SKILLS

ASSESSMENT
LEVEL I
INFORMATION
[rev. 2018-19]

The Skills Assessment process is designed to stress the importance of and to assist
in the development of core musicianship; accuracy and self-sufficiency in melody
reading and score preparation for lessons, ensembles, operas, and musicals.

STUDENT INSTRUCTIONS

1. A series of 4 practice sheets will be distributed. You should practice one sheet each
week and expect to be quizzed on the material at your next voice lesson. Skills
assessments will be scheduled for the midway point of the semester. (Your voice
instructor will provide you with more information.) Students may take the test only
once per semester. If you do not pass, you will have another chance during the next
semester. All students must pass levels 1 and 2 to remain in voice lessons. Per the
Voice Area Handbook, students may not register for voice lessons at the 300-
level until all skill assessment requirements for their degree have been passed.

2. All sung scales (ascending and descending) and sequences must be sung from
memory with the solfège as printed in the materials. For minor keys you may
choose either the Do-based or the La-based minor. (Many MUEV students need
some familiarity with the La based system.)

3. Piano scales are to be ascending and descending, one octave, right-hand only, and
must be memorized. Students must find “Middle C” on the keyboard and use
starting pitches within that octave. Accuracy of pitches is the goal. While correct
fingering is encouraged, it is not required. The scales you are required to play on
each sheet correspond to the keys of the melodies you are to prepare for that week;
after learning the scales, try to play the melodies!

4. For rhythmic and melodic reading, you must either conduct your beat pattern, or
tap a pulse and keep that pulse steady throughout your reading. (If you tap the
pulse, the downbeat should be loudest tap of each measure.) Points will be
deducted if you do not show and keep a steady pulse by either conducting or
tapping. For rhythms, conduct or tap the pulse and chant the rhythm with “ta.” In
 addition, practice playing each of the melodies on the piano.

5. Once you begin a rhythm or melody singing passage, you must keep going.
Stopping and starting is not permitted—the pulse must remain constant!

6. It is strongly recommended (though not required) that you use solfège for the
melody singing. Using a combination of “la” and solfège is acceptable in order to
avoid getting “tongue-tied.” You must indicate and keep a steady pulse as
described above. For exercises in the minor mode, you may choose either the Do-
based or the La- based system.

7. In addition to the rhythmic and melodic exercises from the practice sheets, you
will also be asked to sight read TWO short melodies similar in difficulty to those
you have been practicing. One will be in major and one will be in minor.

8. You will be graded on the Skills Exam as follows: an A (“nearly perfect”); a B

(“minimal error”); or an F (“unacceptable number of errors”). This grade will
constitute HALF of your voice JURY grade at the end of the semester. Individual
voice teachers determine how much the jury grade counts toward the FINAL
semester grade. Warning: If a student ends the semester with an F on the Skills
Exam, the highest possible semester grade the student can receive will be a B.

9. You are expected to receive a grade of B- or better in the following: class piano,
music theory, ear training, choir, and opera. If you are trying to “move up” to a
Level 1 major, your Skill Grade, Jury Grade, and all semester grades will all be
taken into account (passing the Skills Exam is NOT a guarantee of moving to the
next level). This decision will be made after seeing ALL semester grades. If you
want to remain in a Level 1 degree, be advised that not performing up to
expectations may result in your being placed on probation, and ultimately being
advised to change majors.

