Church Music Major (A)
The Music Department contributes to the spiritual, artistic, cultural, academic and co-curricular life aspects to campus life at the University. In doing so, the faculty is committed to blending talent and fellowship to the highest degrees of professional artistry in praise of the Lord's name. We additionally hope to impact our surrounding community while fulfilling our mission.
A Church Music major provides students with an option to serve the Church as church musicians. Graduates may be solemnly called to positions in congregations or recognized service organizations of the church, and may be eligible to be placed on The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod roster with the designation “Minister of Religion Commissioned – Director of Parish Music.” Application to the Church Music major involves steps in addition to application to the university. To be placed on the roster, students must receive a call from a congregation.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Goal #1. Students will exhibit competent performing skills on their major instrument.
- Goal #2. Students will exhibit strong theoretical/historical knowledge, demonstrated in performance (recital) and communication (writing/speaking) skills.
- Goal #3. Students will demonstrate competence in vocal, keyboard, and conducting performance skills at a professional level.
- Goal #4. Students will exhibit professional speaking, writing, and social skills appropriate to their major area.
- Goal #5. Students will demonstrate understanding of practical and aesthetic considerations (choosing music, teaching techniques, evaluation procedures, critical listening) appropriate to successful achievement in their chosen musical field.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | 45 | |
| Major Requirements | 62 | |
| Electives | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Theory & History Sequence | ||
| MUS 1241 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUS 1251 | Aural Theory I | 1 |
| MUS 1262 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUS 1272 | Aural Theory II | 1 |
| MUS 2241 | Music Theory III | 3 |
| MUS 2251 | Aural Theory III | 1 |
| MUS 3271 | Music History I | 3 |
| MUS 3272 | Music History II | 3 |
| MUS 3244 | Song Writing & Arranging | 3 |
| Technique Studies | ||
| MUS 0800 | Concert/Recital Attendance 1 | 0 |
| MUS 2204 | Keyboard Skills 2 | 2 |
| MUS 3450 | Beginning Conducting | 3 |
| MUS 3451 | Advanced Conducting | 3 |
| Ensemble 3 | 0 | |
| Symphonic Wind Ensemble | ||
or MUS 3182 | Chapel Choir | |
or MUS 3185 | String Ensemble/Chamber Orchestra | |
or MUS 3193 | Women's Chorale | |
or MUS 3194 | Men's Chorus | |
| Professional Sequence | ||
| MUS 4430 | Applying Worship Arts Leadership | 3 |
| MUS 4461 | Music in Worship | 3 |
| REL 4010 | Lutheran Worship: Theology and Practice | 3 |
| 20th Century Elective (both tracks, choose one) | 3 | |
| Music Theory IV | ||
| Music History III | ||
| Church Music Emphasis (Choose either Traditional or Contemporary Concentration) | 21 | |
| Traditional Concentration | ||
| Traditional Chapel Ensemble | ||
| Worship Arts Ensemble | ||
| Parish Music Practicum/Internship | ||
| Senior Recital | ||
Applied Lessons - (Organ/Piano/Voice) | ||
Secondary Applied Area (2 semesters) | ||
| Contemporary Concentration | ||
| Worship Arts Ensemble | ||
| Traditional Chapel Ensemble | ||
| Worship Arts Practicum | ||
| Senior Recital | ||
Applied Lessons (Guitar/Piano/Voice) | ||
Secondary Applied Area (2 semesters) | ||
| Total Hours | 62 | |
- 1
Students must enroll in MUS 0800 every semester while in residence as a music major, with the exceptions of students in their student teaching semester or internships.
- 2
Instructor permission required; students with previous piano experience may test out of prerequisites (MUS 1202, MUS 1203)
- 3
Students must participate in the ensemble of their principal instrument and take private instruction in their principal instrument for each semester on campus.
To become LCMS certified, the following courses are required and may be taken in place of the electives required above.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| LCMS Certification - Required Courses | ||
| REL 2010 | Old Testament | 3 |
| REL 2020 | New Testament | 3 |
| REL 2030 | Biblical Theology | 3 |
| REL 3500 | A Survey of Christian Thought | 3 |
| REL 4000 | Lutheran Confessions | 3 |
| EDU 2510 | Teaching the Christian Faith | 2 |
| EDU 3510 | Office of the Christian Teacher | 2 |
| Total Hours | 19 | |
AUDITION PROCEDURES FOR ALL MUSIC MAJORS
To gain degree-seeking status as a music major, a student must:
- Successfully pass the following:
- Qualifying audition with performance of two contrasting works on his/her principal instrument (to be completed at the end of two semesters of study);
- For vocalists, aural examination of sight-reading, and tonal memory ability. For instrumentalists, sight reading and scales.
- Prepare a portfolio for musical activities (solo and ensemble) and examples of music course work. This portfolio is to be:
- Presented at the time of the audition;
- Returned to the student for additions to be made throughout the student's undergraduate career.
- Transfer students will have their transcripts evaluated by the music faculty for determination of credited coursework and hours.
- The deadline for auditioning is the end of the second semester from the time of declaration. There are three possible outcomes for an audition:
- Active - This grants formal acceptance into upper division status.
- Provisional - A repeat of the audition is requested by the Faculty at the end of the next semester to show more progress.
- Fail - The student is not accepted as a music major.