Clips from the Introductory Class, Session 4 of the Online Byzantine Music School of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago.
Contact: Rev. Fr. Michael Monos
Webmaster, Metropolis of Chicago
Online expansion of Metropolis of Chicago
Byzantine Music School Overwhelming Success.
With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, and the leadership and vision of His Grace Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, the online expansion of its Byzantine Music School has been an overwhelming success.
In an effort to address the needs of those parishes and interested learners who do not have access to qualified instructors in the art of chant as well as individuals whose busy schedules make it difficult to attend classes in person, His Grace Bishop Demetrios spearheaded this first-ever expansion into online chant instruction.
With little fanfare, a quiet registration period began in early October for a twelve sessions Introductory and Advanced class. Word of this historic effort spread quickly, and to the surprise of all involved, the introductory class sold out within days, with student applicants from throughout the United States and Canada.
Broadcasting from St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, Des Plaines, IL, Fr. Sotirios Malamis, a certified instructor of Byzantine Music, conducted the first sessions on October 28. Learners participate in the online classes using their personal computer/laptop or mobile tablet device, where they are able to see the instructor, the musical text they are studying, ask questions and participate via audio and video at the instructor’s discretion. Each session is live-recorded, including all video and text discussions, and is stored for later recall. Students are able to access previously recorded sessions via their learning portal for additional study and practice.
The Metropolis of Chicago hopes that this initial foray into online learning will lead to other such opportunities, as it strives to be a leader in the area of technology innovation for the communication of the Holy Orthodox faith, its traditions and life to more and more people. To see the official Press Release, click here.
For those interested in participating in future classes, watch the Metropolis of Chicago website for additional information, or sign-up to be notified at: http://goo.gl/U37O9O.