Questions? Contact Dr. Troy Castle, Coordinator of Vocal

Studies at tcastle@millikin.edu.
 Level 1 Skills, Week 1 (2015-16 revision)
(Remember to apply sharps/flats from key signatures to scales/melodies)

Ascending and Descending Scales

,
œ œ œ œ
C Major Scale ... solfeg must be memorized

&œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ
Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do Do Ti La Sol Fa Mi Re Do

,
&œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ
Do Mi Sol Do Sol Mi Do Sol Do Do Fa Sol Sol Do

C Natural Minor Scale ... solfège must be memorized

,
& bbb œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ
Do
œ Meœ
Re Fa Sol Le Te Do Do Te Le Sol Fa
œ
Me
œ
Re
œ
Do

,
La Ti Do Re Mi Fa Sol La La Sol Fa Mi Re Do Ti La

& bbb œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ
Do Me Sol Do Sol Me Do Sol Do Do Fa Sol Sol Do
La Do Mi La Mi Do La Mi La La Re Mi Mi La

,
Sequence: All Intervals (Major scale) ... solfège must be memorized

&œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ
Do Re Do Mi Do Fa Do Sol Do La Do Ti Do Do Do Do Ti Do La Do Sol Do Fa Do Mi Do Re Do Do Do

Piano Scale: F Major Piano Scale: D Natural Minor

œ œœœœœœœœ
œœ b œœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœ
(note: it has the same key signature as F Maj.)

b
& œœ œ œ œ
2 Skills Level 1, Week 1 (2015-16 revision)

Melody Singing - Major ... use of solfège is strongly encouraged ... must conduct or tap the beat

&b c ˙ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ œ œœ œ œ ˙ œœœŒ œœ˙

œœœœ œœ˙
D M D R F F R M F S L S F D F M R D T S L T D M D

Melody Singing - Minor ... use of solfège is strongly encouraged ... must conduct or tap the beat

& b 43 œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œœ œ œ ˙ œœ ˙ œ œ ˙.
D Te D Le S Le S F S Me S F Me R Me R D S Le Te D
L S L F M F M R M D M R D T D T L M F S L

c œ ˙ œ œ œ Œ œ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ Œ œ ˙ œ Œ œ ˙ œ Œ œ Œ Œ œ ˙
Simple Rhythms ... duple division (quarter note gets the pulse) ... must conduct or tap the beat

1 2,3 4 1 2 3 4 1,2 3,4 1 2 3 4 1 2,3 4 1 2 3,4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3,4

43 ˙ œ œœœ œ œœœœœ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙.
1,2 3 1 2, 3 1 2 3 1,2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1,2,3

68 œ . œ. œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙.
Compound Rythms ... triple division (dotted quarter gets the pulse) ... must conduct or tap the beat

J J J
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1,2

98 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ . ‰ ‰ œ œ. ‰ œ œ œ. ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ.
J J J J
1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
 Level 1 Skills, Week 2 (2015-16 revision)
(Remember to apply sharps/flats from key signatures to scales/melodies)

Ascending and Descending Scales

,
œ œ
C Major Scale ... solfeg should be memorized from last week

& œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ

,
& œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ

b ,
C Melodic Minor Scale ...solfeg must be memorized

&bb œ nœ nœ œ œ bœ bœ œ
œ œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ
Do Re Me Fa Sol La Ti Do Do Te Le Sol Fa Me Re Do

,
La Ti Do Re Mi Fi Si La La Sol Fa Mi Re Do Ti La

& bbb œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ
Do Me Sol Do Sol Me Do Sol Do Do Fa Sol Sol Do
La Do Mi La Mi Do La Mi La La Re Mi Mi La

œ ,œ
bbb œ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Sequence: Thirds (Major scale) ... solfeg must be memorized

œ œ
& œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Do Mi Re Fa Mi Sol Fa La Sol Ti La Do Ti Re Do Do La Ti Sol La Fa Sol Mi Fa Re Mi Do Re Ti Do

Piano Scale: E Natural Minor

œœœœœœœœ
Piano Scale: G Major

# œ #
œ œœ œœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœ
(note: it has the same key signature as G Maj.)

& œœ œ œ
2 Skills Level 1, Week 2 (2015-16 revision)

?# c ˙ œ œ ˙ ˙ œ œœ˙ œ œ œ œœ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœœ˙
Melody Singing - Major ... use of solfège is strongly encouraged ... must conduct or tap the beat

