Pre-Performance Classes
After music majors complete the coursework in music theory, history, and literature, they take the Major Field Test in Music, an exit exam developed by the Educational Testing Service of Princeton, NJ, and used by colleges and universities across the United States. ALL music majors must take the MFT: it is a graduation requirement, and we consider a counterpart to the senior recital in their applied area. (Prior to 2006, ETS had a different form of the exam, with a different name.) The enormous amount of data secured by ETS enables the institutions using this exam to compare their students’ exam performance with those of all other participating institutions.
The JBU Music Department groups its students into cohorts over a two-year period. Since 2000, the performance of the seven groups of JBU music majors tested have compared very favorably with groups from all participating colleges and universities. Their average total score has consistently placed them in the top 10% (with one exception: 85th %ile), and twice they ranked well above the 95th. In the area of Theory, they have consistently ranked in the top 5% (with one exception: 93rd %ile).
We can offer you a truly outstanding education in music theory, history, and literature. Our students consistently prove the quality of the program.
Major Field Test: Music
Percentiles from ETS distribution tables: February 2005-June 2011 data
| Year | Number of students in JBU group |
Total score and percentile |
Listening Comprehension subscore and percentile |
Written Theory subscore and percentile |
Written History subscore and percentile |
| 2011-12 | 9 |
167 99th %ile |
60 94th %ile |
72 99th %ile |
63 98th %ile |
| 2009-10 | 8 |
160 90th %ile |
57 85th %ile |
66 96th %ile |
54 71st %ile |
| 2007-08 | 7 |
157 85th %ile |
51 57th %ile |
61 93rd %ile |
55 77th %ile |
| 2005-06 | 10 |
160 90th %ile |
54 73rd %ile |
65 96th %ile |
56 77th %ile |
Major Field Achievement Test: Music II
Percentiles from ETS distribution tables: 1999-2002 data
| Year | Number of students in JBU group |
Total score and percentile |
Theory subscore and percentile |
History and Literature subscore and percentile |
Style Analysis subscore and percentile |
Basic Terms and Identification subscore and percentile |
| 2003-04 | 6 |
170.3 95th %ile |
69.5 95th %ile |
67 95th %ile |
69.5 95th %ile |
67 95th %ile |
| 2001-02 | 7 |
162 90th %ile |
63.4 95th %ile |
57 75th %ile |
59.9 85th %ile |
63.4 90th %ile |
| 1999-2000 | 11 |
163.4 90th %ile |
63.8 95th %ile |
61.1 85th %ile |
62.9 90th %ile |
62 90th %ile |
