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Introduction to Armenian Music – Part 1
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The main goal of this course is to introduce students to the history of Armenian music and present the main components and features of the music culture. The lessons are divided into two major parts: monodic music and composing art. Students will be familiarized with three main sub-branches of monodic music: folk music or works of musical folklore works of Armenian professional folk music known as “gusan” and “asugh” of Medieval Armenia. The musical poetic art of Medieval Armenia is known in our times as religious or spiritual music.
The course has been designed to be accessible to a wider audience.

Terms Offered 2025

TermEnrollmentClasses
Winter 2025December 6 (Friday) - December 22 (Sunday) 2024January 6 (Monday) - March 11 (Tuesday)
Spring 2025March 7 (Friday) – March 23 (Sunday)April 7 (Monday) – June 10 (Tuesday)
Summer 2025June 6 (Friday) – June 22 (Sunday)July 7 (Monday) – September 9 (Tuesday)
Fall 2025September 5 (Friday) -September 21 (Sunday)October 6 (Monday) – December 9 (Tuesday)

 

Topics Covered

  • Introduction (the classification and overview of main branches of Armenian music);
  • Armenian folk art, Armenian musical folklore;
  • The study of four types of Armenian Show Romanization musical folklore;
  • Work songs;
  • Ritual songs;
  • Historical and epic songs;
  • The historical review of the formation and development of Armenian religious music;
  • Armenian religious music.

What Will I Learn

Upon completion of the course, students will have familiarity with one of the components of Armenian culture, namely the music. The students will have the knowledge to correctly classify and describe the main parts of music culture, its emergence, endurance, and development.

Course Schedule

Week 0

Orientation Week Students become familiar with the Student Manual, complete the Learning Style questionnaire, complete their profile, introduce themselves to one another, participate in the introductory discussion forum, and identify the time zone in which they are working. Students will also familiarize and verify the technical compliance with all the communication and learning tools to be used during the course.

Week 1-8

Lessons 1-8 (use of electronic texts and multimedia resources) 
Individual and small group activities
Quiz

Week 3

Individual project due

Week 7

Group project due

Week 8

Final Exam

Course Requirements & Grading

Students are required to actively participate in online discussions, forums, and chats, to participate in individual and collaborative activities, and to meet deadlines for assignments. Students are required to be familiar and comply with Academic Policy of AVC

Student performance will be evaluated based upon total points accumulated throughout the term according to the following: 

20% - participation
25% - individual project
25% - group project
30% - final exam

Grades will be assigned by letters according to AVC Grading Policy

Teachers

teacher
Ani Dekirmenchyan

Teaching Methodology

The electronic resources have been designed for user-friendly access and comprehension by a broad audience. Activities and online discussions are supported by the illustration-writing, listening method, as well as the top-down method. Individual and collaborative student assignments are designed to engage students in authentic research and sharing of information. Students will gain from the course in direct relationship to the contributions they make to their own learning.

Course Materials

No hardcopy texts are required. Selected online resources will be included as a part of the lessons. Students are required to read/listen/view all material and complete all assignments.
The online resources are drawn from the publicly available specialized literature, academic curricula, studies of Armenian and foreign authors, multilingual works and publications.

Course Sources

Core material of the Armenian Culture courses is based on the works of the following renowned scholars:
 

  • Dr. Mher Navoyan (Professor, Yerevan State Conservatory, Yerevan, Armenia),
  • Dr. Alina Pahlevanyan (Professor, Yerevan State Conservatory, Yerevan, Armenia),
  • Dr. Araksia Saryan (Professor, Yerevan State Conservatory, Yerevan, Armenia),
  • Dr. Tatevik Shakhkulyan (Professor, Yerevan State Conservatory, Yerevan, Armenia).