To Musicians Auditioning for the Texas State University-San Marcos School of Music:

On audition day you will perform on your primary instrument, as well as demonstrate your musicianship skills and knowledge of music theory fundamentals.
All degree programs in the School of Music include courses in music theory. These courses are designed to increase your musical skills and your knowledge about how music "works," about how composers combine scales and chords to create music; and about so much more!

Assessment of Musicianship Skills

You will demonstrate your ability to:

•  match pitch
  we play a pitch at the piano, and you sing the same pitch anywhere in your singing range
   
•  compare two pitches played on the piano:
  is the second pitch higher, lower, or the same as the first?
   
• sing a major scale (in any key)
   
•  echo-sing a short tune
   
• sing "Happy Birthday"
   
• sight sing a melody
   
• echo-clap rhythmic patterns
   
• sight read a rhythm in 4/4 and in 6/8
  
  (Most of the above activities require singing.
  If you're not a singer, you may want to "warm up the pipes" and practice these activities.)

Theory Entrance Test

Take the Theory Entrance Test if you have not previously studied college-level music theory.

This test includes:

• notate pitches on the treble and bass clefs
   
• notate major and minor scales
   
• identify major and minor scales in a musical excerpt
   
• notate and identify key signatures
   
• notate intervals above and below a given pitch
   
• identify intervals
   
• analyze meter and rhythm
   
• complete a measure with the correct rest
   
• determine an appropriate time signature for a given measure

The above list is comprehensive. If any of the material is unfamiliar to you, there is a one-semester course at Texas State titled Basic Musicianship in which you can learn this material before enrolling in Theory 1. If you attend Texas State, then you will have the opportunity to re-take the Theory Entrance Test at 9 am on the Thursday before classes begin in Room 125 of the School of Music.

If you are currently enrolled in Music Theory AP, but have not yet taken the AP exam, then we recommend that you take the Theory Entrance Test described above.
Those who earn a "4" on the AP exam will have the option to place out of first-semester theory and aural skills by exam.
Those who earn a "5" automatically receive credit for first-semester theory and aural skills.
Additionally, they have the option to place out of second-semester theory and aural skills by exam.