<p>I thought the music theory test was bizarre. Many people gave up on it without getting anywhere near completing the test. People who had previously taken music theory seemed to do fine, but I thought it was pretty hard–there was quite a bit of identifying intervals and other aural skills. Anyway, I thought it was really weird because a girl I knew left after literally 5 or 10 minutes and was placed in a higher class than myself and another girl we knew who stayed for the whole test. I was placed in the lowest music theory class (111), but because it conflicted with a class I really really wanted to take, I took the next higher class (111X) and did fine (got an A). I think that if you have NO experience with music, 111 is appropriate, but if you have been playing for awhile, you should be fine in 111x regardless of what the test says, even if you have no formal music theory background. There is a third, harder music theory class, 120, for people who have taken music theory before. </p>
<p>I play the clarinet, so I can’t help with violin but maybe someone else will respond.</p>