Master of Church Music
The Master of Church Music degree is designed to be completed exclusively in summer sessions or in combination with evening sessions, meeting the needs of church musicians who are not able to take coursework during the traditional academic year. The program enables students to further their knowledge and skills in all aspects of church music with emphasis areas in organ and choral.
While courses are taught from a Lutheran perspective, all denominations are welcome and highly valued in the program. The ecumenical diversity brings an immeasurable strength to the teaching and ongoing discussion of church music.
The Objectives of the Church Music Degree
For all students:
- Demonstrate knowledge of liturgical church music practices, musical forms, and the song of the church
- Demonstrate the knowledge of music theory, and facility in arranging and composing
- Demonstrate appropriate choral conducting techniques
- Possess knowledge on a specific church music topic
- Demonstrate the ability to work with people
For Organ Emphasis:
- Improve organ technique for use in service playing or recital
- Demonstrate knowledge of the literature for the organ and of the styles of organ building
For Choral Emphasis:
- Improve vocal technique for use in choral directing
- Demonstrate knowledge of the literature for the choir
Program Learning Outcomes
- Students will exhibit competent performing skills on organ. (Addresses core competencies #1, 2, 3.)
- Students will exhibit strong theoretical/historical/theological knowledge, demonstrated in performance (recital) and communication (writing/speaking) skills. (Addresses core competency #4).
- Students will demonstrate competence in vocal, keyboard and conducting skills as they pertain to choral and handbell music at a professional level. (Addresses competencies # 1, 2, 3.)
- Students will exhibit professional speaking, writing, and social skills appropriate to their role as church musicians. (Addresses competencies #4, 5, 6, 9.)
- Students will demonstrate understanding of practical, aesthetic, and theological considerations appropriate to successful achievement in their chosen musical field within church music. (Addresses competencies #5, 6, 7, 8, 10.)
Curriculum
Organ Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| MUS 521 | Applied Organ (minimum of 6 credits) | 6 |
| MUS 522 | Organ Literature | 3 |
| MUS 541 | Graduate Theory Review | 3 |
| or MUS 642 | Form and Analysis | |
| MUS 545 | Composing & Arranging | 3 |
| MUS 551 | Choral Conducting | 3 |
| MUS 565 | Survey of Christian Hymnody | 3 |
| MUS 569 | Issues in Church Music | 3 |
| MUS 571 | Music Heritage of the Church | 3 |
| MUS 585 | Handbell Methods | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| MUS 599 | Recital, Service, Concert (Recital Paper) | 3 |
| Comprehensive Exams (Written and Oral) | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Choral Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| MUS 511 | Applied Voice (Minimum of 3 credits) | 3 |
| MUS 541 | Graduate Theory Review | 3 |
| or MUS 642 | Form and Analysis | |
| MUS 545 | Composing & Arranging | 3 |
| MUS 551 | Choral Conducting (Minimum of 6 credits) | 6 |
| MUS 552 | Choral Literature | 3 |
| MUS 565 | Survey of Christian Hymnody | 3 |
| MUS 569 | Issues in Church Music | 3 |
| MUS 571 | Music Heritage of the Church | 3 |
| MUS 585 | Handbell Methods | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| MUS 599 | Recital, Service, Concert (Recital Paper) | 3 |
| Comprehensive Exams (Written and Oral) | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Admission Procedure in Addition to Admission to the Graduate School
To gain degree-seeking status in the Master of Church Music program, a student must:
- Successfully pass the following:
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the last two years (or last 48 credit hours) of undergraduate work. Candidacy status: To achieve candidacy status for the Master of Church Music degree, the student must have successfully completed 24 hours of course work in the degree with a GPA of 3.0 or better and passed the Qualifying Audition and Theory examination. All students must have achieved candidacy status before registering for MUS 599 Recital, Service, Concert.
Transfer of Credit
Up to six semester hours of transfer credit may be accepted from a nationally accredited graduate school. (For organ emphasis, this includes three credits of applied organ; for choral emphasis this includes one credit of applied voice.) Only courses with a grade of A or B will be accepted for transfer credit. All transfer credits must be certified by the Registrar and approved for the degree program by the director of the program. All transfer credits should fall within a seven-year time limit for the degree. Exceptions must be approved by the director of the program.
Recital or Concert
Organ Emphasis
A recital or service of sacred organ music is required for the Master of Church Music (Organ Emphasis) degree. Students must have passed all portions of the qualifying audition and candidacy status. This recital/concert will be a minimum of 60 minutes in length, with appropriate repertoire chosen by the student and instructor and approved by the department. The intent of the recital or service is to demonstrate the heightened skills acquired through the course of study in organ and church music.
Recitals must be given at Concordia. Recital dates can be selected by the student and the instructor based on the school calendar, but final approval must be given by the Music Department Chair.
In addition to playing the recital, the student is to research and analyze the selections, write a paper that presents the findings, and provide brief program notes for the recital/concert. The paper is to be properly documented and presented to the music faculty at least three weeks prior to the recital/concert. It is to present the historical facts and insights into the composition and composer, which will be used in the interpretation of the music. The department may suggest revisions to this document before granting final approval and acceptance of the paper. A copy of the finished and approved paper will be catalogued and placed into the holdings of the university library.
Choral Emphasis
A concert or service of sacred music is required for the Master of Church Music (Choral Emphasis) degree. Students must have passed all portions of the qualifying audition and have candidacy status. This concert or service will be a minimum of 60 minutes in length, with appropriate repertoire chosen by the student and instructor and approved by the department. The intent of the concert or service is to demonstrate the heightened skills acquired through the course of study in conducting, church music, and/or singing.
Concert or service dates can be selected by the student and the instructor based on the school calendar, but final approval must be given by the Music Department Chair.
In addition to directing the concert or service, the student is to research and analyze the selections, write a paper which presents the findings, and provide brief program notes for the concert/service. This paper is to be properly documented and presented to the music faculty at least three weeks prior to the concert/service. It is to present the historical facts and insights into the composition and composer, which will be used in the interpretation of the music. The department may suggest revisions to this document before granting final approval and acceptance of the paper. A copy of the finished and approved paper will be catalogued and placed into the holdings of the university library.
Comprehensive Examination
The comprehensive examination is given at the end of the student’s course of study. It is designed to bring together all aspects of the student’s study and experiences into one culminating activity of two parts, a written and oral examination. Students must have achieved candidacy status and completed the recital/concert/service before attempting the comprehensive examination.
After the student has thoroughly prepared and completed all courses for the degree, a committee of music faculty will be selected. That committee will consist of two instructors of the student’s choosing and the director of the Master of Church Music program. It is the student’s responsibility to secure the consent of each instructor to serve on his/her committee and to coordinate the meeting of this group.
A three-hour time period will be scheduled wherein the student can take the written portion of the examination. Each committee member will present questions from church music in general or from their area of expertise in particular, which can be completed in a one-hour period.
The written examination will be graded, and after a reasonable amount of time, an oral examination will be scheduled through the Music Department Office so that the student and the instructors can meet and the student can complete and/or extend the answers given in the written examination. If, at the end of the Oral Examination, the student’s answers are not satisfactory, the committee members may request a portion of the examination be retaken.