D R M D M R M F S M R M R D R L T D R L T D M R D

# 3 œ œ #œ #œ œ Nœ Nœ œ œ
Melody Singing - Minor ... use of solfège is strongly encouraged ... must conduct or tap the beat

& 4˙ œ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ œ ˙
#œ ˙.
D Me D R F Me S Me F Le S L T D Te Le S Me T D
L D L T R D M D R F M Fi Si L Sol Fa M D Si L

Simple Rhythms ... duple division (quarter note gets the pulse) ... must conduct or tap the beat

c œ œ œ œ ‰ œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ ‰ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œœœ Œ œ œ œœ ˙
J J J J
1 2 3 4 1 2 3,4 1 2 3,4 1 2 3,4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3,4

43 œ ˙ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ ˙ œ œ œ œ Œ œœœœ ˙ ‰ œ œ œ œ œœ ˙
J
3 1,2 3 1,2 3 1 2 3 1,2 3 1 2 3 1 2,3 1 2 3 1,2

68 œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ‰ œ œ œ. ˙.
Compound Rythms ... triple division (dotted quarter gets the pulse) ... must conduct or tap the beat

J J
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1,2

98 ˙ . œ œ ˙. œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ ˙. Œ.
J J J J J
1,2 3 1,2,3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1,2 3
 Level 1 Skills, Week 3 (2015-16 revision)
(Remember to apply sharps/flats from key signatures to scales/melodies)

Ascending and Descending Scales

,
œ œ
C Major Scale ... solfeg should be memorized from week 1

& œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ

,
&œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ

C Harmonic Minor Scale ... solfège must be memorized

bb ,
& b œ œ nœ œ œ Nœ œ œ
œ
Do
œ
Re
œ Faœ
Me Sol Le Ti Do Do Ti Le Sol
œ
Fa
œ
Me
œ
Re œ
Do
La Ti Do Re Mi Fa Si La La Si Fa Mi Re Do Ti La

bb ,
& b œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Do Me Sol Do Sol Me Do
œ
Sol Do Do Fa Sol Sol Do

La Do Mi La Mi Do La Mi La La Re Mi Mi La

,
Sequence: All Intervals (Natural Minor scale) ... solfège must be memorized

& bbb œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ
œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Do Re Do Me Do Fa Do Sol Do Le Do Te Do Do Do Do Te Do Le Do Sol Do Fa Do Me Do Re Do Do Do
La Ti La Do La Re La Mi La Fa La Sol La La La La Sol La Fa La Mi La Re La Do La Ti La La La

œœœœœœœœ
Piano Scale: B b Major (note: it has the same key signature as B b Maj.
Piano Scale: G Natural Minor

b b œ œ œ
&b œœ œ œ œœœœœ b œœ œ œœ
œœœœœ œœ
2 Skills Level 1, Week 3 (2015-16 revision)

˙ œœ ˙ œ œœœœ œ œ œ
Melody Singing - Major ... use of solfège is strongly encouraged ... must conduct or tap the beat

? b b 43 ˙ œ ˙ œ œ ˙. œœ œ
˙ œ ˙. ˙.
D R M S M R M F S D T L S S F M S D M R D T D S D

Melody Singing - Minor ... use of solfège is strongly encouraged

b
& b 42 œ œ œ . # œj œ œ œ œ #œ œ. j
œ œ #œ ˙
œ œ œ œ œ
D S D T D Me F S Le S Me R D T D S Le T D
L M L Si L D R M F M D T L Si L M F Si L

Simple Rhythms ... duple division (quarter note gets the pulse) ,,, must conduct of tap the beat

42 œ œ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œœœœ ˙ ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ ‰ œ œ
J J
˙
1 2 1 2 1 2 1,2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1,2

43 œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œœœœ œœœœ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙.
1 2 3 1,2 3 1 2 3 1,2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1,2,3

68 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ .
Compound Rhythms ... triple division (dotted quarter gets the pulse) ... must conduct or tap the beat

1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2

12
8 œ œJ ‰ œ œ œ . œ œ œ œJ œ Jœ œ . œ œ œ . ‰ œ œ œ Jœ ‰ œ œ œ œ œ Jœ œ . œ œ œ œ . œ œ ‰ œ . œ œ . Œ .
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
 Level 1 Skills, Week 4
A Review of Weeks 1 - 3
2015-16 REVISION

This is what you will use for your test. YES, this is the actual test!!

