2025/2026 JAMB Music Syllabus & Recommended Textbooks

Preparing for the 2025/2026 JAMB Music CBT Examination? Look no further! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the essential details you need to excel in your Music exam – from the key topics outlined in the JAMB Music Syllabus to the recommended textbooks that cover these subjects thoroughly.

2025/2026 JAMB Music Syllabus: What You Need to Know

The JAMB Music examination aims to evaluate candidates’ understanding of both simple and complex aspects of music. To help you navigate the exam successfully, familiarize yourself with the following key topics:

1. Key Signatures and Scales
2. Chord Indications
3. Simple Musical Terms, Signs, and Abbreviations
4. Determination of the Key of a Piece of Music
5. Elementary Composition
6. Evolution and Development of Popular Music
7. Nigerian Traditional Music and Other Arts
8. History and Literature of African Music
9. History and Literature of Western Music
10. Nigerian Traditional Musical Instruments
11. Intervals
12. Kinds of Motion
13. African Art Musicians and Popular Musicians
14. Modulation
15. Music Forms and Media
16. Nigerian Folksongs
17. The Staff
18. Time/Time Signature

To access the complete 2025/2026 JAMB Music Syllabus in PDF format, click here (insert the link).

Recommended Textbooks for JAMB Music 2025/2026

To supplement your preparation, consider studying the following recommended textbooks, which extensively cover the topics outlined in the JAMB Music Syllabus:

1. Akpabot, S. E. (1986). Foundation of Nigerian Traditional Music, Ibadan: Spectrum.
2. Associated Board of the Royal School of Music (1958). Rudiments and Theory of Music, London.
3. Cole, W. (1969). The Form of Music, London: The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.
4. Echezona, W. W. C. (1981). Nigerian Musical Instruments, Enugu: Apollo Publishing Ltd.
5. Ekwueme, L. (1993). Choir Training and Choral Conducting for Africans, Lagos: Lenaus Advertising and Publishing Company.
6. Holst, I. (1963). An ABC of Music, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
7. Hosier (1961). Instruments of the Orchestra Oxford: Oxford University Press.
8. Hunt, R. (1960). Elements of Music.
9. Inanga, A. (1993). Music for Secondary Schools Vols. I and II, Ibadan: Spectrum.
10. Kamien, R. (1990). Music: An Appreciation, London: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company.
11. Kennedy, M. (1985). The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music, (Third Edition), London: Oxford University Press.
12. Kitson, C. H. (1978). Elementary Harmony Book 2, London: Oxford University Press.
13. Kofoworola, Z. O. And Lateef, Y. (1987). Hausa performing Arts and Music, Lagos: Nigeria Magazine.
14. Lovelock, W. (1953). A Concise History of Music, London: Bell and Hyman.
15. Lovelock, W. (1996). The Rudiments of Music, London. G. Bell and sons Limited.
16. Machlis, J. (1977). The Enjoyment of Music, New York: W. W. Norton.
17. Mensah, A. A. (Undated). Folksongs for Schools, Accra.
18. Morris, R. O. (1974). The Oxford Harmony, Vol. I, London: Oxford University Press.
19. Nketia, J. H. (1974). African Music, New York: W. W. Norton Company.
20. Palmer, K. (1965). Teach Yourself Music, London: The English University Press Limited.
21. Reed, H. O. (1954). Basic Music: A Basic Theory Text, New York: N. Y. Mills Music Inc.
22. Taylor, E. (1989). The Guide to Music Theory, London: The Associated Board of The Royal School of Music.
23. Warburton, A. O. (1955). Graded Music Course for Schools, Books I–III, London: Longman.

FAQs

What are the key topics covered in the 2025/2026 JAMB Music syllabus?

The JAMB Music syllabus for 2025/2026 covers a variety of theoretical and practical topics to assess candidates’ knowledge in music. The key topics include:

• Rudiments of Music (notation, scales, intervals, transposition)

• History and Literature of Music (Western and African music)

• Harmony (chord progressions, cadences, modulation)

• Form and Analysis (musical forms such as binary, ternary, sonata)

• Nigerian Music (traditional, popular, and art music)

• Aural Training (sight-singing, dictation)

Candidates are advised to study each section thoroughly in preparation for both theory-based and listening-based questions.

What textbooks are recommended for studying the JAMB Music syllabus in 2025/2026?

JAMB recommends several authoritative textbooks for Music candidates. These include:

• Rudiments and Theory of Music by ABRSM

• Musical Form and Analysis by Glenn Spring & Jere Hutcheson

• Understanding Music by Jeremy Yudkin

• A History of Western Music by Donald Jay Grout & Claude V. Palisca

• Essentials of Music Theory by Andrew Surmani, Karen Farnum Surmani, Morton Manus

• African Music: Traditional and Contemporary by J.H. Kwabena Nketia

For Nigerian context, candidates can also use music textbooks approved by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).

How can candidates effectively prepare for the JAMB Music exam using the syllabus?

To prepare effectively:

• Download and study the official JAMB Music syllabus from the JAMB portal.

• Create a study plan that covers all syllabus sections with weekly goals.

• Practice past JAMB Music questions to understand the format and frequently asked topics.

• Listen to classical and Nigerian music pieces to train your ear for aural questions.

• Use recommended textbooks to get in-depth understanding and examples.

• Consider joining a music study group or getting a tutor, especially for areas like harmony and analysis.

Conclusion

With the right resources and a dedicated study plan, you can confidently tackle the JAMB Music exam. Ensure you thoroughly cover the syllabus topics and utilize the recommended textbooks to enhance your understanding. Best of luck in your preparations!