Exams & Auditions

Hearing Placement Examination
Incoming M.M., A.D., and Certificate candidates take a diagnostic Hearing placement examination during the first week of school. Students will be assigned to an appropriate Hearing class on the basis of the test results.

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Music History Placement Examination
Incoming M.M., A.D., and Certificate candidates take a diagnostic Music History placement examination during the first week of school. Students will be assigned to an appropriate Music History class on the basis of the test results.

All wind, brass, string, percussion, and harp players must perform an audition during the first week of school. This is a placement audition for the Philharmonia Orchestra as well as our chamber music program.

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Excerpts

Bass	Bassoon	Cello
Clarinet	Flute	Harp
Horn	Oboe	Percussion
Trombone	Trumpet	Tuba
Viola	Violin

Keyboard Proficiency
All M.M. candidates must complete this proficiency in order to graduate and are encouraged to complete it during the first semester of study. Students should strive to acquire keyboard skills before entering Yale. Basic keyboard proficiency is a requirement of the M.M. degree. Proficiency examinations are administered several times during the year.

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Foreign Language Proficiency
All M.M. candidates whose first language is English must complete this proficiency in order to graduate and are encouraged to complete it during the first week of school. This exam is designed to evaluate a student’s ability to read scholarly writing on musical subjects in a modern foreign language. A passing grade depends on accuracy and the amount translated in the two hours allowed. A dictionary may be used. Students deficient in language preparation must begin work during the first year and continue until the required proficiency is reached. Copies of previous tests in French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Russian are available in the Student Affairs Office on request.

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