Music Theory Department
The Hartt School
University of Hartford
Guidelines for
Graduate Music Theory & Ear Training
Placement Examinations
Summerterm 2007
Revised 02-14-07
Information is given below for entering graduate music education students for Summerterm 2007 concerning
the Graduate Music Theory Placement Examination and the Graduate Ear Training Placement Examination.
Information concerning the general content of each examination is given as well as suggested books for
preparatory study.
Graduate Music Theory Placement Examination
The Graduate Music Theory Placement Examination is required for all entering master's and doctoral
students. The examination is a written examination covering three areas: 1. Tonal harmony, 2. Tonal
form, 3. Modern techniques. Each area is graded separately.
Entering graduate students are to prepare for the examination by studying the following topics:
1. Tonal harmony: diatonic triads, diatonic seventh chords, chromatic chords, harmonic progression,
voice leading, cadences, non-chord tones, figured bass. 2. Tonal form: part forms, rondo forms, sonata form,
fugal procedure. 3. Modern techniques: harmony (scales, modes, chords), rhythm, pitch-class set theory.
The following books, or their equivalents, are suggested for study:
1. Tonal Harmony, Stefan Kostka and Dorothy Payne, 5th ed., McGraw-Hill, 2004.
2. Form in Tonal Music, Douglass M. Green, 2nd ed., Wadsworth, 1979.
3. Materials and Techniques of Twentieth-Century Music, Stefan Kostka, 3rd ed., Prentice Hall, 2006.
Students not passing one or more parts of the Graduate Music Theory Placement Examination
must take and pass one or more of the following music theory review courses before being allowed to enroll
in graduate courses in music theory. Credits earned in the following review courses do not count toward
any Hartt graduate degree.
TH 611 (Graduate Music Theory Review: Tonal Harmony)
TH 612 (Graduate Music Theory Review: Tonal Form)
TH 613 (Graduate Music Theory Review: Modern Techniques)
Graduate Ear Training Placement Examination
The Graduate Ear Training Placement Examination is required for all entering master's, doctoral,
artist diploma, and graduate professional diploma students. For entering graduate music education
students for Summerterm 2007, the Graduate Ear Training Placement Examination will be a written
examination.
The examination will consist of the following: 1. Interval identification (quality and number). 2. Chord
identification (diatonic triads and seventh chords, quality and inversion). 3. Melodic dictation (major and
minor keys). 4. Rhythmic dictation (simple and compound meters). 5. Harmonic dictation (homophonic,
major and minor keys).
The following book, or its equivalent, is suggested for study:
Music for Sight Singing, Robert Ottman, 6th ed., Prentice Hall, 2004.
Students not passing the Graduate Ear Training Placement Examination must take and pass TH 614
(Graduate Ear Training Review). Credits earned for TH 614 do not count toward any Hartt graduate
degree.
02-14-07