Music Theory Placement Diagnostic
All students, regardless of their level, are required to take a theory placement diagnostic. Find your situation below:
Theory Placement for New Freshmen
Questions? During the fall and spring semesters, contact Dr. Archer at karcher@siue.edu. During the summer (after spring commencement until the start of fall classes), faculty are off contract, so please contact the Department Chair instead.
The theory diagnostic is given in February on audition days. It takes 20 to 30 minutes. You will be notified of the results along with your acceptance letter.
If you passed, congratulations! Just register for MUS 121a, 125a, and 126a and you're all set. "Music Theory" is actually two different classes:
- MUS 125a: Lecture Component (Mon/Wed/Fri 9:00-9:50 AM)
- MUS 126a: Aural Skills Component (Tues/Thurs 9:00-9:50 AM)
- Some students have a note that although they passed, they should still review a particular topic. Review sheets are posted below under Review Materials and Resources.
- There is also an optional second, more advanced diagnostic. Students who have already passed it are excused from the first three weeks of class, but should still come to the very first day of classes, Monday at 9:00 AM in Dunham Hall 1029.
- Everyone may elect to try the second, more advanced diagnostic on the first day of class, even if it's for the second time.
If you did not audition in February, or if you did not pass the diagnostic, no worries! You can take the diagnostic on the first day of classes, too.
- You will be signed up for a summer Blackboard course that contains review materials.
- When you see your adviser, go ahead and register for gen ed courses (like math, English, etc.) to hold your place there in case you need them.
- On the first day of fall classes, you must come to Dunham Hall 1029 at 9 AM to retake the diagnostic.
- People who review from the summer Blackboard shell usually pass. If you pass, you can drop the gen eds and register for MUS 121a/125a/126a instead. Those will always be available to music majors.
- If you don't pass the second time, it's okay. We'll have you take a theory fundamentals class in the spring, and you can start MUS 121a/125a/126a next fall. This will not delay your graduation; you'll just take things in a different order.
What's on the test? Major and minor keys, major and minor scales, meter, rhythm, and time signatures.
Theory Placement for Transfer Students
Questions? During the fall and spring semesters, contact Dr. Archer at karcher@siue.edu. During the summer (after spring commencement until the start of fall classes), faculty are off contract, so please contact the Department Chair instead.
If you have ever taken music theory at a community college or other university, you take the transfer student diagnostic rather than the freshman diagnostic.
The transfer student placement diagnostic will be given on the Friday before classes start, at 9 AM in Dunham Hall room 0158. It takes about 1 hour. Each student will also have a brief interview to assess aural skills and sight-singing.
The placement is only to assess how much theory you've already had and determine in which semester of SIUE theory you will be most successful. You don't have to prepare at all, but if you want to, you can use your notes from your previous theory courses, any theory textbook, or any online resources. Some students like gmajormusictheory.org or teoria.com.
What's on the test? Everything that is normally covered in 4 semesters of music theory and aural skills, from spelling scales and key signatures to analysis of tone rows and cells in modern music.
Theory Placement for Graduate Students
Questions? Contact Dr. Mishra at mmishra@siue.edu or Dr. Greenwood at agreenw@siue.edu.
The graduate student placement diagnostic will be given on the Saturday before classes start, at 2 PM in Dunham Hall room 1029. It takes about 1 hour.
The purpose of the graduate diagnostic exam is to assess your readiness to pursue the theory/analysis component(s) of your Master's degree program at SIUE. In particular, it is to evaluate your theory/analysis skills as they relate to the core Critical Approaches in Music Analysis class (MUS 502).
If you pass this exam (score of 70% or higher), you may register directly for MUS 502 in the Spring semester following your admission. If you do not pass the exam, you will first need to take and pass the Graduate Music Theory Review class (MUS 500A), offered in the Fall, before registering for MUS 502. In either case, it is strongly recommended that you take MUS 502 in your first year of study. Though it is possible to take it in your second year, this is not advised, as the work requirements for this class can conflict with recital or thesis demands. If you do not pass this diagnostic exam, you should plan on taking MUS 500A in the Fall of your first semester, to allow for optimal timing of MUS 502.
What's on the test? The exam covers four areas.
1. Basic harmonic theory. Understanding of the Roman numeral system as applied to tonal music:
- Major, minor, diminished, and augmented triads
- Dominant and diminished seventh chords
- Neapolitan chords
- The three standard varieties of augmented sixth chords
- Secondary dominants
- Modulation
How you will be tested: You will be given one or two short passages and asked to identify harmonies using Roman numerals. It is important that you clearly state the key of the music (which may or may not modulate) and that you use Roman numerals to relate the chords to the key. Do not simply identify a chord as a "G major" chord, since this tells us nothing about function. Instead, identify it as a chord within a key: I in G major, V in C minor, and so on. If the music modulates, identify the new key and show the method of modulation.
2. Woodwind and brass transpositions. Approximately half of the repertoire in MUS 502 is based on full orchestral scores, so understanding how woodwind and brass instruments transpose is critical. The most important are: alto flute, English horn, clarinet in A and Bb, bass clarinet, clarinet in Eb, natural horns in all keys, valve horn in F, natural trumpets in all keys, and valve trumpet in Bb.
How you will be tested: You will be given several short passages (a few bars each) to transpose. Any of the instruments listed above may be tested. In each case, you will be given a transposed part for that instrument and asked to rewrite it in concert (sounding) pitch. You must transpose not only the pitches but also the key signature. You will receive zero points for any question where the key signature is wrong, regardless of how many correct pitches you get.
3. Sonata form. Understand the terms associated with sonata form: introduction, exposition, development, recapitulation, codetta (or closing area), and coda. Understand the typical characteristics of each section (themes, keys, etc.) as found in the Classical to early-mid Romantic eras, in both major and minor key scenarios.
How you will be tested: The test focuses on practical application rather than definitions. You will be given the score of the first movement of a Classical or early Romantic work. Rather than being asked to define "sonata exposition," you might be asked to show where the exposition is, or to give development characteristics as found in this particular piece. You will get two opportunities to hear a recording of the piece.
4. Fugue. Understand the terms associated with fugue: exposition, subject, answer (real and tonal), countersubject, development, middle entry, episode, pedal point, and stretto.
How you will be tested: Similar to sonata form. You will be asked to apply your knowledge to an 18th-century fugue that will be provided. You will get two opportunities to listen to the piece.
This content guide was revised July 2025 and supersedes the Graduate Handbook.
Review Materials and Resources
Attached is a practice version of the freshman Music Theory Diagnostic. It contains many questions that resemble the test, along with answers on the back of each page. The following free resources might also be useful:
