There are diagnostic surveys in music theory and jazz studies for students entering the DMA program. These Diagnostic Surveys are given on the Monday before classes begin for the fall and during the week before classes begin in spring semesters. They are a preliminary step in advising for all incoming students pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree

JAZZ STUDIES: For information on the diagnostic survey in Jazz Studies, contact the Area Head for Jazz Studies. Moreover, jazz studies students who wish to be eligible for theory classes besides Jazz Theory must take the Diagnostic Theory Survey.

THEORY: All DMA students are required to take the Diagnostic Theory Survey except for Jazz Studies students and those students who have completed another degree in music at UNL in the past three years.

The music theory survey is designed to determine whether or not students must take a review course in music theory. Credit hours earned from the review course are not applicable toward the graduate degree program. The theory review course must be passed with a grade of P before the student is admitted to full standing in the Graduate College.

The theory diagnostic covers: 1) four-part writing (figured bass realization, spelling and resolution of chromatic chords, including Neapolitan and augmented sixths); 2) analysis of a movement in sonata-allegro or rondo form; and 3) analysis of an excerpt from a fugue (real vs. tonal answer, labeling subject and countersubject entries, etc.).The following sources are suggested as aids in preparing for the Theory Diagnostic:

  1. a harmony textbook, such as Kostka & Payne, Tonal Harmony (McGraw-Hill); Aldwell & Schachter, Harmony and Voice Leading (Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich); Turek, The Elements of Music (McGraw-Hill); or Ottman, Elementary Harmony and Chromatic Harmony (Prentice-Hall).
  2. a form textbook, such as Turek, The Elements of Music (McGraw-Hill); or Spencer & Temko, A practical Approach to the Study of Form in Music (Prentice-Hall).

AURAL SKILLS: During the week before classes begin for the fall and spring semesters, all incoming students (except those students who have completed another degree in music at UNL in the past three years) are given an undergraduate-level  Aural Skills Proficiency Examination consisting of aural dictation (melodic and harmonic). Students identified as having deficiencies will be required to register for either (1) MUSC 198 (Special Topics Aural Skills II GR; one credit hour) or (2) MUSC 198 (Special Topics Aural Skills I GR; one credit hour) and MUSC 198 (Special Topics Aural Skills II GR (one credit hour). Students who successfully complete MUSC 198 Aural Skills II GR with a grade of Pass (equating to a B or better, by Graduate College policy, since this is an undergrad/grad class) have satisfied Ear Training Proficiency requirements. Students failing to successfully complete MUSC 198 Aural Skills II GR assume full responsibility for correcting the deficiency, and must retake the Ear Training Proficiency Examination until the grade of Pass is achieved. No student may stand as a candidate for graduation until ear training proficiency has been demonstrated. [NOTE: Students with deficiencies may not retake the Ear Training Proficiency Examination without having taken the required remedial course(s.)]

The applicant may reasonably expect to be admitted to the program with deficiencies in several of these areas.