Admissions
Associate Instructor Positions
Introduction
Associate Instructors (AIs) in Music Theory at the School of Music of Indiana University (Bloomington) teach courses in the core undergraduate program. This program includes theory and literature courses (covering harmony, formal analysis, elements of music such as melody and counterpoint, musical style, and music literature, especially works from 1700 to the present) and musical skills courses (covering sight singing and rhythm reading, dictation, and some keyboard harmony).
Thus the audition for those interested in our teaching positions includes an evaluation of the candidate's own skills in the areas mentioned above, a discussion of any prior teaching experience, and an evaluation of the candidate's ability to explain musical materials clearly and correctly. Applicants should not audition unless they have very good abilities in most, if not all, of these areas.
All music theory AIs work with theory faculty members or theory coordinators, who are in charge of the core courses. AIs teach two groups of students (approximately 15 per group) two or three times a week, plus attend the general lectures of the course and participate in a weekly staff meeting for their course. AIs also assist in proctoring and grading entrance exams during the week before classes begin. A general training session is provided for all AIs before each semester.
Appointments are for 42.5% FTE (17 hours per week, including time for preparation and grading or individual skills hearings). Remuneration includes graduate tuition (does not include mandatory fees) for 21 credit hours during the year, a monthly stipend for 10 months, and health insurance. Graduate students with any major in the School of Music may audition for an AI position.
Applying for a Music Theory AI
Please review the audition format (below) before requesting an audition. Only those who rate very good to excellent in all categories will be considered. Because of the number of people auditioning, meeting these standards will not ensure an offer of an AI position.
Prospective students should request an AI audition on their application form. These auditions are scheduled through the Office of Music Admission and Financial Aid in conjunction with other interviews or auditions for admission to your graduate area of interest.
Current IU graduate students may audition for a music theory AI position during regular audition weekends. These auditions are scheduled through the department, using this online form.
Second auditions are generally not allowed.
Audition Format
The audition is in three parts: sightsinging, aural skills, and keyboard sightreading/analysis.
1. Sightsinging
You will be asked to sing one or two tonal melodies of moderate difficulty. Two melodies comparable to those used are shown below. You may sing using any system, including solfege or numbers, or you may use a neutral syllable. The melodies should be sung at steady tempo, with few errors, and remaining in the tonic key. Applicants should also be able to explain how to help students with difficult spots. The linked MIDI files can be used to check your performance.
Example 1:
Example 2:
2. Aural Skills
Intervals and chords. Applicants will be asked to identify a series of intervals and chords played on the piano. Intervals are identified by quality and size (e.g., M3, P4), while chords are identified by quality and inversion (e.g., major, root position; major-minor 6/5). Applicants should be able to correctly identify most of the items played.
- Sample problems (there are six intervals and eight chord types; each is played twice):
- Answers
Harmonic progression. Applicants will be played a tonal chord progression and asked to provide a harmonic analysis of the chords. The progression will include some chromaticism. Multiple hearings are permitted. At minimum, applicants should be able to correctly identify the majority of the chords, with at least moderate fluency.
- Sample progression:
- Answers
3. Keyboard sight reading and Score Analysis
Keyboard. Good functional keyboard skills are important for effective classroom work. Applicants should therefore be prepared to sight read at the keyboard an easy to moderately difficult musical example, such as a sonatina by Haydn or Beethoven. The score linked below is representative. Those auditioning should be able to play the piece accurately, with a steady pulse. Playing at the correct tempo is not required.
- Sample score (one-page excerpt from a larger piece)
Visual analysis. The candidate will be asked to discuss the same musical score. The applicant should be able to discuss the musical materials with a fair degree of sophistication. Questions may be asked about such things as key and changes of key, chord progressions, non-chord tones, rhythmic/melodic motives, phrase structure, possible large-scale form, and so on. The applicant will also be asked to make a few comments about possible composer, the type of piece, and a possible year of composition.
Once you have carefully reviewed all the information provided on this page, if you feel that you are qualified to apply for an Associate Instructor position in Music Theory, please click the button below to acknowledge that you have reviewed this page before scheduling your AI audition.
