• Theory Test Guidelines

    Theory Test Guidelines

All levels are CUMULATIVE.

Only NEW material is listed for each level.

A proctor will be available to administer the test orally if required.

A PASSING SCORE is 80 points. (100 points are possible for each level.)



PREPARATORY LEVEL

*Music alphabet (Letter names all CAPITALS)

*Identify Whole note, Dotted Half note, Half note, and Quarter note

*Count values for each kind of note

*Write counting numbers (consecutive numbering) for measures of 4/4, 3/4, and 2/4 Time

*Compare two notes on a staff to identify which one will sound lower or higher

*Match symbols and terms for Clef Signs, staff, note values, p (piano), and f (forte)

*Last page will be instrument specific to include naming lines and space notes for positions at Preparatory study level (i.e. Mallet Percussion and Guitar will only have Treble Clef.)



LEVEL 1

*Identify Key Signatures for C, G, and F Major

*Identify Whole rests, Half rests, and Quarter rests (matching values)  

*Add counting values for Whole, Half, and Quarter rests

*Identify eighth notes in pairs with beams

*Identify Common Time signature and write in counting numbers (no eighth notes)

*Identify symbols and terms for mp, mf, C, slur, tie, sharp, flat, natural sign, legato, staccato, adagio, and allegro

*Draw the Clef sign of the student’s choice (to match instrument) on a staff

*Draw Whole notes on that staff for key names given


LEVEL 2

*Identify Major and Relative minor Key Signatures for C Major and A minor

*Identify a C Chromatic scale (multiple choice question)

*Write in counting numbers and Bar Lines for 4/4, 3/4, 2/4 and C Time Signatures using all note and rest values from previous levels

*Identify eighth rests

*Identify descriptions for interval and accidental sign

*Identify intervals of  2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th .

*Draw Whole notes and Half notes on the staff of the student’s choice (including drawing the Clef sign) – stem placement counts on half notes

*Draw and name Whole notes in Middle C leger line and space (either below the Treble Clef staff OR above the Bass Clef staff, as selected by student)  


LEVEL 3

*Identify intervals of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 5th with tonality (Major (M), Minor (m), or Perfect (P)) in the Key of C Major

*Identify Key Signatures for D Major and B flat Major

*Identify Major and Relative minor Key Signatures for G Major/E minor and F Major/D minor

*Identify Time Signatures for 3/8, 6/8, 5/4, and 6/4

*Identify Dotted Quarter note and Dotted Quarter rest

*Write in counting numbers for 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4, which include eighth notes beamed, single eighth notes with flags, and eighth rests using the “+” sign for half-beats (1+2+3+, etc.)

*Name notes with Accidental Signs on the Treble Clef staff

*Note equivalents - 4 quarter notes = 1 whole note, etc.

*Identify symbols and terms for pp, ff, andante, moderato, accents, fermata, and section repeat signs

 *Draw Quarter notes, Quarter rests, and Half rests on the staff to complete measures of 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, and C Time signatures – accurate placement of notes, stems, and rests are required


LEVEL 4

*Identify intervals with Tonality (Prime, Major 2nd, Major 3rd, Perfect 4th, and Perfect 5th

*Identify Major and Relative minor Key Signatures for D Major/B minor, A Major/ F# minor, and B flat Major/G minor

*Construct Major scales (Diatonic) in Keys of C, G, D, F and B flat (follow whole and half step pattern by letter names)

*Draw 2 leger lines (either below the Treble Clef staff OR above the Bass Clef staff, as selected by student)

*Draw Half notes in each of the leger lines and spaces and identify the letter names – stem placement counts on half notes

*Identify sixteenth notes with beams and flags, sixteenth rests, and eighth note triplets

*Draw note and rest rhythm equivalents including extension dots (Dotted Half Note, Dotted Half Rest, Dotted Quarter Note and Dotted Quarter Rest)

*Write in counting numbers and add Bar Lines for any Time Signature from all previous levels

*Identify symbols and terms for crescendo, diminuendo, D. C. al fine, animato, a tempo, and rit. (ritardando)



LEVEL 5

*Identify Major and Relative minor Key Signatures for E Major/C# minor, E flat Major/C minor, and

A flat Major/F minor (include all Relative Major and Minor key signatures from all previous levels)

*Construct Harmonic minor scales in Keys of A minor, E minor, B minor, D minor, and G minor (diagrammed  by letter names)

*Draw Major Scales on the staff (including the Key Signature) for C, G, D, A, F, B flat, and E flat – one octave ascending only in 4/4 meter using quarter notes – sign and stem placement counts

*Draw 2 leger lines (either above the Treble Clef staff OR below the Bass Clef staff, as selected by student)

