Graduate Division
Proficiency Examinations
All new graduate degree students are required to take a number of examinations that serve as proficiency tests or prerequisites for entrance to certain graduate courses. These examinations include music theory, music history and literature, and keyboard proficiencies. Students whose major field is not music performance must also satisfy a music performance proficiency requirement. Courses taken to satisfy a proficiency requirement may not be used to meet other degree requirements, including Other Required Credits, unless specifically permitted.
In general, proficiency in each area is valid for seven years (for master’s students) or ten years (for doctoral students) from the date it is demonstrated. See individual requirements below for additional information.
Visiting students and students in diploma and certificate programs are not subject to these proficiency requirements.
Note: Requirements for DM Jazz Studies majors differ where indicated.
Music Theory Entrance Proficiency and Music History and Literature Entrance Proficiency
The music theory and music history and literature proficiencies may be satisfied in the following ways:
- Students may take and pass the graduate entrance examinations. Students must take the examinations at the beginning of their first semester of enrollment; they may take them for a second time in their second semester. They may not take them again, nor may they take them after their second semester of enrollment. (Note that this includes summer terms in which students are enrolled.) Examinations are ordinarily given in the week before classes begin each semester.
- Students may enroll in and pass the graduate proficiency courses as listed in the following sections.
- For all students except DM Jazz Studies majors: students who completed an undergraduate degree at the Jacobs School of Music during the current calendar year or during the three preceding calendar years are exempt from the Graduate Entrance Examinations in music theory and music history and literature if they have received grades in corresponding courses as listed below:
- T508 Written Music Theory Review for Graduate Students: B+ or higher in both T251 Music Theory and Literature III (or T261 Music Theory and Literature III) and T252 Music Theory and Literature IV (or T262 Music Theory and Literature IV). A grade of A or higher in both classes meets the “high pass” requirement.
- T509 Sight-Singing Review for Graduate Students: A or higher in both T231 Musical Skills II and T232 Musical Skills III.
- T511 Aural Music Theory Review for Graduate Students: B+ or higher in both T231 Musical Skills II and T232 Musical Skills III. A grade of A or higher in both classes meets the “high pass” requirement.
- M501 Proseminar in Music History and Literature: B+ or higher in both M401 History and Literature of Music I and M402 History and Literature of Music II
A grade of A on Validation/Exemption examinations for any undergraduate music theory course listed above will be considered equivalent to an A in the course for the purposes of exemption from the Graduate Entrance Examinations.
Music Theory
Proficiency in music theory is valid for seven years (for master’s students) or ten years (for doctoral students) after the date the graduate entrance examination is passed or the end of the semester in which the corresponding graduate review course is passed, whichever is later. See "Graduate Revalidation Procedures" in this bulletin for revalidation methods.
All majors except DM Jazz Studies
These examinations assume that each candidate has had at least two years of training in music theory at the undergraduate level. There are three examinations. The first examination covers written work and analysis, the second covers dictation and aural analysis, and the third covers sight singing. Details are available at https://blogs.iu.edu/jsommusictheory/about/admissions/gee/.
The following degrees require a High Pass in Written Music Theory and Aural Music Theory: MM in composition, computer music composition, music scoring for visual media, and music theory; DM in composition; and PhD in music theory.
The following degrees require a High Pass in Written Music Theory: MM and DM in choral conducting and orchestral conducting.
The sight-singing examination is graded on a 5-point scale; a score of 4 or higher is required to pass. The written and aural theory examinations are graded on a 100-point scale. A grade of 70 or higher (83 or higher for High Pass degrees) is required to pass the written theory and aural theory examinations.
Students who do not achieve a passing grade (or High Pass, where required) in their two permitted attempts, or who do not take the examinations, must complete the appropriate proficiency course(s): T508 Written Music Theory Review for Graduate Students (minimum grade C, or B for High Pass degrees), T509 Sight-Singing Review for Graduate Students (minimum grade C), and T511 Aural Music Theory Review for Graduate Students (minimum grade C, or B for High Pass degrees).
DM Jazz Studies majors
The examination in jazz theory is in two parts: written theory and aural skills. The written theory portion of the exam covers nomenclature, chord/scale theory, voice leading, and melodic, harmonic, and form analysis. The aural skills portion of the exam covers chord recognition, melodic and harmonic dictation, and recognition of common chord progressions and forms.
A grade of 70% or higher is required to pass each portion of the exam (written theory, aural skills). Students who do not achieve a passing score in their two permitted attempts, or who do not take the examinations, will be assigned to complete the appropriate proficiency course(s): O501 Fundamentals of Jazz Theory (with a grade of B or higher), O514 Jazz Harmony (with a grade of B or higher).
