Graduate Entrance Evaluation

All entering graduate students must take the Graduate Entrance Evaluation, which measures the incoming student’s knowledge of music theory and history at an undergraduate level. The goal of the evaluation is to ensure that all entering students can demonstrate prior achievement of baccalaureate-level competence in undergraduate music history and theory, thereby indicating readiness to undertake graduate studies. The evaluation is an important assessment tool that enables the faculty to help you succeed in your graduate work at SJSU.

Students who fail sections of the evaluation will be required to take coursework to address their deficiencies.

All incoming graduate students are required to complete the Music History Entrance Evaluation. This examination assesses your knowledge in one of several broad historical areas. You will select an essay question from those provided in one of the following areas:

• Medieval/Renaissance
• Baroque/Classical eras
• Romanticism
• 20th Century
• Popular music/jazz

The essay questions are designed to allow you to demonstrate your broader knowledge and synthesis of music history. You will be expected to know composers’ names, important dates, significant compositions, typical genres and forms for each period, stylistic characteristics, influences, and other pertinent topics.  You are not allowed to use any other materials such as books, essays, notes, recordings, dictionaries, computer programs, or other sources of information to help you during the evaluation.

The Music Theory/Musicianship Placement Exam consists of Dictation and Written Analysis consists of the following areas:

Musicianship:

• Writing the Soprano and Bass lines plus Roman numeral analysis of a four-part dictation
• Identifying a series of tonal chords, including a variety of 7th chords, using letter names.

Music Theory

Part 1: Structural and Harmonic Analysis

Analyze score excerpts:

• On a given score, provide a structural (form) analysis of a short work.

  Identify phrase structures, large sections and overall form of the composition, keys and modulations, cadences (including type).

  Depending on the concentration of your master’s degree, the following theory areas are also evaluated.

COUNTERPOINT EXAM: On a given score, analyze a four voice fugue.
ORCHESTRATION EXAM: Identify practical ranges of specified instruments, complete a short bowing example, identify a number of terms.

Placement Exam Review Materials [pdf]