Placement Procedure for Music Major Courses
Students who plan to major in music or wish to take music major classes MUST complete the Music Placement Test before beginning music major classes. Students may pre-enroll (see below) in classes before the Music Placement Test and make adjustments to their schedule during the add/drop period if necessary.
The Music Placement Test is given on a day immediately preceding the first day of classes of each semester. For information on the date, time and place for the coming semester, please see the department academic calendar. To register for the Music Placement Test complete the online registration form.
In addition, a Harmony Advanced Placement exam is given later on the same day. Be sure to bring a pencil with an eraser to the Music Placement Test (and to the Harmony Advanced Placement Exam, if you take it). Please follow other links below for more detailed information.
Music Placement Test
Written portion: a short written theory exam and musical dictation required of all incoming music majors or students who plan to take music major classes.
Audition and sight singing portion: required of all incoming music majors or students who plan to take music major classes. Administered individually by sign-up on that same day, immediately following the written portion. If you play an instrument (other than piano, organ, or harpsichord) that you are unable to bring to the Musicianship Placement Exam, you may be able to borrow one from the department. Please check in advance with Jim Coates (jcoates@berkeley.edu, (510) 643-8723) in the Music Office to be sure that the instrument you need is available to borrow.
Criteria for Placement in the Musicianship Series
Please see the placement criteria page for more information.
Harmony Advanced Placement Exam
Required only for those incoming music majors or students who plan to take music major classes, who have previously studied four-part writing and can realize a figured bass or harmonize a melody. In other words, if you have sufficient background that you think you may place ahead in the harmony sequence, rather than at the beginning of the harmony sequence, this test is for you. It is administered on the same day as the Music Placement Test. Please see department academic calendar for the date, time and place.
Reservations are not necessary for the Harmony Advanced Placement Exam.
Piano Music 405 Placement
If you are an intending music major and have little or no keyboard experience, you will need to take Piano while you are completing your lower division musicianship and harmony requirements. For admission to Piano 405, you must take the Piano 405 Placement test, which is administered on the Friday of the first week of classes (by sign up). The sign up will be posted on the bulletin board outside room 107 during the first week of classes. Be sure to sign up.
Pre-enrollment Recommendations
Students wishing to pre-enroll in music major courses before completing the Placement Procedure should enroll in 49B and 49C unless they have had considerable formal training in musicianship and/or harmony. Those who have had formal training should look at the placement criteria for musicianship and harmony and estimate where they will place. Adjustments to your schedule can be made during the add/drop period during the semester.
Students with little musical background should sign up for 20A before beginning the music major classes in musicianship and harmony. Once they have acquired more musical skills, they may take the Music Placement Test to see if they qualify for music major classes. See the criteria for placement in the musicianship series if you think this might apply to you.
Placement Exam Policy
Music Placement Test results for entry in 49B (Musicianship 1) and 49C (Harmony 1) are only valid for the semester in which the exam is taken. If a student who placed into 49B does not enroll in 49B in the semester in which the Placement Test is taken, he or she will need to retake the Placement Test in the semester of enrollment. An exception can be made for qualified students who, because of heavy course loads, are unable to take 49B-C concurrently. If placed into Musicianship 49B, they may take Harmony 49C before 49B, and their placement result will be honored the subsequent semester provided they have completed 49C successfully.
Due to present budget constraints, the Music Department will only be offering one section of 49B and 49C in spring semesters. Entry into these classes will be competitive based on Placement Test results. The continuing sequence of those classes (F 50-60, Sp 51-61) will also have only one section. Students should plan to take their musicianship and harmony classes without interruption to maximize their chances of securing a spot.
**Please note: we will NOT be offering a make-up Musicianship and Harmony Placement Exam for Spring 2013. If you wish to place into the music major sequence of classes, you will need to take the placement exam(s) on Friday, January 18th. Please arrange your travel to Berkeley accordingly.**