Music dictation exam prep
In a dictation exam you listen to music and write it down as notation. Many conservatories and music schools test it alongside music theory and sight-singing, and it improves steadily with daily practice. This page covers the basics and how to practice.
Try it: hearing notes from a reference
The foundation of dictation is hearing how far a note is from a reference note. Try it in C major.
The main types of dictation
Melodic dictation
Write down a single melody: pitches, rhythm (note values, rests, ties) and accidentals. In memory dictation you listen first and write afterwards.
Two-part dictation
Write an upper and a lower line played together on a grand staff. Don't let the top voice distract you from the bass.
Harmonic (four-part) dictation
Write a progression for soprano, alto, tenor and bass. Start with the outer voices, then use the chord functions (tonic, subdominant, dominant) to fill in the inner voices.
An example: Tokyo University of the Arts
The 2027 entrance exam guide of Tokyo University of the Arts (Faculty of Music) lists a written dictation test of about 30 minutes for composition, voice, instrumental and musicology applicants: one melody (memory dictation), one two-part piece and one four-part harmony. Formats change from year to year and differ between schools, so always check the official admissions information.
Daily practice tips
- Start with single notes and intervals. Knowing the distance between notes makes melodies much easier.
- Hear the key first. Play the tonic chord and feel "do" before you listen.
- Learn the sound of chords. Telling major, minor and dominant seventh chords apart helps with harmonic dictation.
- Write the rhythm too. Count the beats while you listen.
- A little every day. 10–15 minutes daily beats one long session a week.