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Double Bass preparing for theory tests in college auditions

R

reese84

Dec 12, 2010
17
0
Dayton, OH
#1
Hey guys, so im currently finishing my junior year of high school, and will be applying for music schools next fall. I was wondering if you guys had any input on how to prepare for the theory aspect of college auditions for someone with minimal formal theory training. The schools i plan on applying to are: ccm, indiana, cleveland institute, rice, peabody, usc, and duquesne. (duquesne is the one im most worried about, because their entrance exam involves a lot of singing and pitch identification, and they dont specify if this exam is just for placement or if it affects their admissions decision).

any input would be greatly appreciated!
 
#2
I just went through the whole college process this year and from what I gathered, the theory placement exams have no effect on your acceptance. At least that's what they said before my auditions. They are more for, as you could gather, placing you in the right level of theory if you decide to go to that college.
That being said, brushing up on your theory may not be a bad idea haha.
Good luck!!
 
#3
The theory test at CCM is simply a placement exam. When I was there it was basic things like identifying chords, rhythmic dictation, a melodic dictation, and notating a popular nursery rhyme/well-known melody from memory.

Music schools don't expect you to have any theory knowledge. The placement exams just identifies students that have theory training and usually place them in an accelerated course.
 
#4
Like everyone else said, theory placement exams have no affect on acceptance. You’ll notice that the first theory course you probably take will feel like kindergarten (especially with the vocalists in the class).

I don’t think the placement test will cover anything advanced so I bet if you can read all your clefs, know your intervals, identify and write basic chords (doubt you’ll have any chromatic chords), fill out figured bass, don’t violate any basic rules of counterpoint, then you may get placed into a slightly higher than basic theory class.
 
#6
To support the consensus of this thread, your theory placement has basically nothing to do with your acceptance- just your audition. I was accepted to CIM (among other equally good schools) with scholarships, and I have had next to know theory training. That being said, you'll need it in music school, so start now! It cant hurt.
 
#7
If you have an understanding of the fundamentals - major / minor scales, key signatures, some rudimentary analysis, you're set.. The bigger obstacle is the sight singing aspect of the exams.. I would focus on that.

I agree with what everyone said... But when I took the exams (Crane, Ithaca, Fredonia, illinois) they we're pretty intense.... But the only one that had any bearing on placement was the one for grad school.
 
#10
I agree with the above, it doesn't affect acceptance.

In terms of what to practice, you want to just go through the "Master theory" book series by Charles S. Peters and Paul Yoder. If you can go in able to write species counterpoint, you will place out of theory 101.

Sight singing is ALL about practice, the easiest way to learn is to just take vocal lessons. Even a few months will have a big impact on your skills.

Good luck.
 
#12
ThumpPlunkJunk said:
Theory tests are just to see what theory classes you belong in when you enter college.

And check out Oberlin.
Click to expand...
Their test is definitely the hardest I took (aside from the dictation portion at Mannes), but it is online and you take it at home. It wasn't really hard, but much more in depth than others and included more rhythm.

Check out www.musictheory.net and www.teoria.com for some lessons. We use both sites in my AP theory class.

Make sure you have a solid grasp on major and minor key signatures and everything else will come easily. A lot will be chord identification and scale writing, so know all triads and seventh cords and all types of minor scales. Just be sure to read carefully and don't do something dumb like write C Major instead of c minor.

Also, Peabody and some other schools have sample tests online.

Hope this helps.
 
#13
Here's a funny story about my theory exam at CCM, circa 1979...

All first-year incoming music majors show up a few days before the semester for all manner of diagnostics. I made the trip with my drinking buddy. (my Dad. how many 17 yo's have a drinking buddy? 'specially their Dad?) We moved me in to the dorm and went to look for a place to wat dinner. We saw a sign that said "HOT JAZZ GOOD FOOD WHISKEY". Ed Moss's old place- Emanon. Without further discussion, we pulled over. The last thing that I remember was doing shots of vodka with the guys in the band.

My theory exam was at 8AM the next morning. I had never had a theory course. After they had graded the exams, they called out about a dozen names, and mine was one of them. Next thing I know, I'm sitting at a table with the geeks. Literally, one of my classmates had a pen pocket protector. (this was 1979) "Congratulations, you've been selected for the HONORS music theory section". Whoa, I said, you've got the wrong guy. "What's you're name" Boyle. "Yeah, we had a little problem with your exam" (probably smelled like vodka) "You've got a really good ear, but you don't know the names of ANYTHING"

As it turned out, I had aced the exam. I just called stuff by weird names. I nailed the dictation, but I called the diminshed scale the 'whole step 1/2 step scale'. They offered to me a proposition. Stay in the class and bail out if you want. They were right, and I aced the class. I took two years of theory in one year and was finished.

I loved my time in Cincinnati. Best wishes.
 
#14
A word to the wise-

Many schools will let you test out of theory classes, often with the test out being offered at the beginning of each year or quarter. Buy the books for the class. They're cheap at the end of the semester...Spend 30 minutes every day on break working on the material and get some coachings with a TA/Gradass.

When you're in college, you want to focus as much time as possible on practicing. Spending hours in the library every day is demoralizing, and takes away from practice time.

I knew guys at IU who tested out of the bulk of the theory and ear training, and got to take fun electives instead of obsessing over parallel fifths for a year...:crying:
 
#15
If Rice in Houston is what you were referring to, it can be pretty rough to get into and expensive too if your an undergrad. That one might be better to transfer into later down the line.. From what I've heard any way... I plan on doing UNT and maybe putting time in at Rice later if I have the funds..
 
#16
troutmask said:
If Rice in Houston is what you were referring to, it can be pretty rough to get into and expensive too if your an undergrad. That one might be better to transfer into later down the line.. From what I've heard any way... I plan on doing UNT and maybe putting time in at Rice later if I have the funds..
Click to expand...

Kind of an oversimplification of how to get into college, really. Rice is incredibly difficult to get into, transferring doesn't just magically improve your chances of acceptance.
 
#17
The placement exams are just that: they place you into whatever theory course they think you'd do well in. At IU there were three options: a) be placed into the lowest theory course (T100), b) be placed into the lowest and 'first' course (T100 and T131) at the same time, and c) be placed into the first coures (T131). The only downside of taking the lowest course is that you begin the first course your sophomore year, as T131 isn't offered in the spring semester.

If you're worried about Theory classes, just start teaching yourself through some basics on piano. The things you learn will transfer over and help you on the long run. I was lucky in my time at IU that I had taken years of piano training before I got there, and placed out of all the keyboarding classes and aural skill classes (although I took two of them to fill up space in my credit requirements). The first year of theory at IU is pretty basic stuff (if you know a little bit before you go in). I know that IU recently put up some new requirements for general education requirements; I'm not sure if that affects the music kids or not, but your theory classes are going to be the 'main' classes that you have to take. I had the option to test out of them but realized that I could also just take the course and not go (except for tests) and pass it just fine, freeing up time to go practice. Not that I would advocate not going to class.

If you're the über-student type, you could also use the free time to go explore the other bajillion classes that IU offers (this is IU specific; I'm not sure that a conservatory would have an equal breadth of other classes to take).

Just keep in mind that music theory is an awful lot like math and grammar if you mashed to two up: it's a lot of plugging things and seeing what the outcome is, as long as you keep the structure correct. Once you learn the lingo you'll be fine.
 

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