The music theory placement exam is required before arriving for orientation for all music majors (BA, BME, and BM) and music minors.
Purpose
The purpose of the exam is to evaluate your music theory knowledge. Our music majors and minors come from many different backgrounds of music theory and many of our students have never had any theory instruction. That is OK! By taking this exam, we will be better able to help you succeed when you arrive on campus.
When to Take the Exam
You should receive a task list from the Office for Student Success prior to your scheduled orientation session. One of the tasks on this list with be the music theory placement exam. You must take the exam prior to arriving on campus for orientation.
Results
After you have taken this exam, your results will determine whether or not you must register for MUSI 104: Music Fundamentals. Music Fundamentals is taken during the Fall semester as a co-requisite of Music Theory I and Aural Perception I. This means that regardless of your performance on this exam, you will still be registered in Music Theory I and Aural Perception I and will not be delayed in the progress of your degree. You will receive your results when you visit with the director of the school of music for advising.
I am ready! Where do I find the test?
When you are ready to take the exam:
- Go to umonline.umt.edu.
- Click "Moodle NetID Login"
- Enter your NetID credentials and Sign in
- Click “Music Theory Placement Exam” under “MY COURSES” in the left-hand column.
- Read the instructions carefully
How do I practice for the exam?
There are many resources for studying music fundamentals. We highly recommend understanding the following elements:
- Music notation
- Clefs
- Major scales
- Minor scales
- Key signatures
- Meter/Time signatures
- Triads
- Intervals
We recommend obtaining a copy of the textbook we use in our four-semester sequence and studying chapters one through eight.
The Musician's Guide to Theory and Analysis, Third Edition
Jane Piper Clendinning and Elizabeth West Marvin
W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
ISBN: 978-0-393-26305-3
Here are a few FREE resources online for practicing:
AP Music Theory Credit
Credit may be awarded for a score of 4 or above on the AP Music Theory exam for our Music Fundamentals course at the University of Montana. However, you are still required to take the placement exam.
Please direct any questions to Dr. Zachary Cooper, zachary.cooper@umontana.edu.