Graduate Self-Assessment - Part I - Aural Skills

The following is an automated music theory self-review and assessment. It is designed to give prospective and incoming graduate music students a means of determining which areas of their theory training may require review. When you click the "Submit Assessment for Grading" button at the end of this page, you will see a page that lists your answers and recommendations for review units found in the SMU Theory Review Guide. You may click the "back" button on your browser to review this assessment.

Note: The placement exam at SMU is separate and independent from this self-assessment. Although this self-assessment is designed to assist in a prospective student's preparation for graduate studies, it does not count as the actual placement exam, nor does it represent the entire placement exam. All students are urged to properly review and prepare for exams that may differ from the following general self-assessment.

Instructions:

1. Complete this assessment. Be sure all questions are answered with one of the choices. Blank answers will count as errors.
2. Select the "Submit Assessment for Grading" button when you are done OR
   Select the "Cancel" button to abort and clear all answers.
3. After you submit the assessment for grading, you should immediately see your results. The results page will have a complete report of your correct and incorrect answers and will recommend specific units for review. You should mark those units on the SMU Theory Review Guide and study those units before attempting the actual placement exams at SMU.

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Aural Skills Assessment

Play the following musical examples 1-3 times before answering the questions:

1. Identify the interval played:


Units Quality Perfect Major Minor Augmented Diminished Size unison second third fourth fifth sixth seventh

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2. Identify the interval played:


Quality Perfect Major Minor Augmented Diminished Size unison second third fourth fifth sixth seventh

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3. Identify the interval played:


Quality Perfect Major Minor Augmented Diminished Size unison second third fourth fifth sixth seventh

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4. Identify the scale played:


type Major Natural Minor Melodic Minor Harmonic Minor Whole Tone Pentatonic Phrygian Mixolydian

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5. Identify the scale played:


type Major Natural Minor Melodic Minor Harmonic Minor Whole Tone Pentatonic Phrygian Mixolydian

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6. Identify the scale played:


type Major Natural Minor Melodic Minor Harmonic Minor Whole Tone Pentatonic Phrygian Mixolydian

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7. Identify the triad played:


type Major Minor Augmented Diminished

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8. Identify the triad played:


type Major Minor Augmented Diminished

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9. Identify the seventh-chord played:


type Major (MM) Minor (mm) Dominant (Mm) Half-diminished (dm) Fully-diminished (dm)

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10. Identify the seventh-chord played:


type Major (MM) Minor (mm) Dominant (Mm) Half-diminished (dm) Fully-diminished (dm)

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Melodic Dictation

If you have not done so already, Download and print the following link to the PDF file for the melodic and harmonic dictation: click here to download
Listen to the example, notating it on the worksheet. Then using your results, answer the following questions.

Note: The example will begin with a short tonicization pattern, followed by three clicks in tempo. If it takes you more than 5-6 listenings to notate the melody, you should review Unit A4 on the Study Guide.

11. The first chromatic note in the melody occurs in which measure?

1 2 3 4 5 6

12. What is the first chromatic note in the melody?

C# E F# G#

13. What harmony is implied in measure 3?

bVI N6 V/vi iii

14. What type of cadence is implied in the last measure?

deceptive imperfect authentic phrygian half

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Harmonic Dictation

If you have not done so already, Download and print the following link to the PDF file for the melodic and harmonic dictation: click here to download
Listen to the example, notating it on the worksheet. Then using your results, answer the following questions.

Note: The example begins with a four-chord tonicization pattern, followed by four clicks in tempo. If it takes you more than 6-7 listenings to complete the example, you should review Unit A4 on the Study Guide.

Select the correct analysis for each chord in the example. Chord #1 is analyzed on the worksheet.

15. Chord #2: V 7 vii(dim) V 6/5 VI

16. Chord #3: iv 6/4 i III ii(dim)

17. Chord #4: iv 6 VI V i 6/4

18. Chord #5: III III 6 i 6/4 V

19. Chord #6: III vii o7 of iv V 6/5 of V Gr+6

20. Chord #7: iv V N 6 i

21. Chord #8: V 6/5 of V N 6 iv ii(dim)

22. Chord #9: V 7 V bVI i 6/4

23. Chord #10: i 6/4 V 7 V 4/3 vii o7

24. Chord #11: i i 6 VI iv 6/4

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Rhythmic Dictation

25. Listen to the following example and select the correct notation.









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Submit assessment for grading

There should be a grading results page that follows when you click "Submit Assessment for Grading." This will list the question with the correct answer in parenthesis. Your answer will follow. Incorrect answers will include recommended review units. You should write down all recommended review units and select a review source as listed on the SMU Theory Review Guide and review all topics thoroughly.

Please click the "BACK" button on your browser to return to this page, and the "FORWARD" button on your browser to toggle between this assessment and the answer page.
If you do not see the grading and report page, please click here to report it.

Return to SMU Music Theory Review Home Page

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copyright 2005 - Division of Music Theory and Composition, SMU. All rights reserved.