<p>I noted that Otterbein includes music history in their testing on audition day. I'm sure my D has picked some things up along the way, but she has never been in the school choir and I'm guessing that is how some kids are exposed to music history. She has not taken a class of any kind. Does anyone know if the expectation is for any more than basic knowledge?</p>
<p>cartera, no info specific to Otterbein, but many schools give various tests during the admissions process, not to rule kids out, but to help place them in appropriate classes come fall. Perhaps this is what Otterbein is doing. I've never heard of a school rejecting a talented musician because they didn't already know music history.</p>
<p>She expects the theory and aural skills tests and did them for her audition at West Chester. She feels really prepared for them, but none of the other schools have a music history test so she isn't sure what to think. I guess she could just review some basic music history things on line so it will be fresh. With her, it's not so much that she is worried about it affecting admission, but she knows that if she takes the test before the audition and there are lots of things on there that she doesn't know, she will start to feel nervous - even if they told her the results were meaningless. I guess musicians are just not comfortable when they don't feel prepared.</p>
<p>This is the first time I've ever heard of a music history test as part of the admissions testing. Again, these tests are all for first course level placement, and don't have an effect on the admissions outcome.</p>
<p>I'd imagine the questions would be fairly rudimentary and might include rough time frames of the various periods (baroque, romantic, etc.), a possible time-line of composers, or placing a composer within a specific period. If she has time, a quick reading of a basic music history text in her spare time (like she might have some ;)), or even a glance at one of those composers at a glance posters just for an overview.</p>
<p>Don't lose an ounce of sleep over it.</p>
<p>She may well know more than she realizes. FWIW, I had no idea of the level of my son's knowledge pre-college. By the end of the first undergrad semester, his peers gave him his college nickname of "the professor" for his knowledge of music history and theory. News to me... he had self taught himself in both subjects throughout highschool, and had amassed a number of college level texts on both subjects.</p>
<p>violadad - that's what I think too. I just have to get the little perfectionist to not worry about it.</p>
<p>cartera- consider asking the same question at the music theater forum. There might be a few there with experience on the Otterbein test.</p>
<p>I agree with Violadad - not to worry. However, I "just happen" to have a couple links still saved in favorites from when S was younger - pre-college. I don't know if he ever looked at these, but I had identified them as interesting and thought he might enjoy them as background info. Maybe your D would find them useful:</p>
<p>Essentials</a> of Music</p>
<p>Music</a> in Our World Parts/Chapters</p>
<p>Good luck and tell her (and Mom) to relax!!</p>
<p>Thanks musicianmom - relax - I've forgotten how. My job keeps me on the computer all day long - just waiting for emails form my clients. More and more emails come from CC. But it does help that everyone is in a similar boat. I am thankful that my D doesn't have a dream school -yet - she has loved every tour and every visit and every lesson and generally likes wherever she is at the time, but it means she wants them all!</p>
<p>and a couple more I had found looking through our bookmarks</p>
<p>Music</a> History
Internet</a> Public Library: Music History 102
Music</a> History Resources</p>
<p>For composition majors, the "audition" seems to consist entirely of exams in theory and history, at some schools anyway. Plus brief interview. Are these tests for admission purposes, or for placement, as some folks have said?</p>
<p>Our daughter is spending her Saturdays in classes/lessons on these two subjects. We rationalize the expense by thinking either it will help w/scholarships or make progress through conservatory a little faster.</p>
<p>One school wrote that the theory exam can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 3 hours, depending on the student's knowledge.</p>
<p>If these tests are for placement only, I should tell my daughter, who is, like everyone, a little anxious!</p>
<p>Compmom, without knowing anything about composition admissions, our experience was that each school has their own way of using tests for admission purposes. If you check their websites, I remember different schools having different "disclaimers" - some said tests were for placement only, others said they were used for placement and admissions. For at least one of the school's where S auditioned, I couldn't find any info on the tests and so I called Admissions. They gave me a brief explanation of what was included on the (theory only) test and told me results would be used only if S enrolled - placement purposes.</p>
<p>Again, I don't know composition admisions, but for instrumentalists the audition is truly key. S didn't even submit ACT/SAT scores to all schools. One school required the then new optional writing section for ACT which S hadn't taken - so it obviously wasn't submitted. He was still admitted with large merit aid.</p>
