UTSA Department of Music
Graduate Advisory Examination
Music Theory

The graduate advisory examination in music theory will cover the following concepts and skills:

• Harmonic analysis
• Roman numerals (all diatonic and chromatic chords)
• Non-chord tones
• Modulation
• Phrase Structure and Form
• Cadence types
• Binary form (simple and rounded)
• Ternary form (simple and compound)
• Sonata-allegro form
• Counterpoint and Fugue
• Contrapuntal techniques (inversion, retrograde, augmentation, diminution, sequence, fragmentation, etc.)
• Fugue analysis
• Modes and scales
• Diatonic modes (ionian, dorian, phrygian, lydian, mixolydian, aeolian, locrian)
• Octatonic, whole-tone, pentatonic, and chromatic scales

Any standard theory textbook will provide a good review of the material on this exam, but the following two books are used in the theory courses at UTSA and are particularly recommended.

• Tonal Harmony by Stefan Kostka & Dorothy Payne
• A Practical Approach to the Study of Form in Music by Peter Spencer & Peter M. Temko

You will have one opportunity to take this exam.  A minimum grade of 70% on the entire exam must be obtained prior to enrolling in any graduate level music theory course.  If this minimum grade is not achieved, you will be required to take a Graduate Theory Review course.

Please contact Dr. Stacey Davis by e-mail or telephone (210-458-5335) with any questions about preparing for this exam.

 

The University of Texas at San Antonio Department of Music
One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, Texas 78249
210.458.4354
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