About the Program

The Certificate in Byzantine Music program equips students with a mastery of the skills required for chanting the sacred hymns of the Orthodox Church. The program provides thorough knowledge of the psaltic notational system, the theoretical framework of the modal system, the ability to sight-read musical scores at all levels of complexity, and an extensive familiarity with the contents and usage of liturgical books and the rubrics of the Orthodox Church. Upon completion of its requirements, students will be able to perform all musical parts of the daily liturgical cycle and the sacraments of the Orthodox Church.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates will demonstrate:

• Knowledge of the notational system of the Psaltic Art
• Knowledge of the theory of the eight modes
• Ability to sight-read musical scores in psaltic notation at all levels of complexity
• Thorough familiarity with the contents and usage of music books
• Extensive familiarity with the contents and usage of liturgical books
• Extensive familiarity with the rubrics of liturgical services in the Byzantine Rite
• Ability to perform all the musical parts of the daily office of the Greek Orthodox Church
• Ability to perform all the musical parts of the sacraments of the Greek Orthodox Church