Very poor exams exert an impact upon the size of the scholarship, and often result in elimination. The MM Music History exam has a time limit of one hour, while the MM Theory exam is allotted up to two. Both include terms to define and score identification questions from printed excerpts. We do not provide study guides, however, recommended study materials are A History of Western Music by Grout and Palisca, Tonal Harmony by Kostka and Payne, and Music of the 20th Century by Simms. If weak areas are revealed, the professors reading the exams will indicate which remedial courses will be required for that student.
Most applicants require between one and four remedial courses.
More than that will result in an increase in the overall total number of courses required to graduate and may have serious repercussions during the admissions process. For those instruments that require a preliminary tape, the exams will only be required if the applicant is invited for a live audition. Music Theory and Musicology applicants must submit examples of written work in the form of term papers, research projects, or similar evidence of ability to do scholarly work. These examples need not be in the field of music. Music Theory and Musicology majors are also required to take the GRE .