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DMA Common Exam Dates & Procedures
Sign up for the Common Exams by Tuesday, September 3rd by midnight.
This ensures that Dr. Vasil (the DGS) has time to secure the exam space and organize any testing accommodations.
Music History and Literature
Music History Common Exam
Offered in person in the Johnson Classroom of the Little Fine Arts Library
Thursday, September 12, DMA 9am- 12pm; PhD 9am - 1pm
Students may optionally take exams on a laptop computer with the following conditions:
- The use of the Internet is forbidden, and
- the hard drive shall contain NO material related to the examination.The exams will be written and copied onto a “clean” external jump drive, which each student will provide. The exam may not be copied to or remain on the computer after the exam. The completed exams will be printed from the jump drive by the DGS and photocopies of the exam will be supplied to the two DMA Qualifying Examination committee members for grading.
- A description of the DMA and PhD exams, as well as the specific topics to study, can be found at the following links:
- DMA Music History Exam Topics | Spring 2025
- PhD Music History Exam Topics | Spring 2025
Suggested sources for review:
- Grout and Palisca; A History of Western Music (W.W. Norton)
- Stolba; The Development of Western Music: A History (W.C. Brown)
- Pen; Introduction to Music (McGraw-Hill)
Music Theory
Music Theory Common Exam
Offered in person in the Johnson Classroom of the Little Fine Arts Library
Friday, September 13, DMA 9am- 12pm; PhD 9am - 1pm
No computers are allowed for the theory portion of the common exam. A score packet and student answer packet, which provides pages for all needed responses, will be provided. All that is needed for the theory exam are pencils. Please note that phones are not allowed in the examination room.
Doctoral Theory Common Exam Preparedness
Graduate Entrance Exam
The graduate entrance exam in music theory is comprised of two parts: aural skills (50%) and written music theory skills (50%).
Graduate Entrance Exam Information
Signup for the Entrance Exams here: https://forms.office.com/r/usaF93kiqD
Monday, August 19, 2024 OR Tuesday August 20, 2024
Lucille Caudill Little Fine Arts Library, 2nd floor
Either Rm 212 or the Johnson Classroom
9:00am Music History
10:15am Aural Theory
11:00am Written Theory
If you don’t plan to take the exams and just want to enroll in the classes, fill out the survey anyway. There is a choice on the survey for you to say “no” you aren’t taking the exam, and the names of the courses you should register for are listed.
Please note that due to space limitations of Rm 212, Dr. Vasil is trying to get a larger room on the same floor of the Lucille Caudill Little Fine Arts Library for you to take the exams, the Johnson Classroom. Please still report to the second floor of the library on the exam days and Dr. Vasil will be there to direct you to the correct room. Do not take the first elevator you see. Enter the library and go up the stairs or use the elevator INSIDE the library.
On the day of the exams, arrive EARLY so you can find your way. The best place to park is the Gatton Student Center, or in a lot that your student parking permit allows you to park in. You have to purchase your own parking permit. See here: https://transportation.uky.edu/park/studentpermits
Aural Skills
This exam consists of approximately 25-30 questions presented in fill-in-the-blank and multiple-choice format, and contains listening examples on the following:
- interval identification
- scale identification
- sonority identification
- melodic identification
- harmonic identification
- contextual listening
Written Theory
This exam consists of two parts:
- Theory and Fundamentals of Harmony (25-30 question)
- voice-leading
- intervals and chords
- scales and collections
- rhythm and meter
- non-harmonic tones
- Form and Analysis (15-20 questions)
- key areas
- cadences
- harmonic analysis
- atonal analysis / set theory
- form and score analysis
Martina Vasil
