Further Details about Entrance Exams
1. The Music Theory Entrance Exam tests the following:
a. Fundamentals: scales, keys, intervals, triads, 7 th chords, inversions, Roman Numerals, figured bass, meter
b. Non-chord tones, cadences, periods, introduction to chromaticism, secondary dominants, modulation
c. Chromaticism: mode mixture, Neapolitan, Augmented 6 th chords, enharmonic relationships
d. Form: binary & ternary, rondo, variations, sonata form, imitative counterpoint
e. 20 th century music and techniques: scales, harmony, atonal theory, twelve-tone theory
2. The Music History Exam consists of objective questions from all time periods. Review topics should include (but not be limited to):
a. The Middle Ages: Gregorian chant, the beginnings of polyphony, motets, secular music and the fixed forms, Ars Nova
b. The Renaissance: English guise, Reformation music, Palestrina style, mass types, madrigals
c. The Baroque: Basso continuo, Baroque opera, oratorio, cantatas
d. The Classical Period: Sturm und Drang, Operatic reforms, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven
e. The Romantic Period: All forms of program music, Lieder, nationalism, exoticism, performance practice, sacred music, New German School
f. The Twentieth Century: "isms" (expressionism, neoclassicism, etc.) Schoenberg and serialism, electronic music
In addition, the student should be prepared to discuss briefly contributions of significant composers using specific works to support your statements.
An in-depth essay, based on a listening example, will be used to determine scope of knowledge and writing style.
Recommended references for theory review:
*Koska and Payne: Tonal Harmony
*Spencer and Temko: A Practical Approach to the Study of Form in Music
Recommended references for history review:
*Mark Evan Bonds: A History of Music in Western Culture
Donald Jay Grout: A History of Western Music
David Poultney: Studying Music History
Wold and Cykler: An Outline History of Music
*texts currently used for WCU Music undergraduates
In addition to the above textbooks, here are a few music theory web sites and a self test textbook. These may prove helpful as you review:
http://www.emusictheory.com/practice.html
http://www.mhhe.com/tonalharmony5
http://www.mibac.com/Pages/Theory/Main_Theory.htm
Self tests Text:
Stefan Kostka and Dorothy Payne, Tonal Harmony, with an Introduction to Twentieth Century Music, 5 th ed. New York : McGraw-Hill, 2004.
(Each chapter includes "self-tests" with answers in the back of the book to check progress and understanding of the material discussed. It is recommended to begin with the first chapter and complete at least the first 20 or so chapters to review for the theory portion of the graduate placement exam.)