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Theory Proficiency Exam

Students seeking teacher certification must pass the Theory Proficiency Examination no later than the semester before student teaching. All other music majors, with the exception of Sound Recording Technology, must pass the Theory Proficiency examination before applying for graduation. A passing score is also a prerequisite for advanced theory coursework.

There are three levels to the Theory Proficiency Exam, equivalent to Theory II, Theory III, and Theory IV. The three levels of the exam may be taken separately or together.

A grade of 70 or better on each level is considered a passing grade.

Students may re-take parts as many times as necessary to pass.

The exam is typically given each Fall and Spring semester on the “study” days (the first weekday following the last day of classes) AND at other times announced by email.

Bring only a pencil to the Exam—no ink pens. Books, papers, backpacks, cell phones, smart phones, laptops, pads, etc. will NOT be allowed.

The School of Music office will email your results to you.


Tested Materials

THEORY II
· Part writing and Roman-numeral analysis of diatonic and secondary (applied) harmony
· Non-chord tone analysis
· Cadence analysis
· Small forms analysis (phrase, period, sentence)

THEORY III
· Part writing and Roman-numeral analysis of diatonic, secondary (applied), and 19th-century harmony (aug. 6ths, Neapolitan (bII)), and modulation
· Enharmonic modulation

THEORY IV
· Modal, synthetic, and other scales
· Post-tonal developments in harmony
· Post-tonal developments in rhythm
· Set theory
· 12-tone technique