*Draw Half notes in each of the leger lines and spaces and identify the letter names – stem placement counts on half notes

*Write in counting numbers for any Time Signature from all previous levels (include all note and rest values from previous levels)

*Identify symbols and terms for D. S. al Fine, accelerando, and chromatic

*Identify intervals with number Name (Prime through 6th) and Tonality (Major, minor, and Perfect) in Keys of C, G, D, F and B flat Major



LEVEL 6

*Identify Major and Relative minor Key Signatures through 5 sharps and 5 flats

*Draw any of the above scales (including the Key Signature) – one octave ascending and descending in 4/4 meter using quarter notes – sign and stem placement counts

*Identify scale “pattern” names:  Chromatic, Whole Tone, Harmonic Minor and Melodic Minor

*Identify intervals with number Name (Prime through 7th) and Tonality (Major, minor, Perfect, augmented, and diminished) in any of the Major scales from Level 5 (C, G, D, A, F, B flat and E flat)

*Draw and name leger notes through 2 lines above Treble Clef staff (and below Bass Clef staff for specific instruments)

*Write in counting numbers for any Time Signature from all previous levels (including sixteenth notes and rests)

*Draw notes and rests on the staff to complete measures in any Time Signature from Levels 1 through 5 – accurate placement of notes, stems, and rests are required

*Identify Time Signatures for 9/8 and 12/8 meter

*Identify Dotted eighth note and Dotted eighth rest

*Identify symbols and terms for presto, lento, leggiero, con grazia, pesante, giocoso, dolente, tacet, and sostenuto



LEVEL 7

*Write Key Signatures for all Major Scales through 6 sharps and 6 flats – placement must be accurate

*Identify the Relative minor Scale name for any of the above keys

*Draw the Relative Harmonic Minor Scale for any of the above keys (including the Key Signature) – one octave ascending and descending in 4/4 meter using quarter notes – sign and stem placement counts

*Construct harmonic intervals based on a Major Scale (Prime through Octave)

*Identify names for scale degrees (tonic, super tonic, mediant, etc.)

*Draw and name leger notes through 3 lines above Treble Clef staff (and below Bass Clef staff for specific instruments)

*Identify symbols and terms for tritone, largo, prestissimo, con moto, con brio, vivace, 8va and 8vb

*Identify modal scale names: Ionian, Dorian, Phyrgian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian

*Compose a “rhythm” line in any Time Signature from previous levels using notes and rests – placement counts

 

LEVEL 8

*Identify Major and Relative minor Key Signatures through 7 sharps and 7 flats

*Draw any of the above Major or Relative Harmonic minor scales (including the Key Signature) – one octave ascending and descending in 4/4 meter using quarter notes –sign and stem placement counts

*Harmonize a major scale by drawing a triad on each scale degree

*Draw one rest equivalent to a given rhythm pattern of notes

*Add dotted eighth notes and eighth note triplets into rhythm construction

*Identify symbols and terms for portato, molto, loco, tranquillo, subito, pentatonic (major) scale, coda, 1st and 2nd endings, and Alla Breve symbol


LEVEL 9


*Draw any Major or Relative Minor Key Signature – sign placement counts

*Draw any Major or Relative Harmonic Minor Scale (including the Key Signature) – one octave ascending and descending in 4/4 meter using quarter notes – sign and stem placement counts

*Identify any harmonic interval with number Name and Tonality

*Identify and draw any Major Triad (from a chord symbol) in root and inversion positions

*Complete a Circle of Fifths by drawing in ALL Key Signatures – Major and Relative Minor (including enharmonic keys)

*Add triplet rhythm counting in 9/8 and 12/8 meters

*Identify note values for Whole note, Half note, Quarter note, and corresponding rests in the following time signatures: Cut time (2/2), 3/2, 4/2

*Identify symbols and terms for sempre, dolce, cantabile, con, senza, marcato, rubato, quasi, agitato, allargando, morendo, and poco a poco


LEVEL 10

*Draw any minor scale in Harmonic and Melodic forms(including the Key Signature) – one octave ascending and descending in 4/4 meter using quarter notes – sign and stem placement counts

*Draw any Major scale and its Parallel Minor scale (including the Key Signature) – one octave ascending and descending in 4/4 meter using quarter notes – sign and stem placement counts

*Harmonize any Major scale in ascending progression

*Identify and draw any Seventh Chord (Major, minor, etc.) from a given chord symbol in root and inversion positions

*Add note values for 32nd and 64th notes

*Write in counting numbers for any Time Signature from all previous levels, including measures of Cut Time (2/2)

*Compose a short rhythm solo using all given rhythm elements

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