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Musicianship at Mount Allison

The BMus degree requires two year-long musicianship courses: Musicianship I (MUSC 1703) and Musicianship II (MUSC 2703). MUSC 1703 is also required for the Major and Minor in Music. These courses consist of practice in three components of aural musicianship skills:

1. Transcription/Dictation
2. Sight Singing/Performance and Conducting, and 
3. Keyboard Skills.

Exemption Tests 

At the beginning of each academic year, students have the opportunity to take a placement/exemption exam in any of the three components listed above, with a minimum 80% required to achieve a placement/exemption for that component. The mark received on the exam will be counted as the student’s grade in that component of the course(s).  Students who achieve a placement/exemption will be exempt from attending any classes in that skill component but will still be required to attend the other Musicianship classes for the other components.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

If you are not content with the mark earned on any placement/exemption exam, you may choose to attend the classes in that skill component and complete the regular evaluations of that portion of the course. Your coursework will then be counted toward your final grade. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

It is possible to test out of all components of Musicianship I and II (dictation, sight singing, and keyboard). A minimum grade of 80% is required for each of the three components to be considered for exemption from the entire course. 

Transcription/Dictation Skills

For Musicianship I (MUSC 1703), Dictation/Transcription Skills necessary for a placement/exemption correspond to the material found in chapters 1 to 7 of the resource textbook, on reserve in the music library. These involve aurally identifying: 1) simple melodies and simple two-voice counterpoint, 2) diatonic triads and seventh chords, 3) basic dominant-tonic functions, 4) introduction of the dominant seventh chord,  5) first inversion triads, and 6) cadential six-four chords. 

Resource Textbook:  Steven Laitz, Skills and Musicianship Workbook (Workbook 2) to Accompany The Complete Musician, 4th Edition (Oxford: Oxford U. Press, 2015).

For Musicianship II (MUSC 2703), the Dictation/Transcription Skills necessary for a placement/exemption involve being able to aurally identify: 1) inversions of the dominant and leading-tone seventh chords, 2) pre-dominant functions of chords, 3) accented and chromatic embellishing tones, 4) six-four chords and contrapuntal expansions, 5) mediant and sub-mediant chord functions. You will also be given two melodies for dictation. No course textbook required. 

Sight-Singing/Performance Skills

Exemption in Sight-Singing/Performance involves the demonstration of the ability to sight-read music with accurate pitch and rhythm. This component requires the abilities:

1. to sing melodies at sight using both fixed and moveable syllables, with or without simultaneously conducting. The fixed system at Mount Allison uses letter names (C, D, Eb, F#, etc.). The moveable systems are two: scale degree numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.) and moveable do solfege (do-based major and do-based minor) including hand signals. 
2. to sing scales and triads (root and inversions) using both fixed and moveable syllables from a given starting note.
3. to tap/clap/speak rhythmic patterns at sight on a neutral syllable/sound.
4. to demonstrate proficiency in basic conducting patterns for simple and compound time.

For Musicianship I (MUSC 1703), Sight-Singing/Performance Skills necessary for a placement/exemption correspond to the materials found in chapters 1 to 7 of the resource textbook. These involve simple diatonic melodies based largely on tonic-dominant harmonies, with very little chromaticism or rhythmic complexity. 

For Musicianship II (MUSC 2703), Sight-Singing/Performance Skills necessary for a placement/exemption involve being able to sight sing 8-bar melodies in major and minor keys using movable do solfege and to sing scales in major and minor keys (harmonic and melodic). No hand signals required. 

Keyboard Skills

The BMus degree at Mount Allison requires the equivalent of RCM Level Four (see keyboard requirements in the table below). Musicianship I (MUSC 1703) covers the Level One and Two requirements of this sequence. Musicianship II (MUSC 2703) covers Levels Three and Four.  

The complete technical requirements for Keyboard Exemption tests can be found below. ALL technical requirements and pieces for the level attempted must be prepared. 

Students may take a placement exam for each semester’s level by performing the final material for the term at an A- (80%) level. For instance, a student in first term MUSC 2703 would prepare all material listed under Level 3 in the table below in order to exempt out of that semester’s keyboard component.

