ByzB Youth Classes begin September of 2023. Registration will open in early May.
ByzB Youth Classes are open to students ages 12 to 16 and are 9 week classes (10 weeks long with a 1 week break in the middle). The ByzB Youth classes cover similar content as the adult ByzB classes but have more structure and support for younger learners. Students complete the initial instruction via the online classroom materials---they read lessons, watch videos, and listen to audio recordings---and meet in their online practice sessions twice a week. When students finish the ByzB Youth classes they may continue their studies with Trisagion School's Octoechos 200 Intermediate classes (and skip the ByzB 100 adult classes).
Class sections are limited to 12 students.
ByzB Youth 1
The beginning of the class will focus on oral skills and learning hymns by ear with the hymn text and on parallagi. Students will learn an intonation for each mode and study basic modal and scale theory. They will also study the basics of good vocal technique. Towards the end of the class, students will begin learning Byzantine notation.
Sept 12 - Nov 19, 2023 with a one week break in the middle
Section A: Tuesdays and Fridays, 1 - 1:45 pm ET
If enrollment is high a second section will be added on Tuesdays and Fridays, 2 - 2:45 pm ET.
ByzB Youth 2
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.
Prerequisite(s): ByzB Youth 1 or equivalent.
Jan 15 - March 24, 2024 with a one week break in the middle
Section A: Tuesdays and Fridays, 1 - 1:45 pm ET
If enrollment is high a second section will be added on Tuesdays and Fridays, 2 - 2:45 pm ET.
ByzB Youth 3
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.
Prerequisite(s): ByzB Youth 2 or equivalent
Fall 2024
