All students wishing to major in music must have basic knowledge of music fundamentals before beginning the Music Theory sequence. This knowledge is essential preparation for college-level music study and for success in music. A Theory Entrance Exam will be given to all incoming students who plan to either major or minor in music or enroll in Music Theory and Musicianship I (MUS 103).
Students will take the Music Theory Entrance Examination on the day of their audition. All students must pass this test before registering for MUS 103. If a student does not pass the test, it may be re-taken during SOAR (summer orientation) after further preparation.
To prepare for the test, students should look over the materials available at courses.missouristate.edu/MikeMurray/FundPrimer/ These materials include a sample test and a brief textbook available for download. The textbook includes explanations of concepts, exercises, and an answer key.
The Theory Entrance Exam covers the following knowledge:
- clefs – Notate and identify notes in treble and bass clefs up to three ledger lines above and below the staff.
- key signatures – Notate and identify all major AND minor key signatures.
- intervals – Notate and identify simple intervals (octave and smaller) including perfect (P1, P4, P5, P8), major (M2, M3, M6, M7), and minor (m2, m3, m6, m7).
- triads – Notate and identify major, minor, diminished, and augmented triads in root position. Arrange three given notes into triadic order (root-third-fifth).
- rhythm – Notate and identify notes and rests from sixteenth to whole.
- meter signatures – Categorize meter signatures as duple, triple, or quadruple. Categorize beat divisions as simple or compound.
During auditions, all students will hear a series of five diatonic (from the same key) pitches, which they will be asked to sing back to the audition committee. The student’s accuracy on this exercise will be scored and factored into the overall Theory Entrance Exam score.
Questions should be directed to: Dr. Michael F. Murray, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Music Theory (417) 836-4250.