Do not write any solfège or counts under the melodies and rhythms. Keep this copy CLEAN for your test.

You will perform one of these columns. If you are thoroughly prepared, it will take only 5–6 minutes to complete one
column with zero or minimal mistakes. Remember to practice so that you can perform without stopping and/or
starting over. After completing the column, you will be asked to sight-read TWO selections. One will be in a major key
and one will be in a minor key.

Scales: Sing with solfège from memory. You may choose either the Do based or the La based minor.

Sequences: Sing with solfège from memory. You may choose either the Do based or the La based minor.

Piano: Play from memory. Use the right hand. Find “Middle C” at the keyboard and then play your scale in that octave.
Accuracy of pitches (correct key signature) is the goal here, not correct fingerings and/or fluency (speed).

Melodies: Tapping or conducting the beat is required. Singing solfège is best but is not required. Most students are very
successful when they start with solfège and then switch to “La” if they get mixed up.

Rhythms: Using a conducting pattern and speaking “ta” for the rhythm is best. Tapping the beat and speaking “ta” for the
rhythm is acceptable. Clapping the rhythm is unacceptable.

Column A Column B Column C

Scales with Arpeggios (memorized) Scales with Arpeggios (memorized) Scales with Arpeggios (memorized)
Major Major Major
Harmonic Minor Natural Minor Melodic Minor

Sequence (memorized) Sequence (memorized) Sequence (memorized)

All Intervals Natural Minor Thirds Major All Intervals Major

Melodies (must show beat, solfège best) Melodies (must show beat, solfège best) Melodies (must show beat, solfège best)
#1 … F Major #3 … G major #2 … E minor
#5 … G minor #4 … D minor #6 … Bb Major

Rhythms (must show beat) Rhythms (must show beat) Rhythms (must show beat)
Simple Rhythms Simple Rhythms Simple Rhythms
#2 and #5 #1 and #4 #3 and #6
Compound Rhythms Compound Rhythms Compound Rhythms
#2 and #5 #4 and #6 #1 and #3

Sight Read Sight Read Sight Read

One in Major and one in minor One in Major and one in minor One in Major and one in minor

Piano Scales (memorized) Piano Scales (memorized) Piano Scales (memorized)

G Major F Major Bb Major
E Natural Minor D Natural Minor G Natural Minor
 Level 1 Skills, Week 4 (Melody Singing/Rhythms)
(2015 -16 Revision)

Melody Singing ... use of solfège is strongly encouraged ... MUST conduct or tap a steady beat

&b c ˙ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ œ œœ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ Œ œ œ ˙
1

œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙

# 3 œ Nœ Nœ
2

& 4˙ œœ ˙ œ ˙ œœ ˙ œ œ #œ #œ œ œ
#œ ˙.

?# c ˙ œ œ ˙ ˙ œ œœ ˙ œ œ œ œœ ˙
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ˙
3

& b 43 œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œœœ œ ˙ œœ
˙ œ œ ˙.

b
5

& b 42 œ œ.
j
#œ œ œ œ œ #œ œ. j
œ œ #œ ˙
œ œ œ œ œ œ

˙ œ ˙ œ œ ˙. ˙ œœ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
6
? b b 43 ˙ œ ˙ . œ ˙.

