<p>I am applying for FALL 2010 this year and was wondering what I will exactly be going through with 90 units from different community colleges. I would like to take up Music perofrmance. I heard they do not have anything that focuses on that certain field, but you can pick your own classes (including performances) to add up to a music degree.</p>
<p>I have been told by the department that it is mandatory to have basic knowledge about musicianship/theory, harmony, etc to place a high level in the placement exams to hinder you from taking all of the classes from scartch. Honestly, I do not have experience about any of those. I just love to sing, period. I have beem singing professionally and also at church. I know that does not matter since they do not audition students, but what are my chances. </p>
<p>if I apply this year for next year, I do not want to take couses like musicianship,harmony, theory at a local CC and risk the time till I find out if i get accepted at the university alone. I mean, if i dont get in- it surely was a waste of time. Do you guys suggest I should teach myself or go through lessons about these levels to place high in the placement exams? </p>
<p>Regardless, you still have to take these courses at UCB no matter what so it is better I gain better knowledge prior to myself just by learning as an individual...</p>
<p>I might sound strange or confusing, forgive me for that. I just need to know what is the best way to place higher in the UCB placement exam without having to waste my time now till june where i find out if i get in or not). Cause if i dont get in, I will have to switch to a different major at a diff university,</p>
<p>if anyone hear has taken the placement exam recently, please help me out. And if anyone has some info for me to know about the music major (getting in an all) especially taking up performances, let me know what to do. Im a newby. Have completed over 80 units by this year.</p>
<p>Placement exams for music majors normally involve theory and piano. Maybe there are other areas you are talking about or at some schools.</p>
<p>If you have no piano skills and do not know music theory than why do you want to place highly insted of starting with other beginners? Your CC credits that transfer will help you avoid Gen Ed classes. </p>
<p>Your audition either will get you in or not. Or maybe I am confused by your question.</p>
<p>Do you have to have a declared major when you transfer to UC? If so, does the music department review your application? If so, it may be a tough admit. In any event, coming into UC Berkeley’s music department as a junior without having completed any of the courses in the 2-year lower division musicianship sequence would be a challenge, and it is hard to see how you would finish in 2 years with all the catching up you’d need to do. The program is academic, not performance based, requiring theory, many semesters of music history (with upper division courses aimed at students who have taken the theory sequence in their first two years), ethnomusicology, and some ensemble requirements and piano proficiency. Although you can emphasize performance, and there is a good chorus and orchestra, Cal has a very limited performance faculty. From what I’ve heard, the musicianship courses, apart perhaps from aural skills, are difficult to place out of, unless you’ve actually taken college level courses in theory.</p>
<p>Transferring academic credits between institutions is a function of the rigor of the coursework at the institution you received credit from versus the school accepting you as a transfer. If you are at a CA CC, there may be an arrangement in place where most academic coursework may transfer to a UC. This is something your counselor at the cc can advise you on. An alternative would be to speak directly to an admissions rep at UC Berkley and ask. You may need to provide course descriptions, syllabi, and possible examples of completed coursework.</p>
<p>Music credit, particularly theory courses, rarely transfer anywhere. Transferring theory credit from Curtis to Juilliard, or NEC, or Indiana, or MSM, or anywhere is not typical. It would not surprise me if Podunk U did not accept transfer credit from Juilliard. The reason for this is that the sequence and structure of theory coursework tends to be structured to the nees of the individual student. There are many past threads here discussing theory, how much is enough, (or too much), should a freshman try and test out of undergrad theory. If you can’t find them, I’ll be happy to pull them up.</p>
<p>You might have better luck with music history or a musicology general survey course transferring, but that again will be institution specific.</p>
<p>The best advive is to ask the institution you will be transferring to, or your CC advisor.</p>
<p>I would advise you to take the theory sequence at the CC, whether or not the credit will transfer. It will introduce you to basic concepts, terminology, and a general overview. You can also self study, but many find it a difficult subject and prefer a class or tutor setting. On the other hand, a portion grasp it fairly easily. I’d also advise a survey of music history. Both of these will help you in the entrance tests, which are designed to assess your beginning knowledge. They are typically done to make sure you start off in the right level coursework, and usually not used as a music admissions tool. There are exceptions.</p>
<p>There’s not a tremendous amount on UC Berkeley as a music program. It’s not within the typically list for the type of program students represented on this forum are looking for.</p>