School for Psaltries (Full Programme)

 

BYZANTINE MUSIC FOR WOMEN

The School for Psaltries offers a specialised programme of study in Byzantine Music for women. The programme fully covers the official curriculum required for the Degree and Diploma in Byzantine Music, while also extending students’ education beyond the formal requirements of the examinations.

The School has students from around the world, including Europe, the United States and Australia. Through online tuition, students can follow the programme wherever they are based, making geographical distance no barrier to study.

Teaching is specifically tailored to the female voice, with particular emphasis placed on the broader formation of the woman chanter within the historical and liturgical tradition of the Church. Nektaria Karantzi’s scholarly and academic work on the history and role of women chanters is an integral part of the programme’s educational approach, enabling students to gain not only a thorough knowledge of the art of Byzantine chant, but also a deeper understanding of the enduring presence and role of women within this tradition.

The programme aims to provide comprehensive training for women chanters through musical, vocal, and theoretical studies, in-depth engagement with the historical and liturgical dimensions of women’s Byzantine chant, and meaningful practical experience. From the second year of study, students may join the women’s Byzantine chant ensemble Psaltries and take an active part both in chanting at the church analogion and in the ensemble’s concerts and wider artistic activities.

Enquiries:

WHAT AGE GROUP IS THE PROGRAMME FOR?

The programme is open to women of all ages, with no upper age limit.

IS ANY PRIOR MUSICAL KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED?

No. Students may begin their studies with no previous knowledge of Byzantine Music or any other form of music. A background in Western Music can be useful, but it is not a prerequisite.

WHAT QUALIFICATIONS ARE AWARDED?

The School offers a Degree and Diploma in Byzantine Music. The Degree certifies completion of the prescribed course of study and the attainment of comprehensive theoretical and practical training in Byzantine Music. The Diplomarepresents the highest level of study and is intended particularly for those who wish to pursue more advanced training and go on to teach Byzantine Music.

HOW LONG DOES THE COURSE OF STUDY TAKE?

The prescribed course of study is five years leading to the Degree, followed by two additional years leading to the Diploma.

HOW LONG IS THE ACADEMIC YEAR?

Each academic year begins in September and ends in June.

WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR PROGRESSION TOWARDS THE DEGREE?

Alongside their Byzantine Music studies, students are required to acquire the prescribed knowledge of Western Music Theory. This is taught within the School through a specially designed course tailored to the needs of students of Byzantine Music.

WHAT DOES PREPARATION FOR THE DIPLOMA INCLUDE?

Preparation for the Diploma includes advanced Byzantine chant repertoire and the complete Theory of Byzantine Music, together with the theoretical subjects of Typikon, History of Byzantine Music, Liturgics, Hymnology and Metrics. It also includes Byzantine Musical Orthography, transcription from Byzantine notation into Western staff notation and vice versa, as well as sight-reading (prima vista) — the immediate reading and performance of an unfamiliar musical text.

HOW ARE LESSONS STRUCTURED?

Lessons take place once a week, either in groups or individually.

IS ONLINE STUDY AVAILABLE?

Yes. Online tuition enables students to follow the programme from anywhere in Greece or abroad. Students based in Attica may also attend in-person lessons at the School’s premises at the Conservatory of Classical and Contemporary Music in Marousi, Athens.

ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRACTICAL AND ENSEMBLE EXPERIENCE?

Yes. From the second year of study, students may join Psaltries, taking part both in the ensemble’s liturgical activities at the church chanter’s stand (analogion) and in its concerts and other artistic projects.

WHEN DO ENROLMENTS TAKE PLACE?

Enrolments take place twice a year, in September and January.

WHEN ARE THE PLACEMENT EXAMINATIONS HELD?

Placement examinations are held every October.

CAN I LEARN BYZANTINE MUSIC ENTIRELY BY EAR, WITHOUT LEARNING THE NOTATION?

Learning exclusively by ear, through listening and imitation, does not constitute a genuine or complete way of learning Byzantine Music. Without knowledge of its notation, a student remains dependent on recordings or on someone else demonstrating a chant beforehand and does not develop the independence required to read and chant directly from a musical text.

Experience at the analogion and listening to experienced chanters are extremely valuable, but only as a complement to systematic study. On their own, they do not teach Byzantine Music and cannot replace the ability to read and understand its notation.

For this reason, one of the School’s priorities from the very beginning is to help each student develop independence in reading musical notation. Particular emphasis is placed on the foundations established during the first year, when students are taught the full range of symbols used in Byzantine notation. At the same time, they begin chanting from their very first year, reading and following the musical text themselves, as a direct application of what they are learning in notation. From the second year onwards, their studies become progressively more advanced and include a deeper study of the theory of the modes.

Like every art, Byzantine Music has its own language, method and intricacies, and there is no reason for it to seem intimidating. With the right guidance, dedication and genuine love for the tradition, students begin to engage with its essence from an early stage and gradually acquire the ability to read, understand and perform a musical text independently.

IF I LIVE ABROAD AND STUDY ONLINE, WILL I NEED TO TRAVEL TO ATHENS, GREECE, FOR ANY EXAMINATIONS?

Students who enrol from the first year and follow the programme online may complete all annual progression examinations online throughout their studies. There is no need to travel to Athens, Greece, where the School is based, either to enrol or to sit these examinations.

Under the applicable requirements of the Greek Ministry, in-person attendance in Athens, Greece, is required only for the following examinations:

  • Placement examinations, for students who already have prior knowledge of Byzantine Music and wish to enter the programme at a higher level rather than begin from the first year.

  • Degree examinations, taken upon completion of the Degree course in order to obtain the official state-recognised Degree in Byzantine Music.

  • Diploma examinations, taken upon completion of the advanced course leading to the Diploma in Byzantine Music, the qualification required for those wishing to pursue the teaching of Byzantine Music within the Greek state-recognised system.

Therefore, a student living abroad who begins from the first year can complete the entire course of study online and will only need to travel to Athens, Greece, for the final state examinations for the Degree and, if she continues her studies, for the Diploma.

CAN I STUDY BYZANTINE MUSIC WITHOUT WORKING TOWARDS A DEGREE OR DIPLOMA AND WITHOUT TAKING EXAMINATIONS EVERY YEAR?

Absolutely. Studying at the School does not require every student to follow the formal course leading to a Degree or Diploma in Byzantine Music. Students may attend lessons without taking the annual progression examinations, while their development is monitored through their overall work and progress throughout the year.

If, at a later stage, a student changes her mind and decides that she would like to enter the formal course of study leading to a recognised qualification, she may take a placement examination to determine the appropriate level at which to enter the programme and continue towards the Degree and, if she wishes, the Diploma in Byzantine Music.