<p>Also, some schools do individual testing, others test in a class setting in groups. If the info isn't available on-line, it might be worth a polite call to the school to see what your D will encounter. I know S was more comfortable knowing what situation he was facing!</p>
<p>cartera - I have been told the same thing about these tests,ie, they are for placement purposes only, esplly for a vocal performance major where the admissions decision will be primarily based on the audition, ie, the singing. That said, I have read on these boards that singers tend to be weak in areas like music theory and history, weaker at least than the instrumentalists and they are all lumped together in those classes once at the college. So a singer who's weak going in may struggle in the theory/history class which will move to the center of gravity, the instrumentalists. If you have any Saturday classes or such as mentioned above, it might be useful to see if those could be squeezed into the schedule for spring. Or maybe something over the summer, just to make fall go more smoothly.</p>
<p>fwiw - my cousin's S is a music ed major at West Chester and loves the school. He wants to be a hs band director one day; had his senior photo taken with his instrument!</p>
<p>mercymom - I think she has a handle on which schools use the tests for placement. In fact, I think, with the exception of West Chester, the others are for placement. I'm not sure about JMU. She may know. I know with UNCG, if you bomb the theory test, you have to be willing to take summer work in theory. The history test just threw her a bit because we don't know of any school that does that and it's a strange thing to have a placement test for. I'm assuming they think that if someone is committed to music, they'll know Bach from Mozart. Again, she's not worried about it but just wants to feel prepared. We all know that sinking feeling in your stomach when you look at any test and don't recognize things - not a good feeling to get right before you sing.</p>
<p>Cartera45 - for what it is worth we are in the same boat with Otterbein in March. I'll probably brush up on the music history and use some of that for conversations on some of the travels. Then again maybe I'll just use progressive rock from the 70's as a crash course. (just kidding), The one thing that I thought worth mentioning is that of all the letters confirming the audition dates, review ofrequirements etc, we found the letter from Otterbein to be in the "friendliest /warmest tone" of all.</p>
<p>Cartera and JADIO, don't let your kids lose any sleep over the music history portion of Otterbein's test. My daughter went in with zero preparation, but she found the test to be manageable. As I recall, she said it was all multiple choice, and the questions were fairly rudimentary. My understanding is the purpose of the test is not just for placement, but to provide additional data points in the event the student is being considered for a scholarship. However, in the grand scheme of things, it's a minor consideration, and most likely only considered if they're wavering on awarding/determining the amount of the scholarship. Obviously, it's the audition that counts, and any preparation should focus on that, rather than the test. It's extraordinarily rare for students to place out of the initial music history or theory courses anway, since the music department wants to ensure that students all have the same background before advancing (piano placement courses are far more flexible). For my daughter's freshman year, there were about 60 music students (BM, BA and music ed). I only know of one student who was able to skip first quarter of theory, based on the test, and none who placed out of the survey course of music history.</p>
<p>Thanks Mezzomom - I can't believe I didn't think to ask you this. Maybe I did and forgot the answer!! You mean now I can go back to just worrying about the weather in February? And worrying about the fact that D has a cold and an audition this weekend?</p>
<p>Cartera, best to your daughter this weekend; if you're at all like me, you could be promised perfect health for your daughter and fine weather throughout the audition season...and you'd still find something to worry about!</p>
<p>Cartera,</p>
<p>I am going through the same thing with weather and with the sickness thing. My D thinks I am crazy although she knows she has to stay healthy. I have her on vitamins...multi-vitamin, zinc, and vitamin C. I pack little moist wipes for her and she has hand sanitizer. If anybody in the house as much as sneezes they reply to me, "no I am not sick"! I have a can of Lysol here on my desk at work. I think my co-workers have had enough of me, too!</p>
<p>This is definitely consuming my life!</p>
<p>Good Luck to your Daughter!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>Cartera, (and Just Dad)</p>
<p>I got this information from Debbie at Otterbein. She is my D's admission counselor ahd this is what she says...</p>
<p>"The music history/literature test is indeed for placement purposes, and is not a factor in the student’s acceptance to the Department: the same is true for music theory, aural skills and piano. The music aptitude test, which is a basic test measuring whether the student can hear whether a pitch is higher or lower/longer or shorter, etc. is a factor."</p>
<p>HOPE THIS HELPS!</p>
<p>Thanks Linnlew and thanks for the good wishes, mezzomom.</p>