The School of Church Music has started simultaneously when St. Gregory House has been established.
Since then, more than 120 graduates have been actively servicing Church music in various parishes.
In 2005, under the authorization of the Vatican, the School has concluded the ongoing affiliation agreement with the Regensburg College of Church Music and Music Education, Germany, (Kirchenmusikhochschule und Pedagogik), which enables its graduates to get the qualification for "Diploma B" of the "Musician of Church Music" (Kirchenmusik), equivalent with the diploma in Germany. In addition, the School itself has been qualified as an institution to qualify and award the "Diploma C" for the "Musician of Church Music" in Japan.

Based on this affiliation agreement, in 2006, three graduates of the School were qualified for B Diploma, and three other graduates were awarded with C Diploma. Many more graduates and qualifiers are being expected.

Education Policy
The primary objective of the school is to educate Church musicians. Its goal is to educate and train its students for various capabilities and techniques required for Church musicians, i.e., instruments performing, vocal music, choral music direction, improvisation etc. In so doing, the school is intended to grow the capacity and potentials for its students to enhance the understanding of faith, liturgy, church music, and eventually extend their professionalism, their horizon and their perspectives.

Undergraduate Course (3 Years)
The students will learn and acquire a basic techniques targeted for the musical services in Church, for 3 years.

For those, who are interested in Church music, this course will expose them to the very essential ingredients of the Church music, along with its practical implementation experience.

Curriculum
Organ, vocal lessons, thoroughbass, Gregorian chants, voice production, choral music, church music history,
Introduction to Organ music, Bible and liturgy, Japanese liturgical music, weekend work camps (3 times per year), and Church music seminars.

Graduate Course (2 Years)
For those who completed the undergraduate course, or those who have equivalent skills and experience for the undergraduate study, another 2 years of professional and advanced education is offered.

There are 3 specialized courses in this graduate course.

1. Church musician diploma course
2. Organist C
3. Vocalist C

Based on the agreement with the Regensburg College of Catholic Church Music and Music Education, Germany, students who have successfully completed the designated courses as well as having been accepted for the qualification examination for diplomas, Diploma B (German national qualification equivalent to B.A. in Church Music) or Diploma C for Church Musician in Germany, will be awarded.

Curriculum
Organ, improvisations, vocal lessons, harmony, throughbass, Gregorian chants, voice production, choral music, choral conducting, church music history, introduction to organ music, Bible and liturgy, Japanese liturgy music, weekend work camps (3 times per year), and church music seminars.
There will be mandatory and optional curricula defined for each of the course offered.

Church music workshops

Offered once a year for 4 days with lodging facilitation. The workshop is offered for those individuals

who are responsible to perform music at Church, and participants come from all over Japan.

This is the 27th year of this workshop. The contents in recent years is becoming to address mainly to Gregorian Chant in meeting the requirements of the participants.

Choral music workshops

The workshop has been offered 3 times in the past, by Prof. Joerg Straube from Hannover, with the theme of "Religious Music in Germany - past and present". The plan for 2007 workshop is underway.

Master Course Workshop offered by Special Guest Instructors

Various master courses have been offered by the visiting musicians and performers from abroad, ranging from Organ, Choral Music, Vocal Music, Liturgy, many of which are specialized and focused for specific subjects.

Past Instructors

Harard Vogel, Michel Chapuis, Lorenzo Gihelmi, Wofgang Zerer, Edoardo Bellotti, Jos van Imerseel, Paul Hilliard, Rune Jacobs, Godehard Joppich, Roman Banwart, Wieland Kuijken, Robert Kohnen, P. Poman Banwart OSB, P. Willbrord OSB, J. Ahrend, B. Aubertin, E. Debaisieux, W. Dowd