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Overview of Curriculum | Curriculum for GMTA Theory Achievement Tests
Level A | Level B | Level C | Level D | General Regulations

Beginning in 1992, the test has been expanded to four levels - A, B, C, and D - with ear training on all levels. Any student in Grades 4 - 12 may enter at any level. For example, a younger, advanced student might enter Level C or D, whereas an older beginner might choose to enter Level A. Students who receive a passing grade may repeat the same level the following year or progress to a higher level, at the teacher's discretion. Students who receive a passing grade in the same level for two years must then progress to a higher level. The individual teacher is responsible for monitoring each student's progress.

No student may take the test twice in one year. Students may take the test either at a participating local association (in February or March) or at the Spring Auditions time (Saturday, 10 a.m.). Any student who is scheduled for a performance audition at the same time as the Theory Achievement Test must contact the Theory Chair in order to secure an alternate time.

Students are responsible for providing their own pencil(s). Students may not bring any study helps to the testing area. Students are permitted to write any charts or other information in the margins of the test itself, as long as this does not cover up any answer area. Students should note that key signatures must be written with standard placement (on the correct lines and spaces). Ear training examples will be presented on cassette tape. Each example will be played two or three times in succession, depending on the difficulty. Examples will not be played again after the next example begins.

The sample questions which follow the curriculum are given only as an aid to students. They are not intended to be comprehensive. GMTA members may acquire a written copy of last year's tests (Levels A-D) for educational purposes by sending $3.00 ($3.00 for a complete set, not $3.00 per level) to Donna Trivette, GMTA, 956 Green Knoll Drive, Dacula, GA 30019. Purchase of these sample tests implies permission to make and distribute copies for one's own students but does not grant permission to make or distribute copies to any other teacher or student. Teachers and students should understand that the actual test will be based on the curriculum which follows and will not necessarily be limited to the type and number of sample questions given in this handbook or on last year's test.

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Level A:

Ear Training: high and low; up, down and repeating melodies; steps and skips; rhythmic identification in simple meter (one- two measures); major and minor chords; major and minor five finger patterns.

Written exam: whole and half steps; names of notes; intervals (number only); major key signatures up to four sharps and flats; add accidentals to make a major scale; add correct time signatures (simple and compound time); add bar lines; complete measures with notes and rests; write major and minor triads.

Terms: PP (very soft, P (soft), MP (moderately soft), MF (moderately loud), F (loud), FF (very loud), crescendo (gradually getting louder), diminuendo (gradually getting softer), 8va (indicates to play notes an octave higher or lower), repeat sign (indicates to repeat a section), D.C. al Fine (Da Capo repeat from the beginning to Fine), D.S. al Fine (Del Segno: repeat from the sign to Fine), ritardando (gradually slowing down), a tempo (return to the original speed or tempo), allegro (fast), slurs (a curved line over two or more notes indicating they are to be played legato), legato (to be played smoothly or connected), staccato (to be played detached or short), accents (to emphasize the note or chord), fermata sign (to hold or pause).

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Level B:

Ear Training: melodic identification (one measure in a major key); rhythmic identification (one-two measures in simple or compound meter); intervals - 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 (true or false); major and minor triads; major and minor scales (student will not have to identify which minor scale).

Written exam: includes Level A guidelines; enharmonic notes; all major key signatures; minor key signatures through four sharps and flats; write major and minor scales using accidentals; write primary triads (1, IV, and V) in major and natural minor keys (either root position or inversions accepted); rewrite treble or bass clef melodies in the other clef - one octave higher or lower.

Terms: including those on Level A; andante (moderate or walking speed), adagio (slow), poco a poco (little by little), meno less), meno mosso (less motion), presto (very fast), largo (very slow or broad), transpose (change a composition from one key to another), common time (4/4 meter), alla breve (cut time, 2/2 rather than 4/4).

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Level C:

Ear Training: major and minor scales (students will identify which minor); melodic identification (one-two measures - major or minor); rhythmic identification. (up to four measures - simple or compound meter); determine if a melody is major or minor; all intervals (including quality of interval); triads - including augmented and diminished.

Written exam: includes Level B guidelines; all major and minor key signatures and scales; identify and write number and quality of intervals; identify and write all triads; determine the key of a melody from the accidentals; transpose a melody; identify plagal, authentic, half and deceptive cadences.

Terms: all performance style terms found most frequently in music literature. Use dictionaries such as the Harvard Dictionary of Music or the Practical Dictionary of Musical Terms (Alfred) to study terminology.

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Level D:

Ear Training: major and minor scales (students will identify which minor) and modes; melodic identification (up to three measures - major or minor); rhythmic identification (up to four measures - simple, compound, or irregular meter); determine if a melody is major, minor or modal (students will not be required to differentiate between. modes); all intervals; all triads including augmented and diminished and V7 chord (true/false).

Written exam: includes Level C guidelines; terms relative, enharmonic and parallel as applied to all major and minor key signatures and scales; identify and write intervals above and below given notes identify and write all triads and V 7 chords in root position and in inversions identify and write tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, dominant, submediant, and leading tone by name and Roman numeral symbol.

Terms: all performance style terms, found most frequently in music literature. Use dictionaries such as the Harvard Dictionary of Music or the Practical Dictionary of Musical Terms (Alfred) to study terminology.

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General Regulations:

1. The GMTA web site www.ga-mta.org is the official source for all information pertaining to local administration of the GMTA Theory Achievement Test.
   
   
2. The GMTA Auditions General Rules and Regulations state that application fees are non-refundable. Any student who registers to take the test at the local association and is unable to do so may take the test during the GMTA Auditions without paying an additional fee. The exact time and date for the test is stated on the application form found in the GMTA Official Directory and Auditions Handbook. The local theory chair must forward pertinent documentation to the state theory chair in order to obtain this privilege.
   
   
3. Any student who chooses not to take the test at the local association may take the test during the GMTA Auditions (on the Saturday of the pre-college piano auditions) upon application to the state theory chair and payment of fees. No student may take the test twice in one year.
   
   
4. Students are responsible for providing their own pencils. Students may not bring in any study aids to the testing area. Students are permitted to write any charts or other information in the margins of the test itself, as long as this does not cover up any answer area.
   
   
5. The ear training CD has built-in pauses between questions, so that students will have enough time to record their answers. The CD should not be paused or restarted during the administration of the test. No student is allowed to listen to the CD a second time. Please note that the administrator may (at his or her discretion) stop the CD or allow a portion to be heard a second time if there is an audible interruption that would significantly hinder the listener1s ability to hear clearly.
   
   
6. Other than the time of testing, no copies of the test may be made available to anyone (teacher or student) until after the state auditions are completed, except for those persons who administer the test.

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