Music Theory IA (MUCT 111), and the accompanying Aural Skills Lab (MUCT 111L), are the first of six quarters of formal theory and musicianship studies required of all music majors.  Because the opening weeks of the course move very quickly through a review of fundamentals, it is extremely important for you to be fluent in the elements of music before you arrive on campus in the fall.  This means being at ease in recognizing written and aural pitch in melodic and harmonic configurations, as well as in metric and rhythmic contexts.

Freshmen come to La Sierra with differing levels of knowledge about music. Many know the major and minor scales, key signatures, clefs, intervals, and triad/seventh types, which they have learned through private lessons or music theory study in high school. Many others, however, possess only a rudimentary understanding of the subject.  This range in knowledge of music fundamentals presents a difficult challenge to both students and their teachers.  Therefore, all incoming music majors and minors are required to take the online Music Theory Placement Exam, a diagnostic test that will determine which pathway of study you will take your freshman year.

The online exam is timed and consists of written and aural questions dealing with pitch fundamentals (naming pitches in different clefs, major and minor key signatures and scales, generic and specific interval size and quality, and triad and seventh types) basic roman numeral analytical symbols with figured bass, and the recognition and notation of rhythms in simple and compound meters.

The exam is offered online only.  Registration for the exam opens the second week of January and closes the end of June.  A new section opens in July and runs through December.  There is a $10 charge to take the exam which can be found at the C4E website:

https://store.connect4education.com/c4e-store-2/

Go to the store and select the OnMusic Fundamentals Placement Exam and follow the prompts that lead you to La Sierra University and Dr. Ken Narducci as instructor.  You will be purchasing an  access code which will then allow you to register.

To help you in preparing for this test, please consider some of the options below that may best align with your background and save valuable time later:

1. Enroll in your high school’s AP Music Theory course, which covers the necessary fundamentals and more.  The following link is to a widely used textbook for AP Music Theory:
   http://www.amazon.com/Barrons-Music-Theory-MP3-2nd/dp/1438073895/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455563344&sr=1-1&keywords=ap+music+theory
2. Enroll in a web-based fundamentals course that will help keep you on track:
   • Breezin’ Through Theory, though geared for a younger audience, is a fun program: http://breezinthru.com
   • A free site for exercises and study can be found at: http://www.musictheory.net
3. If you have successfully passed AP music theory courses or something similar (e.g., upper level Certificate of Merit in private study), you should prepare for the exam with a thorough review of your past studies.

If you test below 70% on the placement exam, you must take MUCT 105-106 Fundamentals of Music I and II and MUCT 105L-106L Skills Labs your freshman year.  This two-quarter course sequence is offered during winter and spring quarters only.  (This is La Sierra’s theory prep course, and the units do not apply toward the music major, but do apply toward graduation units.)  You must complete this sequence with at least a grade of C.  Also, be aware that because these classes run winter and spring quarters of your freshman year, you will not be able to enroll in MUCT 111 until fall quarter the following year.

If you have any questions regarding preparation for your theory and musicianship studies, or if you just want to get on our radar as an incoming student, please contact me via email any time.

Dr. Kenneth Narducci, DMA
Director of Theory and Musicianship Studies
knarducc@lasierra.edu