Music Theory Diagnostic Exam

Preparation for Musicianship & Theory I (25:002)

All students in the School of Music are required to enroll in the four-semester sequence of Musicianship & Theory courses, which are usually taken during the first two years. Students who enter the University of Iowa without prior knowledge of basic musical materials will be placed into Fundamentals of Music (25:001) — an intensive one-semester course — before enrolling in the Musicianship & Theory sequence.

A diagnostic examination is administered to all students before the start of fall semester classes. Students who plan to take Musicianship and Theory I (25:002) in the first semester of study must perform satisfactorily on this diagnostic examination.

Register for Fundamentals of Music for Majors (25:001), then log into ICON using your HawkID and password. Find the box titled "My ICON Courses." Click on the link for "025:001:001 Fall09 Fundamentals of Music for Majors." On the homepage for the course you will find details about skills assessed in the exam, suggested materials for preparation and review, a guide to the format of the exam, and links to the exam itself.

It is important to note that M&T I (25:002) is ONLY offered in the fall semester. If you are required to take Fundamentals (25:001), you will find yourself behind by one full year. We encourage you to become acquainted with the basic materials in order to pass this examination. Almost any basic harmony or music appreciation textbook will have introductory chapters that students may consult for preparation.

The following websites are also helpful:

Our diagnostic examination checks students’ knowledge of musical fundamentals. This includes being able to identify and correctly notate:

  • pitches in treble, bass and C clefs and enharmonic equivalents
  • simple note and rest values (up to thirty-second notes/rests)
  • meters and time signatures (simple, e.g. 2/4 and compound, e.g., 6/8)
  • major and minor (all three types) scales and key signatures
  • interval sizes and qualities (e.g., major thirds, augmented fourths)
  • all types of triads (major, minor, augmented and diminished)

Students who need extra work in the above mentioned areas must take the fundamentals course in their first semester. By fulfilling the requirements of this course, students will be eligible to register for Musicianship & Theory I (25:002) in the fall of their second year.

If you have questions about the theory curriculum at the University of Iowa, please do not hesitate to contact:

Prof. David Gompper, area head, Theory/Composition, office 1035 VMB

Last updated 9-may-03