Due to popular request, the International Chant Academy will be offering the Online Chant Course - Level I again this summer on Wednesday evenings, July 12 - August 9
6:00 - 7:30 pm, USA Central Time Zone (GMT - 5)

This course is for the serious musician: choir director, professional soloist, church cantor, professional instrumentalist, college music major, or enthusiast in sacred and ancient music. You will learn to read and sing with confidence from chant notation.

Lesson 1: Pitch and Rhythm
This lesson will cover the fundamentals of reading pitch on the four-line staff: do and fa clefs, solfege, movable "do", rules for following the correct sequence of pitches (including the “custos” or guide note), and sight reading for the "re" modes; and the pulse and duration of pitches (including horizontal episema, dotted notes, and bar lines).

Lesson 2: Neumes
This lesson will include a review of Lesson 1, and explore performance practice for the expressive neumes (groups of notes): quilisma, salicus, and liquescent; as well as the porrectus, the flatted seventh, the asterisk, and sight reading for the "mi" modes. This lesson will conclude the notation portion of the course.

Lesson 3: Chant Preparation
In this lesson we will investigate techniques to prepare one for the singing of chant. We will consider the pulse and the “ictus”, dynamics and phrasing, singing in “una voce”, and exercises for an ensemble. We will touch on ecclesiastical Latin pronunciation, and delve into the legato nature of chant, and the primacy of the text. Lesson will include a brief look at the neumatic signs which existed prior to the invention of the four line staff. Also, sight reading for the "fa" modes.

Lesson 4: Modes, and Chant Resources
Differentiation of the eight modes, psalm tones, sight reading the "sol" modes, ordinary vs. proper, antiphons, questions to consider when implementing chant in your church, overview of a number of chant resources both in English and Latin

Lesson 5: Chant and the Liturgy
We will take a deep dive into the “proper” of the Mass: the introit, gradual, tract/alleluia, offertory, and communion chants. We will discover the role of each of these chants in the Liturgy, and formulae unique to each kind of chant. We will learn why Gregorian chant has earned a special place in the musical treasury of the Catholic Church.

Lesson 6: Private One Hour Lesson
The instructor and student will focus on the singing technique and artistry of a chant chosen and prepared by the student. This lesson will also allow the student to touch upon any additional questions not covered during the course.

More info at www.chantacademy.com. Message me here or at info@chantacademy.com with any questions.