecutive years.

To qualify, a student must, during the same four consecutive years:

• • Earn a 90 or higher on the Theory Exam each year (95 was required for 2025).

  • Successfully pass both the (1) Theory Exam and the (2) Technique/Repertoire Exam at the same qualifying level each year.

  • Complete four progressive levels, with each year's qualifying level being higher than the previous year's qualifying level.

Do the four qualifying levels have to be progressive levels? 

Yes. The four qualifying levels must show progression from one year to the next, but they do not have to be consecutive levels. 

A student may skip one or more levels as long as each qualifying exam is at a higher level than the previous year's exam.

Can a student take multiple levels in the same calendar year? 

Yes. A student may take multiple exam levels in the same calendar year. 

However, the technical piece and repertoire selections may not be repeated between levels. All pieces must be different for each level.

Can a student receive more than one Trophy in the same year?

Yes. A student may receive one Trophy for each level for which they pass both the (1) Theory Exam and the (2) Technique/Repertoire Exam at the same level within the same calendar year.

Can a student skip a level? Can a student register for a higher level without taking the previous level? 

Yes. A student may skip one or more levels and register for a higher level without taking the previous level.

Can a student retake a failed exam during the same calendar year? 

No. Exams are held once per year, so retaking within the same calendar year is not available.

Can a student re-enter at the same level (or a higher level) the following year?

Yes. the student may either re-take the same level next year or move on to a higher level.

When will exam results be available? 

Results will be emailed directly to teachers within 7–14 days after the exam. 

Results are not given to students or parents at the exam site.

When and where can the teachers pick up exam awards?

Teachers can pick up Certificates, trophies, Special Awards, and adjudication sheets at the LVMTA Closing Social after the exam.

The date, time, and location of the Closing Social will be announced in the LVMTA monthly newsletter.