How did you study for the Graduate Music Diagnostic Exam?

College Majors Music Major
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<p>I'll be a Master of Music student starting this Fall 2010 and the graduate music diagnostic exam is required before registering for classes. There are a few websites that I've found by googling "sample diagnostic music exam", but those aren't satisfying.<br>
Plus, I'd use my old school's music library, but I'm not in the states for summer. I've sold all my textbooks back and they're quite expensive. </p>

<p>It's been almost 3 years since the last time I've taken music history, theory and aural skills. I've passed aural with a straight A's; but A's and B's in history and theory. I was pretty lucky to pass them, because I don't remember a thing now!! </p>

<p>Here's a brief instruction:</p>

<p>Musicology: There will be objective and essay questions covering all major style periods.
Music Theory: Analyze, identity tonal music for examples of form, modulation, key roman numerals, non-harmonic tones, etc.... Identify intervals, scales, modes, and key signatures.. </p>

<p>Can anyone help me finding a good/legitimate online resource that covers basic music history/theory? OR any suggestions for this exam preparation? So far I've found MIT online course and those lectures are super long..
I'd really appreciate your input on this!</p>

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<p>Sounds like you’re in the same boat as me… it’s been way too long since I did any history/theory! I’ve been ignoring the theory for the time being, but I found the chapter revision notes for the Norton Concise History of Music really good. Just do a search on Norton concise history of music, and click on the chapter outlines. There are also quizzes to test each chapter.</p>

<p>Good luck and come back and share if you find any particularly good theory sites!</p>

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<p>A sampling from a google search (“graduate music theory test”). There are more. They may provide a range of focus and review. </p>

<p>[BGSU</a> :: College of Musical Arts :: Study Guide for History/Theory Entrance Exam](<a href=“http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/music/resources/gradstudy.html]BGSU”>http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/music/resources/gradstudy.html)
[Peabody</a> Institute - Music Theory: Music Theory Placement Tests](<a href=“http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/1204]Peabody”>http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/1204)
[Graduate</a> Music Classification Proficiency Examinations / Recitals, Exams, & Juries / Handbook Contents / Graduate Music Student Handbook / Graduate / Current Students / College of Music / FSU - College of Music](<a href=“http://www.music.fsu.edu/Current-Students/Graduate/Graduate-Music-Student-Handbook/Handbook-Contents/Recitals-Exams-Juries/Graduate-Music-Classification-Proficiency-Examinations]Graduate”>http://www.music.fsu.edu/Current-Students/Graduate/Graduate-Music-Student-Handbook/Handbook-Contents/Recitals-Exams-Juries/Graduate-Music-Classification-Proficiency-Examinations)
[Graduate</a> Exams and Auditions](<a href=“Welcome | College of Fine Arts”>Welcome | College of Fine Arts)
[Music</a> Graduate Entrance Exams](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/schools/music/prospective_students/mgee/]Music”>http://www.usc.edu/schools/music/prospective_students/mgee/)</p>

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<p>is this test required for graduate performance majors too?</p>

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<p>UC2008, there typically is a theory/history exam designed to validate knowledge or discover any deficiencies at the undergrad level. It may indicate a repeat or refresher course in the required areas concurrent with beginning grad level work.</p>

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<p>I didn’t realize that Norton History of Music was free (saw the result from googling but I assumed it would cost $$ and just passed it). The sample test from different graduate programs were helpful, too. I appreciate it all! :)</p>

<p>Here are some resources that I’ve found:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>History & Theory. Very detailed lectures.
[Dolmetsch</a> Online - Music Theory Introduction](<a href=“http://www.dolmetsch.com/introduction.htm]Dolmetsch”>Dolmetsch Online - Music Theory Introduction)</p></li>
<li><p>I find Ger/It/Fre Aug. 6th ALWAYS CONFUSING (and I will be, forever).So here’s some review. </p></li>
</ul>

<p><a href=“http://www.ars-nova.com/Theory%20Q&A/Q38.html[/url]”>http://www.ars-nova.com/Theory%20Q&A/Q38.html&lt;/a&gt;
[Augmented</a> Sixth Chords](<a href=“http://www.utexas.edu/courses/mus612b/fmain/fdocs/notes/augsixth.html]Augmented”>http://www.utexas.edu/courses/mus612b/fmain/fdocs/notes/augsixth.html)</p>

<ul>
<li>Basic History & Theory websites. These are fun and easy-to-understand.</li>
</ul>

<p>[Music</a> History](<a href=“http://library.thinkquest.org/15413/history/music-history.htm]Music”>http://library.thinkquest.org/15413/history/music-history.htm)
[Ricci</a> Adams’ Musictheory.net - Lessons](<a href=“http://www.musictheory.net/lessons]Ricci”>musictheory.net - Lessons)</p>

<p>If you guys are in the States, I’d take an advantage of a local music library & their prospector/interlibrary loan system. I’m not and that’s why I’m relying on google. My old music history teacher highly recommended David Poultney’s “Studying Music History: Learning, Reasoning, and Writing About Music History and Literature.” She said, it’s short, easy to read, and gives you the basics. </p>

<p>Let’s keep this rolling. :)</p>

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<p>Thanks mamonde - haha, we really are kindred spirits; ger/fr/it 6ths have been my nemesis too!</p>

<p>I’m not in the US yet either, so appreciate your links :)</p>

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<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1064631275-post37.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1064631275-post37.html&lt;/a&gt; may be pertinent.</p>

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<p>Add this one to the links:
[G</a> Major Music Theory](<a href=“http://www.gmajormusictheory.org/]G”>http://www.gmajormusictheory.org/)</p>

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<p>And this might help:
[Tonal</a> Theory Examples](<a href=“http://musictheoryexamples.com/25A6.html]Tonal”>http://musictheoryexamples.com/25A6.html)</p>

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<p>If you’re interested and want to PM me an email address, I can send you PDFs of the model exam and answer key Rice gave auditioning students to prepare for the tests last year.</p>

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<p>Cant PM you because your saved PM posts are full and yu cant receive anymore. Perhaps you received a deluge of requests for the rice audition exam. Would love a copy if you can clear some of your saved posts.</p>

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<p>Here’s another good link:</p>

<p>[url=&lt;a href=“http://LearnMusicTheory.net%5DLearnMusicTheory.net%5B/url”&gt;http://LearnMusicTheory.net]LearnMusicTheory.net[/url</a>]</p>

<p>The main advantages of this site are that it has a lot of info for <em>college</em> music theory and is organized by topic so you can review neapolitans or set theory or borrowed chords or whatever by finding the right topic. Also, the topics are SHORT with to-the-point examples.</p>

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<p>Grad schools often tell you exactly what sites to use to prepare for their exams.</p>