Learning the skill of decoding patterns, ie reading, is better mastered if learning the skill of encoding patterns, ie writing, is developed at the same time.  Decoding and encoding Byzantine notation engage different parts of the brain and reinforce each other. 

1. Listen to one phrase at a time from the Dictation recording.  Pause the recording after the phrase and repeat it to yourself a few times on melos.  Listen to it again to reinforce your memorization.  
2. Then work to figure out the parallage.  You can use your Ni Pa Vou Cards to write out the parallage.  
3. Then use the interval symbols that you know to write the phrase in Byzantine notation (draw the interval symbols above the words).  Complete the martyria at the beginning by adding the bottom symbol (called the martyrikon symeion) to indicate the mode.  Write the whole martyria at the end.  
4. When you finish, check your work with the answer key in the appendix.