Music History and Literature
Proficiency in music history and literature is valid for seven years (for master’s students) or ten years (for doctoral students) after the date the graduate entrance examination is passed or the end of the semester in which the designated review course is passed, whichever is later. See "Graduate Revalidation Procedures" in this bulletin for revalidation methods.
All majors except DM Jazz Studies
This examination covers music history and literature from antiquity to the present (particularly the understanding of musical style) and skills in critical reading and musical research. Details are available at https://intranet.music.indiana.edu/departments/academic/musicology/gee.shtml. The examination is graded on a 5-point scale; a score of 4 or higher is required to pass. Students who do not pass the examination must enroll in MUS-M 501 Proseminar in Music History and Literature and earn a grade of C or higher in the course.
DM Jazz Studies majors
This examination covers jazz history from the Reconstruction period in American history to the present. The exam is divided into three sections: early, middle, and late jazz history. It focuses on significant cultural events, major figures, and elements of style, and includes listening recognition.
A grade of 70% or higher is required to pass each section of the examination. Students who do not pass the examination will be assigned one course to take from M591 Jazz History 1, M592 Jazz History 2, or M593 Jazz History 3 and must earn a grade of B or higher in the course.
Keyboard Proficiency Examination
Keyboard proficiency is valid for seven years (for master’s students) or ten years (for doctoral students) after the date on which keyboard proficiency is demonstrated. See "Graduate Revalidation Procedures" in this bulletin for revalidation methods.
All music graduate students, including those whose principal or proficiency instrument is piano, must pass a keyboard proficiency examination or its equivalent. Most students will take the examination on piano, coordinated by the secondary piano program. The collaborative piano, guitar, harp, historical performance, jazz, music theory, and organ departments administer their own examinations on appropriate instruments.
The keyboard proficiency requirement is designed to ensure the student’s ability to use the keyboard as a tool within the framework of professional activities, and the requirements vary according to level and area of music study. Entering students whose proficiency examination is heard through the secondary piano program must play a keyboard placement hearing during the orientation period. Students who demonstrate a superior level of playing at this hearing will satisfy the proficiency requirement.
The keyboard proficiency requirement may also be satisfied by passing the examination at any of the times it is offered or by receiving a grade of B or higher in P715 Keyboard Review for Graduate Students. To avoid a delay in degree completion, students who are beginning their last semester of coursework and have not yet satisfied the keyboard proficiency requirement are strongly advised to enroll in P715. The option of P715 is not available to majors in collaborative piano, guitar, harp, historical performance, jazz, music theory, organ, or piano, or to MS Music Education students. Organ majors may fulfill the keyboard proficiency by receiving a grade of C or higher in C504 Keyboard Skills Review and/or C510 Service Playing Review, if necessary. Jazz studies majors may fulfill the keyboard proficiency by receiving a grade of B or higher in P720 Jazz Keyboard Review for Graduate Students, if necessary.
Keyboard proficiency examinations are normally offered in the latter part of each semester and in the summer term. For details, see the secondary piano coordinator or the appropriate departmental chairperson (for collaborative piano, guitar, harp, historical performance, jazz, music theory, and organ). Information is also available at https://intranet.music.indiana.edu/departments/academic/piano/secondary-piano/.
When keyboard proficiency requirements are identical for two degrees, a student seeking both degrees need not repeat the keyboard proficiency examination if it has been passed for one of the degrees within the time limits for each degree.
Students who are candidates for music graduate degrees for areas other than performance and whose performance proficiency instrument (see “Music Performance Proficiency” below) is piano must also complete the keyboard proficiency requirement.
Music Performance Proficiency
All candidates for music graduate degrees in areas other than music performance (composition, conducting, music education, music theory, and musicology) are required to demonstrate a minimum level of music performance ability equivalent to the end of the second year for elective undergraduate students in that area.
Students who have completed a minimum of four semesters of private lessons at the college level will be considered to have met this requirement.
For other students, proficiency may be demonstrated in any of three ways:
- in person before a faculty auditioning committee, one voting member of which shall, at the student's request, be a faculty member in the student’s major area;
- by completion of performance study as a graduate outside area or minor; or
- by two semesters of performance study as a graduate elective. The grade in each semester of performance study must be B or higher.
Option 1 (auditioning before a faculty committee) may be used only during the first two semesters of enrollment. Students should consult the appropriate performance department chair for detailed information on the required level.
The performance area must ordinarily be one in which instruction is offered at the 700 (elective) level in the Jacobs School of Music. With the support of the department chair of their major area, students may petition the director of graduate studies to be allowed to demonstrate this proficiency in another performance area. If the petition is approved, the director of graduate studies will appoint an examination committee of three members of the Jacobs School of Music faculty qualified to judge the student’s performance, including at least one member of a performance department and one member of the student’s major area.