Students may choose to exempt from one or more years of keyboard skills by preparing the terminal material for MUSC 1703 (Level 2 in the table below) or MUSC 2703 (Level 4 in the table below) at the start of their first year. This is particularly useful for incoming piano majors or any students with a strong piano background.

Note for All Levels: Scales are performed legato in eighth notes. Broken triads are performed in triplets. Solid triads are performed with a quarter note followed by a quarter-note rest. Examples of technical requirements can be found here. 

All pieces and technical requirements for the attempted level must be prepared, although examiners may choose only select portions.

Musicianship Exemptions vs. Entrance Assessment

Please note that the Musicianship Exemption Exams differ in purpose to the online Entrance Assessment. The Entrance Assessment is required for all incoming BMus students (or any student wishing to take MUSC 1101) and is used to appraise your existing knowledge and skills in music theory and musicianship, whereas Musicianship Exemption Exams are optional and determine exemption from one or more components of the Musicianship courses (MUSC 1703 and MUSC 2703). For more information on the Entrance Assessment, click here and scroll down to Step 4.

Musicianship Exemption Test Details 

Musicianship Exemption exams take place during the first week of classes in the Fall term. It is expected that even students attempting full exemptions should attend the relevant class for the first week.

Sight-singing Exemption Test: Times TBA by individual sign-up
Keyboard Exemption Test: Times TBA by individual sign-up
Dictation Exemption Test: In-class on Thursday Sept. 5, 2024, no sign-up necessary

Contact 

For more information and further inquiries concerning exemption and placement policies for Musicianship courses, please contact Dr. David Rogosin (MUSC 1703) at drogosin@mta.ca or Dr. Gayle h Martin (MUSC 2703) at ghmartin@mta.ca. 
 

 

Results in all University courses at Mount Allison are submitted as letter grades.

The following are guidelines for the interpretation of these letter grades as they apply to the studio component of applied music courses.

The studio component will be evaluated by considering the following criteria as work throughout the term:

• Professionalism: attendance at lessons, studio classes and rehearsals; punctuality;  attitude (towards instructor and peers)
• Preparation: preparedness of all assigned pieces within an appropriate time frame
• Progress: steady progress and improvement; making effective use of appropriate daily practice time
• Increasing technical polish and interpretive maturity
• Flexibility: openness to new ideas and suggestions; an ability to compromise and follow instructions
• Listening: the ability to listen carefully and to adapt to what is heard
• Behaviour: acting respectfully, responsibly, and courteously when working with your fellow musicians (including collaborative pianists)
• For singers and collaborative pianists: proper diction and understanding of the text

According to University Senate regulations, the grades listed in the categories below are not sufficient to proceed to an applied music course at the next level. 

Results in all University courses at Mount Allison are submitted as letter grades. The following are guidelines for the interpretation of these letter grades as they apply to applied music courses, juries, and credited recitals.

Students preparing credited or non-credited recitals should note that if the quality of preparation is poor and could potentially lead to one of the grades listed in the categories below, the Music department, on the recommendation of the studio instructor, has the right to cancel a planned student recital.

The Concerto Competition will be held on November 24, 2024

Winners will be selected to perform with the Mount Allison Chamber Orchestra or Symphonic Band.

Application deadline: August 1, 2024. See .

Eligibility: any current full-time Mount Allison student in good standing may apply.

Eligible works: pieces for solo instrument or voice with orchestra or band. Examples are concerti, concert pieces, arias, and transcriptions if approved. Note: repertoire must be approved by the Applied Music instructor (for BMus students) and by the ensemble director before the Aug. 1 deadline.
A score must be provided with the , with a link to a recording. If no full score is available at the time of the application a piano score is acceptable.

Format: The competition will consist of one live round, which will be held on Sunday, November 24, 2024. Pieces must be performed from memory in the competition, with piano accompaniment, up to a maximum of 20 minutes.
If selected to perform with the Orchestra or Band, the director will decide upon the length of the actual performance.

Prize: Winner will perform with the Mount Allison Chamber Orchestra or Symphonic Band in the Winter term of 2025. No cash prize will be awarded.

Judging: Competition will be judged by a panel of three: the directors of the Chamber Orchestra and Symphonic Band (or one director and another member of the Music faculty), and one professional musician from outside of Mount Allison.