Corsi strutturati

Three professionalizing (structured) courses of study – closely related to preparatory courses – are further proposed in PIAMS academic programme.
Each course of studies lasts differently according to the core subject and is divided into three levels:

• the first one (basic) aims to provide to students essential basic competences for the musical practice and abilities required to be admitted to undergraduate academic courses (Baccalaureate) of philological-musicological (Disciplines of sacred music) and technical-musical area (Organ engineering and manufacture);
• the second one (lower) is the natural continuation and close examination of disciplines featuring the previous level and provides to students the abilities required to be admitted to undergraduate academic courses (Baccalaureate) of the musical-performative (Performing disciplines/subjects of sacred music) and musical-compositional (Sacred composition);
• the third one (higher), finally, corresponds – merely for what concerns technical-musical contents – to equivalent academic courses of study of cycle I (Baccalaureate).

The three course of studies are:

1. Ambrosian and Gregorian chant  

   

   The course of study aims to provide a detailed knowledge of Christian monodic chant, and it is offered in a structured form lasting six years. This order of studies implies the preparatory course in Vocality (see above), with a theoretical-practical approach that aims to provide to students a complete competence of the Ambrosian and Gregorian chant, and gives importance to musicological, palaeographical and semiological aspects and improves the knowledge of the modal system of both repertoires. Teaching modules which run cyclically and are integrated by the development of interpretation and performance technique of monodic repertoire, both for solo and ensemble parts, as well as by piano and organ practice and by choir training.
    

   Admission

   Students may be admitted to the course by taking an ability examination or an aptitude test aimed at understanding their level of competence, or directly to level II after completing the three-year training course in Vocality.
    

   Learning skills

   Levels 1 and 2 (Basic and lower)
   Level 1 lasts three years and the level 2 two years. At the end of the cycle of studies composed by two levels students must

   • have specific techniques and skills necessary to perform the Christian monodic chant properly
   • have acquired basic abilities about understanding, transcription and analysis of manuscript sources dealing with Ambrosian and Gregorian chant;
   • know the most typical repertoire of the Latin Christian (Roman and Ambrosian) monodic chant;
   • have developed the hearing and memorization perceptual ability and have adequate postural and emotional control techniques;
   • have acquired necessary piano skills for a proper approach to keyboard instruments, also for the study of organ;

   Level 3 (Higher)
   Level 3 lasts three years. At the end of the cycle of studies students must

   • have specific techniques and skills necessary to perform the Christian monodic chant properly, both as a soloist and in musical ensembles (choirs);
   • have acquired specific and deep abilities about understanding, transcription and analysis of manuscript sources dealing with Ambrosian and Gregorian chant.

   Courses

   See the Didactic programme.

2. Organ  

   

   The curriculum aims to train skilled performers who not only possess all technical abilities and the essential cultural background for the both solo and ensemble professional and artistic activity, but who can even approach a correct use of the instrument within the liturgical context. The training programme implies therefore that students acquire necessary interpretation competences to face with full consciousness – both under the technical-compositional point of view and for what concerns catholic and evangelic performance practice – repertoires of different ages and styles, as well as a good mastery of improvisation techniques. All this is the basis of the preparation of musicians fit for teaching and education activity and for liturgical service, and even for cultural promotion in the extra celebratory context.
    

   Admission

   Students may be admitted to the course by taking an ability examination or an aptitude test aimed at understanding their level of competence, or directly to level II after completing the three-year training course in Piano.
    

   Learning skills

   Levels 1 and 2 (Basic and lower)
   Level 1 lasts three years and the level 2 two years. At the end of the cycle of studies composed by two levels students must

   • have acquired necessary skills to interpret and perform properly the organ literature, also in musical groups while improving and supplementing the piano technique already learned
   • know the most representative repertoire of the instrument – including the ensemble one – and relating performance practice;
   • have a sufficient knowledge of stylistic, historical and esthetical aspects of organ literature;
   • have developed the hearing and memorization perceptual ability and have adequate postural and emotional control techniques.

   Level 3 (Higher)
   Level 3 lasts three years. At the end of the cycle of studies students must

   • have acquired a higher level of competences to analyze, perform and play correctly the organ literature of every period, while considering the relationship existing among authors, performance practice and instruments;
   • have a deep knowledge of techniques and composition languages of all historical periods, in particular about the repertoire for organ;
   • perform properly the technique of improvisation, above all in view of the liturgical musical practice;
   • have developed the ability to approach unknown pieces autonomously.

   Courses

   See the Didactic programme.

3. Vocality  

   

   This curriculum aims to give life to skilled performers of the catholic and Christian sacred vocal repertoire who are endowed with main technical-musical competences. They may be used both for the liturgical service and for the cultural promotion, and even for teaching and training activities. Students will approach in this way the most representative repertoire of the musical production of liturgical traditional sacred and contemporary interest –without forgetting ensemble and polyphonic music –, and deals with at the same time the related performance practices, different styles of expressive styles and musical languages from the origin to developments of the post-Second Vatican Council. In parallel, for the fulfillment of professional and artistic competences, attention will be also paid to the study of the most representative profane vocal repertoire and relating performance practice, stylistic features and compositional techniques.
    

   Admission

   Students may be admitted to the course by taking an ability examination or an aptitude test aimed at understanding their level of competence, or directly to level II after completing the three-year training course in Vocality.
    

   Learning skills

   Levels 1 and 2 (Basic and lower)
   Level 1 lasts three years and the level 2 two years. At the end of the cycle of studies composed by two levels students must

   • have acquired specific basic knowledge about singing techniques and related specific competences necessary to perform the liturgical song properly;
   • know the most representative repertoire of Western Christian liturgical chant, both in Latin and in vernacular, even under the stylistic, historic and esthetical point of view;
   • have developed the hearing and memorization perceptual ability and have adequate postural and emotional control techniques;
   • have acquired necessary piano skills for a basic approach to keyboard instruments, mainly aimed at the individual study.

   Level 3 (Higher)
   Level 3 lasts three years. At the end of the cycle of studies students must

   • have techniques and specific competences necessary to perform the Christian monodic song properly, both as a soloist and in musical ensembles (choirs);
   • know in depth the most representative repertoire of Western Christian liturgical chant, and be able to use critically the knowledge acquired both for celebratory and cultural purposes;
   • have a proper knowledge of compositional languages and techniques of different historical periods about the vocal repertoire concerning both liturgical and sacred interest and profane character;
   • have developed the ability to approach unknown pieces autonomously;
   • have acquired higher skills in the practice of piano, both for the individual study and the accompaniment in the teaching domain.

   Courses

   See the Didactic programme.