Frequently Asked Questions

For Graduate Students

  • What can I expect on the Graduate Orientation Exam in Music Theory? How can I prepare for it?

    Overview

    Every student admitted to a master's or doctoral degree program in the College of Music, with the exception of master’s students in jazz studies and doctoral students in music education, must take the College's graduate orientation examination in music theory, a two-part exam covering written music theory and aural skills. Both parts of this exam must be taken before the first day of classes of the student's first semester of enrollment in the degree. The examination is given before the first day of classes in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The lowest passing score for each part is 70%.

    Students who score below 70% on the written music theory orientation examination must take MUS 200: Graduate Review of Music Theory. Students who score below 70% on the aural skills examination must take MUS 201: Graduate Review of Aural Theory. MUS 200 and MUS 201 may not be used to meet the course or credit requirements of any College of Music degree program.

    Students who are required to take MUS 200 must complete the course with a grade of 2.0 or higher before enrolling in any 400-, 800-, or 900-level music theory course. Students who are required to take MUS 201 must take it either prior to or concurrently with their first music theory course at the 400-, 800-, or 900-level.

    Additionally, any doctoral student in music education who intends to take one or more music theory courses must take the two-part graduate orientation examination in music theory prior to enrolling in graduate-level music theory courses.  The examination is given before the first day of classes in the fall, spring, and summer semesters.  The lowest passing score for each part is 70%.

    Exam Contents

    The exam in basic music theory covers fundamentals of music theory (e.g., scales, key signatures, meter, intervals), elements of diatonic harmony and counterpoint, and basic chromatic harmony. The exam in basic aural skills deals with chord quality, rhythmic and pitch error detection, and matching what is heard to given choices for music notation.

    There are two optional exams as well:

    • Instrumentation and Orchestration: students who have studied these subjects should consider taking the optional exam. A score of 70% or higher waives the prerequisite of MUS 877 (Scoring for Band and Orchestra) for students wishing to enroll in MUS 878 (Advanced Scoring for Band and Orchestra). The exam deals with instrument ranges, transpositions, and capabilities.
    • Counterpoint: students who have studied tonal counterpoint in the past should consider taking the optional exam. A score of 70% or higher waives the prerequisite of MUS 869 (Graduate Counterpoint) for MUS 870 (Advanced Modal Counterpoint), MUS 871 (Advanced Tonal Counterpoint), and MUS 874 (Schenkerian Analysis). The exam deals with dissonance types and treatment, characteristic tonal idioms in soprano and bass, and contrapuntal textures.

     

    We recommend that incoming graduate students prepare for the basic written exam by purchasing Seth Monahan's eTheory Graduate Review course, focusing on the harmony section (rather than the form section). Monahan's course aligns closely with how music theory is taught at MSU: terminology, approach, priorities. This course is likely to be especially worthwhile to those students who have taken time off since studying music theory as undergraduates, but could be very beneficial to others as well.

  • What can I expect on the DMA comprehensive exam in music theory? How can I prepare for it?

    Please begin by listening to the episode of The Scoop dedicated to the DMA comprehensive exam in music history and music theory.

    The doctoral comprehensive exam in music theory is given three times per year: late in the summer, fall, and spring semesters. See the graduate studies website for detailed dates, times, and locations. A student is eligible to attempt the exam beginning in the semester in which the student is taking the last required music theory course. There is a strict sign-up deadline; please see the website for details.

    Students have 4.5 hours to work and may submit up to 3 questions, which is designed as three blocks of 90 minutes each. (Students may use the time however they wish, however, including submitting just two questions.) To pass the exam, a student must earn passing grades on two questions within the same exam offering. During the exam, students have access to a listening station (for questions that include an audio file) as well as electronic keyboards.

