DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK
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PROFICIENCIES AND PLACEMENT EXAMINATIONS

NOTE: Information concerning the content of any of these examinations is available to students in the Department of Music Office.

THEORY PLACEMENT EXAMINATIONS:  

THEORY I PLACEMENT EXAMS:

Students wishing to enroll in MUS 150 Music Theory I must pass an entrance exam, given on the first of classes in the fall semester. If you do not attend the first class and you do not make prior arrangements to take the exam, you will not be able to take Theory I until the following year.

Failure to pass this examination will require you to pass MUS 130 Music Fundamentals and MUS 130L Music Fundamentals Aural Lab before taking MUS 150/150L.  MUS 130 does not satisfy theory requirements for the Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, or Bachelor of Arts in Music degree.  It is further suggested, but not required, that you take MUS 102 Music Theory for the Non-Major prior to taking MUS 130/130L, depending upon your performance on the placement exam.

Sample Theory I Placement Exam (PDF, 128 KB)

THEORY PLACEMENT EXAM FOR UNDERGRADUATE TRANSFER STUDENTS:

All transfer students will be given a theory, ear-training and sight-singing proficiency examination for the purpose of determining the level of competency in these areas.  If test results reveal deficiencies, transfer students will be required to remove such by enrolling and successfully completing one or more semesters of courses in the theory curriculum.

Please note that the exam for undergraduate transfer majors is the same as that given to incoming Theory & Composition graduate students. It is used as a diagnostic tool to help us place you in the correct level theory course, and it is expected that you will not know all the material asked.

Sample Theory Exam (PDF, 2.3MB)
Exam Information

Date and Time:

Click HERE to see when the Transfer Theory Exam will be offered next.

To Register for the Exam:

Please contact Dr. Paul Lombardi via email to arrange to take the test.

SIGHTSINGING PROFIC IENCY EXAMINATIONS:  

These are given at the end of each semester of Music Theory I-IV as part of the course work.  You will receive information concerning this in your theory classes.

PIANO PROFICIENCY AND VOCAL PROFICIENCY EXAMINATIONS:

PIANO PLACEMENT EXAM:

All new undergraduate students entering the study of music at UNM must take the piano placement exam.  This exam is given during the first week of classes each semester.  The purpose of the examination is to determine at what level your study of piano should begin.  Check with the Music Office for the piano placement exam schedule.

PIANO PROFICIENCY EXAM:

BACHELOR OF MUSIC – Concentrations in Performance, String Pedagogy or Jazz Studies:

The Piano Proficiency Exam (PDF, 100KB) will be given at the end of the fall and spring semesters. The piano proficiency is not required for keyboard performance majors. For all others pursuing the Bachelor of Music or Bachelor of Music Education, the first attempt at this exam must occur before the last semester at UNM and must be completed before the student can enroll in MUS 491 Senior Recital.

Beginning with the Fall 2008 semester, any student who attempts to enroll for MUS 491 Senior Recital who has not successfully completed his or her piano proficiency exam will have a hold placed on his or her academic record and will not be allowed to register.

BACHELOR OF MUSIC – Concentration in Theory and Composition:

In place of the standard piano proficiency, Theory/Composition majors must pass a Keyboard Skills Test (PDF, 68KB) administered by the theory faculty. 

BACHELOR OF MUSIC EDUCATION, and
MUSIC EDUCATION MINOR:

All students majoring in music education and all students minoring in music education are required to pass the Piano Proficiency Examination.  The examination must be passed prior to student teaching.

All Vocal Concentration students except vocal concentrates must also pass the vocal proficiency examination prior to student teaching. 

The vocal and piano proficiency examinations will be administered at the end of the fall and spring semesters.

KEYBOARD SIGHTREADING REQUIREMENTS FOR KEYBOARD MAJORS AND CONCENTRATES:

Every keyboard major and concentrate is required to take a sightreading examination as part of the completion requirements of APMS 202 or 220.  Failure to read at an adequate level of proficiency requires repetition of that applied number and repetition of the examination.

 

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