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​Northern Lights:
​Canadian National Conservatory of Music

Theory

Programs/Exams > Theory
The Northern Lights Canadian National Conservatory of Music offers a complete rudiment, harmony, counterpoint and analysis program. (See Harmony for harmony, counterpoint and analysis information)

Rudiment Program

CNCM has created a rudiment program which develops basic information ands builds to a elementary harmony in four examinations.
  • Grade 5 Theory
  • Grade 6 Theory
  • Grade 7 Theory
  • Grade 8 Theory
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Grade Five Theory

Co-requisite for Grade Five Practical Examinations 
Examination Length: 1.5 Hours
Grade Five Theory topics include:
  • All major and minor keys up to and including four sharps and flats;
  • Tones and semi-tones;
  • Treble and bass clef;
  • Tonic, sub-dominant and dominant triads;
  • Accidentals (sharps, flats, naturals);
  • Major, minor and perfect intervals within the octave;
  • Simple time signatures;
  • Transposition at the octave;
  • Simple melody writing;
  • Correction of errors;
  • Identification of the Acciaccatura;
  • Simple analysis; and
  • Italian terms and musical signs

Grade 6 Theory

Co-requisite for Grade Six Practical Examinations        
Examination Length: 2 Hours
Grade Six Theory topics include: 
  • All major and minor keys;
  • Accidentals (sharps, flats, naturals, double sharps, double flats);
  • Identification of blues, pentatonic, whole tone, octatonic and chromatic scales;
  • Treble and bass clef;
  • Simple and compound metre;
  • All intervals within the octave and inversions;
  • Major and minor chords with inversions in close and open position;
  • Technical names of the degrees of the scale;
  • Perfect and plagal cadences in keyboard style;
  • Upward transposition from major to major keys; correction of errors;
  • Identification of  the Acciaccatura and trill;
  • Analysis;
  • Melody writing with cadence points; and
  • Italian terms and musical signs

Grade 7 Theory

Co-requisite for Grade Seven Practical Examinations    
Examination Length: 2 Hours
Grade Seven Theory Topics include: 
  • All major and minor keys (scales beginning on any degree of the scale);
  • Writing of blues, pentatonic, whole tone, octatonic, and chromatic scales;
  • Treble, bass and alto clef;
  • Simple and compound metre;
  • All intervals within the octave and inversions;
  • Enharmonic equivalents;
  • Major, minor, augmented and diminished triads, dominant seventh chords with inversions in close and open position;
  • Identification of diminished sevenths chords in root position;
  • Analysis of a chorale passage using Roman Numerals for identification;
  • Perfect, plagal and imperfect cadences in keyboard and chorale style;
  • Upward and downward transposition using major and minor keys;
  • Correction of errors;
  • Identification of the Acciaccatura, trill, Appoggiatura, and mordent;
  • Analysis;
  • Melody writing with cadence points;
  • Identification of unaccented passing notes; and
  • Italian terms and musical signs

Grade 8 Theory

Co-requisite for Grade Eight Practical Examinations       
Examination Length: 2.5 Hours
Grade Eight Theory topics include:
  • All major and minor keys ( scales beginning on any degree); 
  • Writing of blues, pentatonic, whole tone, octatonic, and chromatic scales; 
  • Simple, compound and irregular metre; 
  • Treble, bass, alto and tenor clef; 
  • Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian and Locrian modes; 
  • All intervals and inversions, including compound intervals; 
  • Major, minor, augmented and diminished triads, dominant seventh and diminished seventh chords with inversions; 
  • Identification of quartal chords, polychords, clusters and bi-tonal chords; 
  • Writing of simple chorale passages using figured bass analysis; 
  • Perfect, plagal, imperfect and deceptive/interrupted cadences in chorale or keyboard style;
  • Transposition using major and minors keys and for instrumental writing; 
  • Realization of the Acciaccatura; 
  • Trill; 
  • Appoggiatura; 
  • Mordent; 
  • Open scores (vocal and string quartet); 
  • Analysis; 
  • Melody writing with cadences; 
  • Passing notes and auxiliary notes; and
  • Italian, French and German terms and musical signs

Theory Syllabus

Download a free copy of the Theory/History Syllabus
theory-history_syllabus_2012.pdf
File Size: 359 kb
File Type: pdf
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  • Home
  • News
  • About
    • FAQ
    • Mission statement
    • History
    • Programs
    • Publications
    • CNCM Board
    • CNCM People
    • Examiners
    • Examination Centres
    • Honorary Licentiates
  • Programs/Exams
    • Coaching Classes
    • Composers & Kids
    • Composers At Play >
      • Composers At Play Registration Form
    • Composers At Work >
      • Composers & Educators Registration Form
      • Composers & Kids Registration Form
      • Composers & Composition Registration Form
    • Graded Piano Performance >
      • General Performance Examinations Grades One through Ten
      • Musicianship Examinations
      • Examination Resources
      • CNCM Silver Medalists
    • Graded Piano Workshop
    • Harmony
    • History
    • Music for Everyone
    • Pedagogy >
      • Early Childhood Music Education Diploma
      • Primary and Elementary Piano Pedagogy Diploma
      • Associate Diploma In Piano Pedagogy By Credit
      • Licentiate Diploma in Piano Pedagogy
      • Senior Fellowship Diploma in Piano Pedagogy
      • Junior Fellowship Diploma in Piano Pedagogy
    • School Credit Recognition
    • Theory
    • Exam Dates, Forms, Codes and Fees
  • Events
  • Publications
    • Canada 150 Publications
    • Northern Lights
    • Making Tracks
    • Handbooks
    • Student Compositions
    • Syllabi
    • Examination Papers
    • Videos
  • Support CNCM
    • Donate
  • Contact