    The following courses have associated questions on the comprehensive exam:

    • MUS 868 (Topics in Music Analysis): a separate question for each course offering
    • MUS 869 (Graduate Counterpoint)
    • MUS 870 (Adv. Modal Counterpoint)
    • MUS 871 (Adv. Tonal Counterpoint)
    • MUS 872 (Tonal Forms): a separate question from each instructor (but a student may submit only one tonal forms question at the exam)
    • MUS 873 (Post-Tonal Techniques): a separate question from each instructor (but a student may submit only one MUS 873 question at the exam)
    • MUS 874 (Schenkerian Analysis) and MUS 977 (Adv. Schenkerian Analysis): these two courses share a question
    • MUS 875 (Analysis of Musical Scores)
    • MUS 876 (Keyboard Skills and Improvisation), MUS 867 (Keyboard Skills and Practical Musicianship), and MUS 972 (Adv. Keyboard Skills): these three courses share a question
    • MUS 877 (Scoring for Band and Orchestra) and MUS 878 (Adv. Scoring for Band and Orchestra): these two courses share a question
    • MUS 879 (Tonal Literature and Analysis): a separate question from each instructor (but a student may submit only one MUS 879 question at the exam)
    • MUS 970 (Pedagogy of Music Theory I) and MUS 971 (Pedagogy of Music Theory II): these two courses share a question
    • MUS 973 (Readings in Music Theory): a separate question is offered for each instance of this course
    • MUS 976 (Performance and Analysis): a separate question is offered for each instance of this course
    • MUS 978 (Analysis of Contemporary Music)

     

    Students wishing to learn how best to prepare for a specific question should contact the instructor of the associated course. Questions about the exam in general can be directed to the music theory area chairperson.

  • I need to find a theory faculty member to serve on my DMA guidance committee. How should I do that?

    Please begin by listening to the episode of The Scoop dedicated to assembling a DMA guidance committee.

    The best way to proceed is to email the music theory area chairperson. Include the following information in your email:

    • your degree program (such as DMA in bassoon performance);
    • your anticipated graduation date (such as spring 2023);
    • whether you plan to write a document or instead complete two lecture-recitals (if you know);
    • which theory course(s), if any, you have taken, and with which faculty member(s);
    • your current research interests or brainstorms for topics for your document or lecture-recitals, if you know.

    The music theory area chairperson will then recommend one or more theory faculty member(s) to contact based upon who still has availability and who has expertise in your stated research area(s), if any.

     

  • Which graduate courses are being offered in music theory? What does each course cover?
    If you would like to know more about a specific course, please feel free to contact either the course's instructor or the music theory area chairperson.
  • I might be interested in applying for the Master's degree in Music Theory and/or the Graduate Certificate in Music Theory. How can I learn more?
    Terrific! You can learn more here and here.

For Undergraduate Students

  • What's the difference between MUS 180 and MUS 180E? What determines which course I'll take?

    MUS 180 and MUS 180E are two different versions of the first-semester course in the required undergraduate music theory sequence. Which one is right for you depends on how much background you have in music theory prior to starting college. The goal of the music theory faculty is to place each student in the most appropriate course that permits successful learning throughout the undergraduate course sequence.

    Every entering music major takes the Diagnostic Exam in Music Theory, which is proctored by undergraduate advisor Talitha Wimberly. The results of this exam tell the music theory faculty how much you already know about basic music theory, such as key signatures, scales, basic rhythms and meters, intervals, and triads. Students who demonstrate a solid command of these basics will be placed into MUS 180. Students with less command will be placed into MUS 180E.  

    The two courses meet as follows:

    • MUS 180 meets on Mondays and Wednesdays with the faculty instructor, and on Thursdays for a lab with the graduate Teaching Assistant.
    • MUS 180E meets on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays with the faculty instructor, and on Thursdays for a lab with the graduate Teaching Assistant. In addition, students who are placed in MUS 180E are required to meet weekly with a tutor in the Music Theory Learning Center throughout the fall and spring semesters of their first year. A grade of 3.0 or higher in MUS 180E waives the tutoring requirement for MUS 181 in the spring.
  • What can I expect in the undergraduate theory and aural skills curriculum? What will I learn in each course?
    Coming soon!
  • I'm really interested in music theory and I might want to apply for a graduate program in theory. What should I do?

    Great! Here are some steps you can take right away:

    • Learn about what's involved in the process of applying to graduate schools. You can start by reading here.
    • Talk with the members of the MSU music theory faculty. All of us would be happy to meet with you.
    • Start connecting with the music theory discipline by attending conferences, joining interest groups, and subscribing to email list-servs. Learn more.
    • Read as much published scholarship in the discipline as you can. Start with some recently published journal articles and books.
    • Take as many music theory courses as you can while you're here at MSU. 
    • Build your musicianship skills (e.g., keyboard, singing, stylistic composition).

For Current Students