Now that you’ve accepted the offer to join the School of Music as a music major you will attend Towering Traditions, Belmont’s Summer Orientation program in June or August (and in January before classes begin for Spring entry). It's VERY important that you attend Towering Traditions. During this orientation event, you'll get to know new and returning Belmont students and Belmont faculty, become better acquainted with campus and academic life, learn more about what it means to major in music, and meet with a music advisor.
Before Towering Traditions
Before Towering Traditions, you will be contacted by the School of Music to take your online Music Theory placement test. If you place into a level higher than Fundamentals, then you may also take an Aural Skills placement test when you come to Towering Traditions. Also at Towering Traditions, you will take a piano placement test (if you aren’t a piano major). View the Placement Test & Review for more information about the placement tests and how to prepare for them.
If you are a transfer student or have a few college classes you want to transfer to Belmont, send us a transcript as soon as you have finished those classes. Please be sure that your final grades are listed on those transcripts. The Director of the School of Music will evaluate the music classes on your transcript before you come to orientation. You will also take the Music Theory and Secondary Piano placement tests like all incoming music students so that you can be placed in the right level of theory and piano. (Transfer students who have successfully completed four semesters of music theory and piano should contact the Director of the School of Music regarding whether or not they should take placement tests.)
Commercial Music majors will be contacted before orientation to choose an emphasis within the Commercial Music program. Click here for more information about the emphasis areas.
The AP Music Theory Test score of level 4 or 5 is accepted as credit. During summer orientation, you will still take a placement test to determine placement into a level of Theory. The placement test will determine if the AP credit will count as credit toward your major/minor in music at Belmont or will be elective credit.
During Towering Traditions
During Towering Traditions, not only will you have many orientation meetings, but you will also be advised and will register for your classes. Since music lessons are a part of your schedule, you will be assigned a private instructor in your applied area. You will receive an email with your applied instructor and his or her contact information before the first week of classes. It is your responsibility to contact your teacher to set up a lesson time that fits around your class schedule and the teacher's schedule.
A typical fall semester schedule for an incoming freshman includes:
- Private lessons in your applied principal area (voice, keyboard, or instrument),
- Music Theory
- Aural Skills
- Private lessons or classes in your applied secondary area (usually piano)
- An ensemble
- First Year Seminar and First Year Writing
- A Wellness course
Placement tests are part of your registration process after acceptance.
- Theory Fundamentals Review
- Keyboard Sightreading Resources (for Piano Principals)
Placement Tests in the secondary performing area and in theory and aural skills are given online before orientation, in order to measure their current abilities and place them in the appropriate level of study. Information will be emailed to students in early May.
Piano Placement Test
Music majors must complete a piano placement questionnaire online, before orientation. Piano is the required secondary instrument (if piano or organ is not your principal performing area). To prepare for the Secondary Piano Placement Test, you may use the attached Secondary Piano Placement Test Info PDF.
If you have no experience in piano, you will be placed at the beginning of the sequence of secondary piano study.
Theory and Aural Skills Placement Tests
The Theory Placement Test is designed to place students within the Belmont theory sequence. Theory and Aural Skills Placement Tests will be completed online before students come to campus. Specific instructions will be sent by email. For students who have had minimal theory study, the test may indicate a need for a semester of music fundamentals before beginning the major theory sequence.
Applicants are encouraged to prepare for both the Theory and Aural Skills Placement Tests with a thorough review of music theory. To prepare for the Music Theory Placement Test, you may use the attached Learning Music Fundamentals PDF, Theory Placement Exam PDF, and watch the video below.
Students who have studied theory in high school or elsewhere may want to place out of Fundamentals and begin in Theory I or higher. Passing the Fundamentals Placement Exam is the required first step.
Material on this page will help you prepare for the Fundamentals Placement Exam. Fundamentals is a part of every theory placement test. If you think you can bypass the Fundamentals class and begin in a higher level of theory, it is important to review fundamentals and show that you can do well on the basics.
Overview
Intervals
Intervals Worksheet 1 and ANSWER KEY
Intervals Practice Test and ANSWER KEY
Major Scale and Keys
Study sheet – The Circle of Fifths
Major Scales Worksheet 1 and ANSWER KEY
Major Scales Worksheet 2 and ANSWER KEY
Major scales Practice Test and ANSWER KEY
Minor Scales and Keys
Study Sheet – Key Relationships
Minor Scales Worksheet 1 and ANSWER KEY
Minor Scales Worksheet 2 and ANSWER KEY
Minor Scales Practice Test and ANSWER KEY
Triads
Study sheet – Writing Chords and Chord Names
Triads Worksheet 1 and ANSWER KEY
Triads Worksheet 2 and ANSWER KEY
Triads Worksheet 3 and ANSWER KEY
Triads Practice Test and ANSWER KEY
All entering Piano Principals have to take Piano Ensemble: Sight Reading (MUN 4870) unless their piano sight reading skills are at a level in which they may waive this course. In addition, some entering piano students may want to accompany vocalists and/or instrumentalists and charge for their services. In order to do this, the pianist has to demonstrate acceptable sight reading skills or they will not be placed on the Approved List of Accompanists.
