Music 360 - Diagnostic Exam Review Advice

1. Find the notes from your prerequisite course (especially your tests) and review them!

2. The most basic assumptions in the construction of this diagnostic exam are that you know your treble and bass clefs (and how to read ledger lines), rhythmic values ranging from whole notes/rests to 16th notes/rests, and the use of the dot and the tie..

3. Specifically, the test will contain a few exercises from each of the following areas:

• Dictation - I will play a simple melody for you 6 times; you will be asked to write it down (the rhythm counts for 2 points, and the pitches are also worth 2 points)

• Time Signatures - figure out what the correct time signature (meter) would be for a short rhythmic passage. Also, be able to complete an incomplete measure with one note when you are given the time signature

• Counting Systems - you need to be familiar with 3 basic counting systems (rhythm syllables): 1) when all the notes in an exercise would be assigned a full beat (1-2-3-4 etc.); 2) when the beat needs to be divided in half (1-&-2-&-3-&-4-&), and 3) when the beat needs to be subdivided into 4 parts (1-e-&-a-2-e-&-a-3-e-&-a-4-e-&-a). You will be asked to write the correct syllables over each note in a rhythmic line. If you learned a different system of counting (ta-ta-ti-ti-ta, for instance), you may use that instead, as long as you are able to apply it consistently and accurately

• Circles of Fifths and Order of Sharps & Flats (for major and minor keys)- be able to write these out completely. For review, you'll find copies of these tools on the next page.

• Scales - know how to write out major, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales (ascending and descending one octave), and be able to write their correct key signatures

• Keys - given a key signature and tonic note, be able to identify the correct key, as well as its relative and parallel keys

• Intervals - be prepared to construct and identify a variety of intervals

• Triads - be able to identify and to construct the four basic triad types (major=M, minor=m, augmented=A, diminished=d)

• Scale Degrees - be able to identify the correct scale degree (functional name) for each step of a major scale (tonic, supertonic, mediant, etc.)

• Recorder Fingerings - as a bonus exercise, you will be asked to indicate the correct fingerings for the Baroque (not German) recorder (the pitches you'd need to know are drawn from the C major and D major scales)