Music Theory & Ear-Training

Undergraduate Music Theory & Ear-Training Guidelines

Music Majors and students who have declared the Music Concentration prior to Fall ’24 and intend on staying with the Concentration are required to take the Music Theory and Ear-Training sequences. Students declaring the new Minor in Music have the option to take the Music Theory and Ear-Training courses, depending on their interests.

The Music Theory courses that are offered are:

MUSI UN1002:  Fundamentals of Music
MUSI UN2318:  Music Theory I
MUSI UN2319:  Music Theory II
MUSI UN3321:  Music Theory III
MUSI UN3322:  Music Theory IV

The Ear-Training courses that are offered are:

MUSI UN1312:  Introductory Ear-Training
MUSI UN2314:  Ear-Training I
MUSI UN2315:  Ear-Training II
MUSI UN3316:  Ear-Training III
MUSI UN3317:  Ear-Training IV

For students who are required or opted to take any part of the Music Theory and/or Ear-Training sequences, please read on for important information on placement exams and registration.

Music Theory Registration Guidelines

  • Any student interested in taking Fundamentals of Music can register for the course and is not required to take the online diagnostic exam.
  • All other students new to the Music Theory sequence should register for Music Theory I (they will be placed on the waitlist until after the online diagnostic exam determines what level course they should be in and if there is space available in the course).
  • Once a student completes and passes a level of the Music Theory sequence, they can register for the next level (no additional testing is required) in future semesters.
  • Registration priority for all Music Theory classes will be given to declared Music Majors and existing Concentrators.
  • After that, registration priority for Fundamentals of Music will be given to freshmen and sophomores who are considering becoming a Music Major.

Music Theory I Online Diagnostic Exam 

  • The online diagnostic exam must be completed before the first day of class. 
  • Failure to place into Music Theory I generally results in a recommendation to take Fundamentals of Music.
  • Students who pass the Music Theory I Online Diagnostic Exam and are interested in passing into Music Theory II should contact the Director of Undergraduate Music Theory to schedule a separate diagnostic exam.

The exam consists of 5 sections, each one assessing your mastery of fundamental music-theoretical knowledge:

  1. identifying pitches by name in treble, bass, alto, and tenor clefs
  2. writing ascending and descending major and minor scales
  3. key signatures, including relative and parallel keys
  4. intervals and interval inversions
  5. triads in close position.

Each section is timed, and you will need to devote around 30 minutes of uninterrupted time to complete the entire test. The test cannot be paused, and it may be taken only once per semester on an electronic device of your choice (smartphone, tablet, or computer; please make sure your technology is in working condition prior to starting the test).

The diagnostic exam can be found at the uTheory website. You must register using your Columbia or Barnard email.

Ear-Training Registration Guidelines

  • Any student interested in taking Introductory Ear-Training can register for the course and is not required to take the Ear-Training Placement Exam.
  • All other students new to the Ear-Training sequence should register for either Introductory Ear-Training or Ear-Training I (they will be placed on the waitlist until after the placement exam determines what level course they should be in and if there is space available in the course).
  • Once a student completes and passes a level of the Ear-Training sequence with a grade of C- or better, they can register for the next level (no additional testing is required) in future semesters.
  • Registration priority for all Ear-Training classes will be given to declared Music Majors and existing Concentrators.
  • After that, registration priority for Introductory Ear-Training will be given to freshmen and sophomores who are considering becoming a Music Major.

Ear-Training Placement Exam

  • Students new to the Ear-Training sequence, regardless of experience, must take the Zoom placement test listed below, for placement into the appropriate Ear-Training level.  After you register and are added to the waitlist, a zoom link will be sent to you, that you can use on either date for the Zoom placement test.
  • The Ear Training Placement Exam consists of interval identification, dictation of a rhythm pattern, dictation of a melody without rhythm, and dictation of a four-part harmonic progression.
  • If you expect to place into Ear Training II, III or IV, please do your best to attend one of the Zoom Ear-Training Placement Exams and contact the Director of Undergraduate Musicianship.

Fall '24 Placement Exam Dates for Ear-Training:

  1. Tuesday, August 27, 2024 12:10 – 1:00 pm – or - Wednesday, August 28, 2024 12:10 – 1:00 pm; ZOOM EXAM ONLY
  2. Tuesday, September 3, 2024 12:10 – 1:00 pm:  For students who registered for Tuesday/Thursday Ear-Training I; First day of class; IN PERSON EXAM ONLY
  3. Wednesday, September 4, 2024 12:10 – 1:00 pm:  For students who registered for Monday/Wednesday Introductory Ear-Training or Ear-Training I; First day of class; IN PERSON EXAM ONLY