Material on this page will help you improve your sight reading skills. Arranged in three levels (Easy, Intermediate, and Advanced), each level contains a variety of piano music in PDF file format which can be downloaded and printed in order to practice piano sight reading skills.
View Piano Sight Reading Tips.
Easy Examples
Intermediate Examples
Advanced Examples
Be sure to read through our New Student FAQs to know what to plan for as a Music Major.
Please make it a habit to check your student email account every day for personal messages and announcements pertaining to the School of Music and the University. Also, look at the bulletin boards on each floor of the Wilson Music Building and in Massey Performing Arts Center for important information including class changes, important meetings, job opportunities and student activities.
New Student FAQ
Vocalists will need to find an accompanist for private lessons and for practice as needed (typical accompanist time is 1-2 hours weekly). Instrumentalists may need an accompanist for performances and rehearsals. A list of student and professional accompanists will be posted on the MyBelmont student e-board. Your applied teacher may also be able to recommend an accompanist. Accompanist fees vary, and are usually negotiated on an individual basis.
Course fees are charged to cover the additional costs of music instruction. A list of fees can be found on classfinder.belmont.edu or catalog.belmont.edu. Private lesson course fees range from $150 to $300 per semester, depending on credit hour. Class Piano classes have a course fee of $90 per semester.
Music students are strongly encouraged to own a portable electronic keyboard for personal use and study. Students will benefit in many classes from having access to a keyboard. Theory classes often have keyboard assignments, and teachers expect that students will have access to a keyboard for doing homework and reinforcing class activities. A keyboard with full-size keys and a 5 octave range (approximately 61 keys) is recommended.
Music students are strongly encouraged to own any standard Macintosh or Windows based computer utilizing the latest operating system for the computer platform. A laptop is preferred based on portability and functionality. Recommended specs include 16GB of RAM and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Powerpoint, Excel). Music Technology majors are strongly encouraged to own any major DAW program along with a MIDI Keyboard controller (with USB capabilities), an external audio interface, at least one external hard-drive, and at least 1 basic dynamic (hand-held) microphone. Students in Music Technology classes will also have access to the School of Music labs that are equipped with music related software utilize for the music technology classes. For questions and more details concerning music technology needs, please contact the Coordinator of Music Technology, Professor Keith Mason.
You are required to purchase music for your applied lessons, just as you are required to buy textbooks for other classes. The amount of music you need will depend upon your present stock of music and your level of training. Your applied teacher will help to determine what you will need.
All majors and minors will participate in performances throughout the year that will require them to wear formal black attire.
Measurements will be taken for women's dresses during the first few weeks of classes (watch for signs about time and place). Women should be prepared to pay approximately $150 at the time measurements are taken. This will pay for a dress, jewelry, and shoes.
If you have a tuxedo, pleated shirt, black cummerbund, standard black bow tie, studs and cuff links, you may bring them and have your ensemble director look at them to see if they are acceptable. If you do not have a tux or if your tux is not suitable for School of Music performances, we have arranged for the men to purchase tuxedos through a local vendor. Measurements will be taken for tuxedos during the first few weeks of classes (watch for signs about time and place). The cost for a full tuxedo (everything mentioned above) is approximately $285 plus tax. If you need items a la carte, you may order as needed. Half of payment will be required at the time of measurement, and the balance will be due upon delivery. Men will also be required to wear black socks and black dress shoes with their tuxedos and should be prepared to have those by the first performance.
Storage lockers are available for rent through the School of Music office each semester, beginning the first week of classes. The School of Music has lockers in the McAfee Annex, Belmont Heights, Hitch Building, Massey Performing Arts Center, and Wilson Music Building. There are a variety of sizes of lockers, though large lockers are prioritized by ensemble directors for students with large instruments. Students who wish to use a locker should come to the School of Music office in the Wilson Music Building and see April Simpkins at the front desk.
Contact Us
College of Music and Performing Arts
1900 Belmont Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37212
School of Music: 615.460.6408
Department of Theatre & Dance: 615.460.5503
CMPA Admissions: 615.460.8116