While primarily for adults, ByzB 100 Classes are open to students ages 12 and up. They are offered 3 times a year. ByzB classes were developed as a complete beginner curriculum that works to give students needed skills to serve as chanters in their parishes and to prepare them for intermediate level study in Trisagion School's Octoechos 200 level classes.
ByzB 101: Parallage, Scales and Basic Vocal Technique
Students will study two hymns and learn to chant them on the text of the hymn and on parallagi. Students will learn about the different modes and scales in Byzantine chant and study the intervals of the Diatonic and Hard Chromatic scales. They will also study the basics of good vocal technique. Students should plan to come to at least one half hour regular practice session and one half hour Vocal Technique Session each week.
Prerequisite(s): None.
Offered in Terms 1, 2, & 3
ByzB 102: Introduction to Byzantine Notation
Students study the foundational symbols needed to read syllabic hymns in Byzantine notation and continue their study of modal theory. Students will study intervallic symbols, qualitative symbols, rhythmic symbols, and symbols that indicate the mode and scale. Students study Heirmologic hymns on parallagi and melos in the Diatonic Modes: 1st, Plagal 1st, 4th, and Plagal 4th Modes. Students should plan to come to at least one half hour regular practice session and one half hour Vocal Technique Session each week.Prerequisite(s): ByzB 101 or equivalent.
Offered in Terms 2, 3, & 4
ByzB 103: Byzantine Notation - Basic Reading Fluency
This course focuses on developing reading fluency on parallagi in syllabic hymns and sticheraric hymns and goes much deeper into symbols indicating the mode and scale (martyries and fthores). Students study four Diatonic Sticheraric hymns as well as Heirmologic hymns in the Enharmonic and Chromatic Modes: 2nd, Plagal 2nd, 3rd, and Grave Mode. Students will continue to study vocal technique and should plan to come to at least one half hour regular practice session and one half hour Vocal Technique Session each week.
Prerequisite(s): ByzB 102 or equivalent.
Offered in Terms 1, 3, & 4
