Diploma in Arts (Church Music)

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Diploma in Arts (Church Music)

The purpose of this part-time two-year course is to provide a professional training and qualification for musicians in the basic skills of liturgical musicianship. The objectives of the course are as follows:

  • to develop the ability of participants to work with competence, understanding, and high standards within the liturgy
  • endow participants with a deep knowledge of the liturgical and pastoral role of church music
  • to develop practical skills and talents relevant to church music in general, and the participant's own denomination in particular.

Courses will deal with the following areas of study:

  • Christian Liturgy and Worship (historical and contemporary)
  • The Ministry of the Church Musician
  • The repertory of Liturgical Music
In the first year practical courses will deal with the following:
  • Choral singing
  • Choral directing
  • Cantor training
  • Organ playing, to include liturgical accompaniment and improvisation
  • Composing and arranging for the liturgy
  • Gregorian Chant
In the second year participants will be given an opportunity to specialise in selected areas of liturgical practice and theory.

Assessment

Assessment of theoretical and historical elements will be on the basis of specialised assignments which will be assessed in the course of the year.

Practical elements will be assessed by annual examination.

The Diploma may be awarded with Distinction or Pass.

Fees:

See http://fees.nuim.ie/ for details.

Admission Procedure

Applications should be made online through www.pac.ie, go to NUI Maynooth, Undergraduate Courses, select Music, the course code is MHT81 Diploma in Arts (Church Music). Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate a sufficiency of basic musical skills in order to be accepted.

NB The next intake for this course will be September 2013.