Basic Testing Information

Types of Placement Tests

Theory Entrance (optional)
for students with no college level credit for theory wanting to get into Theory & Aural I.

Theory & Aural Placement (recommended)
for students with some college-level music theory
strongly recommended for transfer students to test content knowledge before continuing in theory sequence

Testing Content

Theory Entrance Test
Rhythm:
time signatures
measure completion
Pitch notation (treble & bass clefs)
Scales
notation of major & all 3 minors
recognition within in an excerpt
Key Signatures
notation & recognition (treble & bass clefs)
major & minor
recognition from an excerpt
Intervals
notation above & below given note
Recognition of major, minor, perfect, augmented & diminished
Chords
notation & recognition of triads & 7th chords
major, minor, augmented, diminished, major-minor, half-diminished, fully-diminished

Theory Placement Test
- Please contact Dr. Cynthia Gonzales (cg11@txstate.edu) concerning aural skills components.

Theory 1
           Elements of Pitch and Rhythm (review)
            Spelling Triads & Seventh Chords (review)
            Diatonic Chords in Major and Minor Keys (review)
            First species counterpoint
            Part writing chords in root position
            Harmonic Progression and the Sequence
            Writing Triads in First and Second Inversion
                        [ch. 1-9, Kostka/Payne, Tonal Harmony, 6th ed.]
Theory 2
           Cadences, Phrases, Periods, and Sentences
            Non-chord Tones
            Seventh Chords (V7, II7, VII7 & Other Diatonic 7ths)
            Secondary Functions (such as V/V, V7/ii, vii6/V, etc.)
            [ch. 10-17, Kostka/Payne]
Theory 3
           Modulations Using Diatonic Common Chords
            Other Modulatory Techniques
            Binary and Ternary Forms; Sonata Form
            Mode Mixture; Neapolitan & Augmented 6th Chords
            Enharmonic Spellings & Enharmonic Modulations
                        [ch. 18-25, Kostka/Payne]
Theory 4
           Further Elements of the Harmonic Vocabulary
            Tonal Harmony in the Late Nineteenth Century
            Twentieth-Century Music: Materials and Techniques
            Post-Tonal Theory; New Directions
                        [ch. 26-30, Kostka/Payne]

You may contact the Music Office, by writing, calling, e-mailing, or dropping by at:

School of Music
Texas State University-San Marcos
601 University Drive
San Marcos, TX 78666

E-mail:
Music@TxState.edu

Phone:
(512) 245-2651