Learn to read and sing with confidence from chant notation. This live, face to face 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 also receive access to a vast Chant Resources page with hundreds of educational PDFs, practice exercises, listening clips, digitized chant books, apps and articles. 5 live group classes + 1 private lesson. To ensure each student receives the personal attention deserved, seats are limited to 5 per course.
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This course is taught by Angela Rocchio, and is delivered fully live, via Zoom.​ Classes run approximately 90 minutes each.​
For syllabus, requirements, and tuition: click here.
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Option I*: Tuesdays, Jan 20 - Feb 17
​12p noon Chicago | 6 pm London
​ Option II* (Lent): Thursdays, Feb 19 - March 19 (time change on 3/8)
Thursdays 12p noon Chicago | 6p (5p starting 3/12) London
Option III* (Lent): Tues [Wed] Feb 24 [25] - March 24 [25] (time change on 3/8)
​Tues 7 pm Chicago | Wed 12p noon (11a starting 3/11) Sydney, Australia
* For precise dates/times in your local time zone, scroll down to see charts below.​​
Option I: Tuesdays
Jan 20 - Feb 17, 2025
USA​
New York ~ 1 pm
Chicago ~ noon
Denver ~ 11 am
Los Angeles ~ 10 am
Anchorage ~ 9 am
West of
International Date Line
( GMT - x | UTC - x )
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Bogota ~ 1 pm
Calgary ~ 11 am
Halifax ~ 2 pm
Honolulu ~ 8 am
Lima ~ 1 pm
Mexico City ~ noon
Santiago ~ 3 pm
East of
International Date Line
( GMT + x | UTC + x )
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Amsterdam ~ 7 pm
Auckland ~ WEDNESDAYS 7 am
Dublin ~ 6 pm
Lagos ~ 7 pm
London ~ 6 pm
Madrid ~ 7 pm
Paris ~ 7 pm
Rome ~ 7 pm
Stockholm ~ 7 pm
For instructions to determine meeting times in your own time zone, click here.
Option II (Lent): Thursdays
Feb 19 - March 19, 2025
USA (time change on March 8)​
New York ~ 1 pm
Chicago ~ noon
Denver ~ 11 am
Los Angeles ~ 10 am
Anchorage ~ 9 am
West of
International Date Line
( GMT - x | UTC - x )
​
Bogota ~ 1 pm
(noon starting 3/12)
Calgary ~ 11 am
Halifax ~ 2 pm
Honolulu ~ 8 am
(7 am starting 3/12)
Lima ~ 1 pm
(noon starting 3/12)
Mexico City ~ noon
(11 am starting 3/12)
Santiago ~ 3 pm
(2 pm starting 3/12)
East of
International Date Line
( GMT + x | UTC + x )
​
Amsterdam ~ 7 pm
(6 pm starting 3/12)
​
Auckland ~ FRIDAYS 7 am (6 am starting 3/12)
​
Dublin ~ 6 pm
(5 pm starting 3/12)
​
Lagos ~ 7 pm
(6 pm starting 3/12)
​
London ~ 6 pm
(5 pm starting 3/12)
​
Madrid ~ 7 pm
(6 pm starting 3/12)
​
Paris ~ 7 pm
(6 pm starting 3/12)
​
Rome ~ 7 pm
(6 pm starting 3/12)
​
Stockholm ~ 7 pm
(6 pm starting 3/12)
For instructions to determine meeting times in your own time zone, click here.
Option III (Lent):
Tuesdays [Wednesdays]
Feb 24[25]-Mar 24[25], 2025
USA (time change on March 8)​
New York ~ 8 pm
Chicago ~ 7 pm
Denver ~ 6 pm
Los Angeles ~ 5 pm
Anchorage ~ 4 pm
Tuesdays West of
International Date Line
( GMT - x | UTC - x )
​
Bogota ~ 8 pm
(7 pm starting 3/12)
Calgary ~ 6 pm
Halifax ~ 9 pm
Honolulu ~ 3 pm
(2 pm starting 3/12)
Lima ~ 8 pm
(7 pm starting 3/12)
Mexico City ~ 7 pm
(6 pm starting 3/12)
Santiago ~ 10 pm
(9 pm starting 3/12)
Wednesdays East of
International Date Line
( GMT + x | UTC + x )​
​
Auckland ~ 2 pm
​(1 pm starting 3/10)
​
Brisbane ~ 11 am
​(10 am starting 3/10)
​
Hong Kong ~ 9 am
​(8 am starting 3/10)
Manila ~ 9 am
(8 am starting 3/10)​
​
Perth ~ 9 am
​(8 am starting 3/10)
Seoul ~ 10 am
​(9 am starting 3/10)
​
Sydney ~ noon
​(11 am starting 3/10)
​
Tokyo ~ 10 am
​(9 am starting 3/10)
For instructions to determine meeting times in your own time zone, click here.
