Welcome

May 2025 Welcome letter

Dear New and Returning Students,

Christ is risen!

Thank you for registering for the upcoming summer session of the Synodal School of Liturgical Music! Please let me know if there have been any changes in your plans. If you are receiving this then we are confirming that we will be seeing you on Sunday, July 13th, 2024

Overall

The in person session will begin with a Moleben on Sunday, July 13th at 2:00 pm in the Cathedral at Novo Diveevo. Immediately following this there will be a general information session in the dining hall of the former adult home, a short walk from the Cathedral. A separate letter regarding housing will be sent out the week of July 1st.

Travel links from the major airports can be found on the school website.

There is a train that runs from both NY and NJ to Spring Valley. Please send your travel plans to me as soon as possible so that we know when you are arriving and if you need any help with transportation. Please let us know if you need help navigating and we will try as best we can. Many things have been adjusted in the transportation world due to the pandemic that we are all trying to work around. We are working on updating travel links and hope to find some people willing to coordinate pickups at some of the train stations.

Planning ahead is always the best option!

Tuition information can be found on the school website.

Covid rules

This year we are proceeding as normal, without any Covid test or masking requirements. However, please be aware that an outbreak is always possible so we recommend bringing a couple rapid tests with you and testing if you do feel like you are coming down with something.

Placement Tests

Placement tests are available for the following subjects:

Music Theory – all levels. Dr. Sander will be sending information to those of you who indicated an interest in testing out. Please let me know if you are interested in testing out by May 31st and I will send your information to Dr. Sander- this offer expires on June 30th, after which students will auto matically be placed in Music Theory One.

Musicianship

Level One

I highly encourage everyone to participate in this class. I do start the class from the very beginning, but the focus is on church singing as well as regular sight singing. As future choir conductors, you may also have to teach your singers to read music, so it is good to observe those that have never learned this skill before. We also weave in some conducting here as well. I ask students that have tested out to come and help us sing as well. That said, if you are interested in testing out, please see me after the information session on opening day.

Church Slavonic

Classes will be offered in English and Russian. First year classes are divided into the appropriate language group based on your applications, but you may certainly speak with the instructors to find the best fit.

Typicon: (Remote Theoretical Portion) – Levels Two and Three:

A reminder to try and complete all of your work before the session begins!

Second and Third Year Conducting Students: Some of you still have not submitted your choices. Please do so as soon as possible!!!

Miscellaneous Useful Information

For the Conducting Final on July 27th, all female students are asked to wear white blouses and black skirts, and all male students are asked to wear white shirts and black slacks (or a cassock, if you have one). 2nd and 3rd year students who are conducting should wear long sleeves. If you do not have white and black, do the best with what you have.

It is a good idea to bring your own towels (some are provided), notebooks, paper, pencils and pens, a loose-leaf binder (preferably black 1/2” for the conducting exam), staff paper, a tuning fork (see below), and an alarm clock. You might want to use flip-flops in the showers. A small portable keyboard is nice to have.

First-year students will incur some expenses for books and classroom materials. The approximate sum that comes to mind is $150.00. There are numerous stores within walking distance in the event that any items are needed for purchase. There are laundry facilities available on site.

Student Page of the Website

As SSLM students, you have access to the SSLM Student Space page on our website, which you may find here: https://synodalschool.com/students

You will find all sorts of useful information, including music for the third year conducting students. Please print it out and place in a 1/2 “ black binder. Other music for the conducting finals will be added to this folder once you arrive.

Tuning Forks: You will Need One!!!

SSLM recommends an “A” tuning fork. Some people are more comfortable with a “C” tuning fork and that is fine as well. It would be helpful to know in advance if you need one so that we keep our supply up! We will have some for sale on the first day of the session. The cost will be approximately $15.

The links to music examples for Matushka Elena Perekrestov’s Music History Course should already be posted on the Student Page. You will need to have access to these during the course.

A suggestion with regard to apparel: Ladies should wear skirts or dresses at least knee length; they do not have to be to the floor. Hats or scarves are suggested for church. Gentlemen should wear pants, not shorts. T-shirts and tops should be tasteful with sleeves of a reasonable length. It does get hot and muggy, but a light sweater or jacket is advisable for evenings.

Classes begin at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 14th; breakfast will be available prior to class, at the SSLM dining room. Please note that since the school runs its own dining hall, we do serve meat on non-fast days.

Please note that there is no food allowed outside of designated areas, so please plan accordingly – especially breakfast!

If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know as soon as possible. The school’s associate director Irina du Quenoy may be reached on her home phone 202-602-9549, or by e-mail at iduquenoy@gmail.com. You may also contact our Program Officer Valentina Shatalova at vshatalova@earthlink.net or 845-303-4465 by phone/text.

Valentina Shatalova
SSLM Program Officer
SSLM Faculty
SSLM Administration