Theory Placement

Upcoming Theory Placement Exam Dates:

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Saturday, August 3, 2013


Music Theory Placement General Information

The Theory Placement Exam Guidelines (Acrobat Icon 44 KB) advising document provides general information about the Theory Placement process, as well as guidelines for advanced placement.

Self-Assessment Questionnaire

Note: All incoming students must either take Fundamentals of Music Theory or take a Theory Placement Exam.

Place a check in front of all of the items below with which you are very familiar and are able to perform:
  Identify and write major and minor key signatures on the staff
  Identify and write various intervals on the staff, i.e., P4, m3, M6, d7, etc.
  Identify and write time signatures, note values, beat divisions, counting syllables
  Identify and write all major scales with correct pitches and accidentals
  Identify and write all forms of minor scales, i.e., natural, harmonic, and melodic
  Identify and write all forms of triads, i.e., major, minor, augmented, diminished
  Identify and write all inversion of triads, i.e., root position, first inversion, second inversion

  • If you checked 6 or more items, you should register for the Theory I core* and sign up for a theory placement exam
  • If you checked 5 items, you can decide whether you want to register for the Theory I core and sign up for a placement exam, but plan on spending some time reviewing the material prior to the exam.
  • If you checked 4 or fewer items, you should register for Fundamentals of Theory and Fundamentals of Theory Lab; see below.
    *The Theory I core consists of the following co-requisites: Theory I, Theory Lab I, and Class Piano

If You Are Ready for Music Theory

Register for the Theory I core (above) and sign up for a theory placement exam. In addition to the written theory placement exam, you will be tested on aural skills, including:

  • interval identification (size and quality)
  • triad quality (major, minor, augmented, diminished)
  • rhythmic dictation
  • melodic dictation

If You Are Not Ready for Music Theory

If you believe you are not prepared for enrollment in Music Theory at MSU Denver, we encourage you to enroll in MUS 1010, Fundamentals of Music Theory, and MUS 1011, Fundamentals of Music Theory Lab. However, you should still schedule an appointment with a Music Department Intake Advisor.

Please note that entrance into Music Theory I and Music Theory Lab I are required in order to begin enrollment in private instruction.

If You Are Ready for Advanced Music Theory

Advanced placement in music theory is determined through a placement exam. Contact a music advisor and/or schedule an advanced music theory placement exam. In addition to the aural skills listed above, the aural exam may include harmonic dictation, depending on the level being tested. Please see the Theory Placement Exam Guidelines (Acrobat Icon 44 KB) advising document for more details.