SYLLABUS
Class 1 | Pitch
Fundamentals of reading pitch on the four-line staff: DO and FA clefs, solfège, movable DO, rules for determining the correct sequence of pitches, custos (or guide note), the flatted seventh degree (TE) and sight reading for the "RE" modes. Special attention will be given to techniques for introducing these concepts to a choir. Lesson will include a brief look at a digitized manuscript with the adiestematic notation in use prior to the invention of the four line staff.
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Class 2 | Neumes
Review sight reading, and learn suggested solutions and "performer's hacks" for trickier phrases. Neumes will then be introduced, particularly the expressive neumes: quilisma, salicus, and liquescent; and sight reading for the "MI" modes.
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Class 3 | Rhythm, Performance Practice, and the Text
Sounds and principles of various performance methods for singing Gregorian chant: the Solesmes Method, semiology, mensuralism, and the rhetorical approach. Pulse, ictus, dot, mora vocis, and horizontal episema from the Solesmes Method, brief introduction to arsis and thesis from the Solesmes Method. Focus will then shift to a rhetorical approach: dynamics and phrasing, legato, and the primacy of the text. Also, sight reading for the "FA" modes.
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Class 4 | Bar lines, rehearsal techniques, and the 8 Modes
Rehearsal techniques (Solesmes Method and rhetorical method) for a schola will be covered. Una voce, preparation of the text, and relationship of bar lines to melody and text. Differentiation of the eight modes, sight reading for the "SOL" modes. If time allows, class will begin to explore various available chant resources as well.
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Class 5 | Chant Resources, Chant and the Liturgy
Ordinary vs. proper, antiphons, and an overview of a number of available chant resources both in English and Latin. We will conclude by taking a deep dive into the proper of the Mass: the introit, gradual, tract/alleluia, offertory, and communion chants. Discover the role of each of these chants in the Liturgy, and unique compositional styles for each genre.
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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.
Requirements
Ability to sing on pitch, ability to distinguish between the semitone (half step) and the whole tone (whole step). Must be able to read music in western notation, or to read pitch from chant notation. Commitment to practice exercises between lessons (15-30 minutes per day). Recommended but not required: familiarity with the use of "movable DO" solfège.
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Materials
You will receive private access to a vast, exclusive student resources page with hundreds of links for further study. You may be asked to print select materials from this page from time to time. You may choose to order a hard copy of the Parish Book of Chant, 2nd edition, published by the Church Music Association of America, as well.
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Technical Requirements
A desktop computer, laptop, or tablet (the larger the screen the better) equipped with videocamera and microphone (no cell phones, please). Reliable access to high-speed internet is a must. Student is responsible for working technology.
Tuition
$375 USD
Five seats per course.
Due to limited seating, please note that the ICA is unable to reserve your seat without reception of full tuition payment.
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Ask your parish whether funding is available for continuing education.
Tuition may also be tax deductible for professional (compensated) musicians.
Time Zone Tool
When will this course meet in my time zone?
​Gather the dates and times listed on the event, in USA Central Time / Chicago. You will need this information to plug into the tool.
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Click here and then enter the following:
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1. Event Location: type "Chicago" and then click "Chicago - Illinois USA" in dropdown box
2. Enter Month / Day / Year of first class (example: 02 / 24 / 2026)
3. Hour of event: choose the time in USA Central Time / Chicago from the dropdown box​ (example: 19 - 7 pm)
4. Click the button: "Show Result"
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IMPORTANT: If your location will undergo a time change during the course, be sure to follow this process regarding the time of your course after the date of the time change as well.
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