Simple Rhythms (continued) ... duple division (quarter note gets the pulse) ... MUST conduct or tap a steady beat

c1 œ ˙ œ œ œ Œ œ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ Œ œ ˙ œ Œ œ ˙ œ Œ œ Œ Œ œ ˙

43 ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙.
2
œ œœœ œ œœœœœ ˙

42 œ œ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œœœœ ˙ ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ ‰ œ œ ˙
3

J J
 Level 1 Skills, Week 4 (Melody Singing/Rhythms) ... 2015-16 revision

Simple Rhythms (continued) ... duple division (quarter note gets the pulse) ... MUST conduct or tap a steady beat

3 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙.
4 œ œ œœœ œ ˙ œ œ œœœ œ œœœœ ˙
4

c œ œ œ œ ‰ œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ ‰ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œœœ Œ œ œ œœ˙
5

J J J J

43 œ ˙ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ ˙ œ œ œ œ Œ œœœœ˙ ‰ œ œ œ œ œœ ˙
6

Compound Rythms ... triple division (dotted quarter gets the pulse) ... MUST conduct or tap a steady beat

68 œ . œ. œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙.
1

J J J

98 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. ‰ ‰ œ œ. ‰ œ œ œ. ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ.
2

J J J J

12
8 œ Jœ ‰ œ œ œ . œ œ œ Jœ œ Jœ œ . œ œ œ . ‰ œ œ œ œJ ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œJ œ . œ œ œ œ . œ œ ‰ œ . œ œ . Œ .
3

68 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ.
4

68 œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ‰ œ œ œ. ˙.
5

J J

98 ˙ . œ œ ˙. œ. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ. œ œ ˙. Œ.
6

J J J J J
 VOICE DEPARTMENT
SKILL ASSESSMENTS
2015-16 REVISION

All students taking voice lessons are required to PASS levels 1 and 2.
Each level will be repeated until it is passed.
Students will not be allowed to register for ML 311 unless skill assessment requirements have been met.

EXPECTATIONS for the Level 1 Degrees …

MUPV, MUEV, MUCL …
Both for staying in the Level 1 programs and for being admitted to the programs from Level 2 degrees.

ML 111 ML 112 ML 211

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Sophomore Barrier
Grade for Level 1 Skills … A Grade for Level 2 Skills … A Grade for Level 3 Skills … A

Memorize a minimum of 2 songs Memorize a minimum of 3 songs Memorize a minimum of 5 songs

(MUCL / MUPV = 3 songs (MUPV/ MUCL = 4 songs (MUPV = 6 songs because 3
because of 2 credit lessons) because 2 credit lessons) credit lessons)
One foreign language One foreign language Two foreign language

Sing 2 songs for jury Sing 2 songs for jury Sing 3 songs for jury

Grades in Theory / ET, Class Grades in Theory / ET, Class Grades in Theory / ET, Class
Piano, Opera, Choir, Voice Piano, Opera, Choir, Voice Piano, Music History, Opera,
lessons cannot be below B- lessons cannot be below B- Choir, Voice lessons cannot be
below B-

Students who desire admittance Students not meeting the

to the SOM or a Level 1 degree
and who do not meet the
minimum requirements will be
given one semester probation for
improvement.
minimums and who desire
admittance to Level 1 degrees
will not be given a probationary
period and will not be moved up
into Level 1 degrees.

Students enrolled in the Students enrolled in the Students enrolled in the

programs and not meeting the
minimums will be put on
probation with one semester to
improve. Failure to improve
may be cause for removal
from the desired degree
program.
programs and not meeting the
minimums will be put on
probation with one semester to
improve. Failure to improve may
be cause for removal from the
desired degree program.
Students already on probation
may be advised to leave the
Level 1 programs.
programs and not meeting the
minimums will be put on
probation with one semester to
improve. Failure to improve
may be cause for removal
from the desired degree
program.

Scoring: Each activity is allowed 3 points

3 = nearly perfect; 2 = minimal error; 1 = significant error; 0 = unacceptable