Section 3: Overview and Exam Framework
TX PACT: Music: Early Childhood–Grade 12 (777)

Exam Overview

Table outlining the test format, number of questions, time, and passing score.
Exam Name TX PACT: Music: Early Childhood–Grade 12
Exam Code 777
Time 3 hours and 15 minutes total appointment time
  • 15 minutes for CAT tutorial and compliance agreement
  • 3 hours testing time
Number of Questions 125 selected-response questions
Format Computer-administered test (CAT)

The TX PACT: Music: Early Childhood–Grade 12 (777) exam is designed to assess whether a test taker has demonstrated the requisite knowledge and skills for admission to an educator preparation program. The 125 selected-response questions are based on the Music: Early Childhood–Grade 12 exam framework. Questions on this exam range from grades Early Childhood–Grade 12. Your final scaled score will be based only on scored questions.

Domains and Competencies

Table outlining test content and subject weighting by sub area and objective.
Domain Domain Title Approx. Percentage of Exam
I Aural Analysis Skills 27%
II Music Theory and Composition 27%
III Music History and Culture 27%
IV Music Methodology and Performance 19%

Pie chart of approximate test weighting outlined in the table above.

The content covered by this exam is organized into broad areas of content called domains. Each domain covers one or more of the standards for this field. Within each domain, the content is further defined by a set of competencies. Each competency is composed of two major parts:

Domain I—Aural Analysis Skills

Competency 001—Understand elements of music presented in recorded examples.

For example:

  1. Analyze melodic characteristics presented in a recorded example, including scales, tonality, intervals, phrase structures, embellishments, and contour.
  2. Analyze harmonic characteristics presented in a recorded example, including intervals, chord types, harmonic progressions, cadences, and nonchord tones.
  3. Analyze the elements of rhythm, meter, and tempo presented in a recorded example.
  4. Analyze the elements of form and texture presented in a recorded example.
Competency 002—Understand characteristics of Western, U.S., and world music presented in recorded examples.

For example:

  1. Analyze characteristics of Western music from the Middle Ages to 1750.
  2. Analyze characteristics of Western music from 1750 to the present.
  3. Recognize characteristics, instrumentation, genres, and styles of traditional music from a variety of cultures within the United States and around the world.
Competency 003—Understand elements of a musical performance presented in recorded examples.

For example:

  1. Identify voice types and various types of choral and small vocal ensembles.
  2. Identify band and orchestral instruments and various types of instrumental ensembles.
  3. Analyze expressive elements in a musical performance, including dynamics, articulation, tempo changes, and stylistic devices.
  4. Recognize performance errors, including errors related to pitch, rhythm, dynamics, articulation, phrasing, intonation, ensemble precision, and balance.

 

Domain II—Music Theory and Composition

Competency 004—Understand musical notation.

For example:

  1. Identify key signatures and pitches using a given clef.
  2. Define musical symbols and terms, including tempo markings, articulation symbols, dynamic indications, and expression markings.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of note values, rest values, and time signatures.
Competency 005—Understand melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic elements.

For example:

  1. Identify scales, tonality, and melodic intervals.
  2. Analyze melodic characteristics, including phrase structures, contours, and other melodic devices.
  3. Analyze rhythmic characteristics, including meter, patterns, and other rhythmic devices.
  4. Identify harmonic intervals, chord types, and chord inversions.
  5. Analyze cadences, harmonic progressions, and nonchord tones.
Competency 006—Understand musical composition, arrangement, and improvisation.

For example:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of musical styles, forms, textures, and compositional techniques.
  2. Analyze musical examples in terms of musical styles, forms, textures, and compositional techniques.
  3. Apply knowledge of common practice harmonization using appropriate voice leading and chord selection.
  4. Apply knowledge of arranging for various instruments, voices, and ensembles.
  5. Demonstrate knowledge of improvisational techniques.

 

Domain III—Music History and Culture

Competency 007—Understand the history of Western music from the Middle Ages to 1750.

For example:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of styles, genres, performance practices, and other musical characteristics of music from the Middle Ages to 1750.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of major composers and major works from the Middle Ages to 1750.
  3. Compare music from different stylistic periods.
  4. Analyze ways in which music reflects cultural factors, historical developments, technological changes, and aesthetic values.
Competency 008—Understand the history of Western music from 1750 to the present.

For example:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of styles, genres, performance practices, and other musical characteristics of music from 1750 to the present.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of major composers and major works from 1750 to the present.
  3. Compare music from different stylistic periods.
  4. Analyze ways in which music reflects cultural factors, historical developments, technological changes, and aesthetic values.
Competency 009—Understand U.S. and world music.

For example:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of styles, genres, performance practices, and other musical characteristics of music from the United States.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of major composers, musicians, and works of music from the United States.
  3. Identify types and characteristics of traditional music from a variety of cultures within the United States and around the world and instruments associated with various musical traditions.
  4. Analyze ways in which music from the United States reflects the country's cultural factors, historical developments, technological changes, and aesthetic values and ways in which musical styles from around the world have influenced the development of music in the United States.

 

Domain IV—Music Methodology and Performance

Competency 010—Understand vocal and choral performance techniques.

For example:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of vocal ranges and classifications, stages of vocal maturation, and various types and characteristics of vocal and choral ensembles.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of basic techniques for developing singing skills and vocal health.
  3. Apply knowledge of techniques for addressing typical problems encountered in vocal and choral performance.
  4. Demonstrate knowledge of sight-singing approaches.
Competency 011—Understand instrumental performance techniques.

For example:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of types and characteristics of string, wind, percussion, and keyboard instruments, and types and characteristics of bands, orchestras, and other instrumental ensembles.
  2. Apply knowledge of basic techniques for playing string, wind, percussion, and keyboard instruments and basic procedures related to instrument maintenance.
  3. Apply knowledge of techniques for addressing typical problems encountered in playing string, wind, percussion, and keyboard instruments.
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