Placement criteria

Information for undergraduate placement regarding keyboard and music theory.

Keyboard placement criteria

All students are required to take at least two semesters of keyboard prior to graduation (piano majors excluded). 

Some degree plans require students to take four semesters. Students who have never played piano before should register for PMUS 1105. 

Students who wish to test out of one of more semesters of keyboard must sign up for a keyboard placement interview. 

If you are an incoming music major who needs to schedule a keyboard placement exam, please email Professor Cremaschi at alejandro.cremaschi@colorado.edu. Keyboard placement exams typically take place the Thursday before classes start.

Requirements to test out of each level are listed below.

Theory placement criteria

All incoming first-year music majors who begin in a fall semester are required to take the theory diagnostic in the summer prior. The assessment takes about an hour and comprises written theory and aural skills portions. Topics include key signatures, scales, intervals, triads and seventh chords, rhythm and meter, Roman numerals and melodic and harmonic dictation. Students are not expected to know all this information: The diagnostic assesses students’ current familiarity and facility with theory fundamentals. From the results, we can appropriately place students in first or second-semester theory courses. Students can prepare for the assessment by studying a fundamentals text or website (some of which include aural skills lessons and reinforcement). See the lists below for suggestions.

Advanced placement music theory students

Students who earn a composite score of 4 for AP Music Theory are generally exempt from first-semester theory core courses. Those with a score of 5 are generally exempt from the entire first year of the theory core. These students are still required to take the theory diagnostic so that we can confirm their knowledge and skill levels.

Websites

Self-study textbooks

Note: Edition numbers are not especially significant because this topic does not change much.
 
  1. “Scales, Intervals, Keys, Triads, Rhythm and Meter” by John Clough and Joyce Conley, published by Norton
  2. “Basic Materials in Music Theory: A Programmed Approach” by Greg Steinke and Paul Harder, currently published by Pearson
  3. “A Creative Approach to Music Fundamentals” by William Duckworth, currently published by Schirmer