All students applying for the B.Mus. program or the BA (Major in Music)* are required to take two assessments: one in music theory and one in aural skills. Applicants take these on the same day as their audition.

Aural Skills

The individual aural skills assessment will take approximately fifteen minutes. You will be asked to do the following:

• tap along with the pulse of an audio recording to demonstrate meter entrainment
• match the pitch played on an instrument with your voice
• sing melodic excerpts at sight
• sing back a melody performed for you
• clap a rhythm at sight
• clap back a rhythm performed for you
• identify, by ear, the size and quality of melodic and harmonic intervals performed for you (e.g., minor third, Perfect fifth)
• identify, by ear, the quality of triads performed for you (e.g., major triad, diminished triad)

Music Theory Assessment

You will complete a music theory diagnostic assessment in order to give our music theory professor insight into your theoretical skills and knowledge. There will be two hours allotted for the assessment, though it often takes under an hour to complete. Following your assessment, our music theory professor will be in touch with you regarding the results and to share any helpful recommendations.

We often hold a music theory fundamentals session in August; for more information about this session or the music theory assessment, please contact Dr. Nicole Strum at nstrum@upei.ca. Students who attend our Audition Prep Workshop in early January are given a sample music theory assessment.

*Applicants for the BA (Major in Music) program must be interviewed and must complete the music theory and aural skills assessments, preferably on one of the scheduled audition days. These students perform an audition only if they wish to take Studio Minor as an elective in their program. Such instruction requires the permission of the department chair and the relevant applied instructor, and will be offered only if faculty time permits.