Here’s a simple ‘test’ to know the strength of music in the cultural literacy of a university.

What matters is how the majority of students and alumni do in this quiz:

To warm up, ask them to sing the first couple lines of “Jingle Bells.” Of “Yesterday.” Of “Star Spangled Banner.”  Almost all will be able to immediately, without thinking, sing these melodies/words. That’s the bar  of ‘knowing a song’ we’re looking for.

Ask them to sing the first couple lines of their university’s:

• Alma Mater.
• Fight Song.
• Any other song or chant from their university.

Bad is 0.  Okay is 1.  Good is 2.  Great is 3 or 4.