All Graduate Voice Performance Majors entering the University of North Texas College of Music are required to take a three-part proficiency exam that covers French, German, and Italian Lyric Diction. This exam will be administered during Graduate Orientation week, prior to the first semester of study. This exam is the first step in assuring competency in foreign language diction. If found deficient through the entrance exams, competency can be achieved in one of two ways: personal review and study, or required/recommended coursework, depending upon the degree being sought. Competency will ultimately be evaluated at the end of the MM and DMA degrees as a part of the exit examinations for both degrees.
Required Coursework
MM students are required to take graduate level diction, MUAG 5215. They must, however, be competent to study diction at the graduate level before enrolling for this course. This competency will be determined by the entrance exam.
DMA students will receive recommendations for courses to take in the languages in which they do not demonstrate proficiency.
Placement Exam
The placement exam is an ONLINE exam taken on-site in a room at the College of Music during Orientation Week. Students must be logged into their CANVAS account in order to take the exam. Students must bring their own electronic device with which to take the exam. No extra materials are allowed. Each language (French, German, Italian) is tested separately. Students receive 20 minutes with which to complete each language portion. Once completed, students will be notified by their studio teacher of the results, generally within 48 hours of the exam.
Demonstration of Proficiency
Each part of the exam is graded separately; it is therefore possible to pass the exam in two languages, but not pass the third language.
MM students must achieve a minimum score of 70% correct on each part of the exam to demonstrate acceptable proficiency.
DMA students must achieve a minimum score of 80% on each of the exams to demonstrate acceptable doctoral-level proficiency.
Re-taking the Examination and Remediation Courses
MM students scoring below 70% on any of the language exams will be given a second opportunity to re-take that part of the exam in November. MM students scoring below 70% on their second attempt are required to complete remedial course work with a grade of C or better by enrolling in MUAG 1909 (Italian Lyric Diction), and/or MUAG 1907 (German Lyric Diction), and/or MUAG 1906 (French Lyric Diction). Upon successful completion of all required remedial courses, MM students are deemed eligible to take MUAG 5215 (Advanced Graduate Diction). This course is offered in the fall semester.
DMA students scoring below 70% on any of the language examx will be given a second opportunity to re-take that part of the exam in November. DMA students scoring below 70% on their second attempt will be strongly encouraged to enroll in MUAG 1909 (Italian Lyric Diction), and/or MUAG 1907 (German Lyric Diction), and/or MUAG 1906 (French Lyric Diction).
DMA students scoring between 70-79% on any part of the exam will be given a second opportunity to re-take that part of the exam in November. DMA students scoring between 70-79% on any part of the exam on their second attempt will be strongly encouraged to enroll in MUAG 5215 (Advanced Graduate Diction) as an elective. DMA students who demonstrate satisfactory proficiency may also take MUAG 5215 as an elective.