Andrew Davis. ©2006.

Some additional specific information on the theory portion of the doctoral comprehensive exams at the Moores School of Music:

I generally tailor the exam so that you're asked to write analytically about repertoire that's relevant for you, and use your analysis to comment on things such as performance practice and performance decisions. This should be something along the lines of what you were doing in the doctoral theory seminar. I'd probably ask you to think about, and then write about, some different analytical approaches, and then comment on what kinds of things you can learn from these (again, similar to the kinds of things you did in the seminar). For preparation, think in terms of looking at scores and explaining how you approach them analytically -- formally, harmonically, rhythmically/metrically) -- and put them into historical context, and then what all this might tell you, from the point of view of a performer who has to communicate this music.