Academic year 2025/2026
Overview
The course is designed as a gradual path from studying notation to singing hymns from the service books. Participants will learn how to read Western staff notation and Byzantine notation, use their voice, read biblical passages in the context of the services, and, based on that, correctly work with the liturgical texts and set music to them.
Learning Approach
At Sankt Ignatios Folkhögskola, the overarching principle that guides learning is that all knowledge is intersubjective.
Knowledge is dialogue, which requires humility and empathy.
This course is built on collaborative and dialogical learning where participants actively shape not only their common learning journey but also the course itself. The content, materials, and methods will be adapted in real time based on participants’ needs, interests, and input. Beyond mastering subject matter, a central goal is for each participant to become aware of how shared learning experiences and dialogue transforms their thinking, practice and identity. Through dialogue, narrative, group discussions, shared reflection, creative expression, and collective exploration, participants develop awareness of their own growth while supporting others’ development. The learning community becomes a space where everyone’s experiences and questions not only enrich understanding but actively guide the direction of the course, helping each person to integrate learning into their own life context in meaningful, personally transformative ways.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the participants are (individually and collectively) expected to be able to:
- read musical notation in the context of the eight-tone system, practicing with other participants to improve accuracy;
- relate to the clerics intonation and other cues in such a way that the whole group/choir knows what to do and when to act;
- read biblical passages clearly and expressively, incorporating feedback from instructors and fellow participants;
- adapt melodies to hymn texts following the rules of proper accentuation, working with others to refine this skill;
- recognize different regional chant styles and explain how they connect to other Orthodox musical traditions, learning to respect a plurality of traditions; and
- reflect on how learning Byzantine music has deepened their participation in worship, describing specific ways that group singing has connected technical musical skills with spiritual expression and community belonging.
Other requirements
Attendance is mandatory. Students are expected to participate in all course activities, both by being present and playing an active role in scheduled sessions and by completing assignments outside of scheduled lessons. If participants miss lessons, they may be required to complete extra assignments to fulfill the learning outcome requirements of the course. For the course to be considered complete, 80% attendance and participation are required.
The Deans Council revised the syllabus on February 26 and March 18 2025.
