Academic courses

Since 1940 PIAMS is a university centre licensed to grant all the academic degrees which the current canon system envisages.
PIAMS qualifications are granted under the control of the Apostolic See. They are recognized in all the countries, with which the Holy See has diplomatic relations and are worth to the civil effects according to compositions and laws as they stand in different countries and the particular norms of single universities, institutes or bodies which must value and recognize the single qualifications.
As regards Italy, Magister diplomas in Gregorian / Ambrosian chant and in Sacred composition are recognized equivalent to diplomas in Choral music and Choir direction granted by State Conservatories (Old system).
In addition to this, PIAMS' academic degrees are recognized by Italian Republic according to the current legislation on the recognition of academic qualifications obtained in European and non-European countries or granted by academic institutions belonging to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) or non-EU territories.

» Gregorian / Ambrosian chant

The course in Gregorian / Ambrosian chant – coming from the thesaurus musicae sacrae which has been accruing during the centuries on the ground of the monodic liturgical chant – aims to the education of church musicians endowed with a global musical, cultural and liturgical education and who can not only perform a professional and artistic activity, but also to face appropriately the liturgical-musical activity.

• Baccalaureate: 2 years
• Licentiate: 2 years
• Magister: 1 year
• Doctorate: 3 years

Subjects: Gregorian / Ambrosian chant – Vocality and Gregorian training – Music history – Liturgical latin – Theory and solfège – Piano – Choir direction – Harmony and counterpoint – Neumatic notation – Gregorian and Ambrosian palaeography and semiology - Gregorian and Ambrosian modality - Ambrosian and Gregorian interpretation – Basic liturgy – Organ and Organ composition – History of the mass – Motet history – History of the Oratory – History of liturgical-musical forms – Music legislation – History of the Ambrosian chant – Musical semiography – Harmonization of the Gregorian chant.

* Course of study under revision and updating. The enrolment is subject to the individual assessment of profiles.

» First organ (Organ and Organ composition)

The course of studies in First organ is aimed to educate skilled executants and teachers from the technical, liturgical and cultural point of view. They not only possess all technical abilities and the essential cultural background for the professional and artistic activity, but also can face the liturgical activity with propriety and consciousness, with a view to a correct use of the instrument within the celebration. The course implies the attendance of the first two-year period (Baccalaureate) of the course of studies in Gregorian / Ambrosian chant and the passing of the exam of Piano, or the possess of the Middle level of Piano (Old system).

• Baccalaureate: 2 years
• Licentiate: 2 years
• Magister: 4 years
• Doctorate: 3 years

Subjects: Gregorian / Ambrosian chant – Vocality and Gregorian training – Music history – Liturgical latin – Theory and solfège – Piano – First organ – Harmony and counterpoint – Organ improvisation – Study of the organ– Gregorian accompaniment – Fugue – Gregorian direction – Ensemble music – Polyphonic musical forms – Transportation – Score reading.

* Course of study under revision and updating. The enrolment is subject to the individual assessment of profiles.

» Sacred composition

This course aims to educate musicians who master composition techniques and musical languages and are fully aware of their role in the service of the liturgy, for an appropriate expression of the celebrated faith and a conscious integration of the music and singing in the liturgical context. The course implies the attendance of the first two-year period (Baccalaureate) of the course of studies in Gregorian / Ambrosian chant and the passing of the exam of Counterpoint and Fugue.

• Baccalaureate: 2 years
• Licentiate: 2 years
• Complement: 2 years
• Magister: 4 years
• Doctorate: 3 years

Subjects: Gregorian / Ambrosian chant – Vocality and Gregorian training – Music history – Liturgical latin – Theory and solfège – Piano –Fugue – Harmony and counterpoint – Polyphonic musical forms – Polyphonic direction – Instrumentation – Gregorian accompaniment – Liturgical organ – Study of the organ – Motet – Composition – Ensemble music – Polyphonic transcription.

* Course of study under revision and updating. The enrolment is subject to the individual assessment of profiles.