Major

Music with an Emphasis in Worship Major

Major Overview

The Music with an Emphasis in Worship major provides the foundation for those students who are preparing for a ministry in music or worship leadership. The major is composed of 42 semester hours of church music courses and an 18-hour worship minor (required of all students in this major). This major will qualify a student to pursue a variety of courses in the graduate program, including the Master of Divinity and a Master of Church Music. For additional information, students may contact Dr. Ed Steele, Professor of Music for Leavell College, at esteele@nobts.edu.

Music Majors (42 hours)

Basic Musicianship (24 hours)

COURSE

CREDITS

Music Fundamentals I

3

Music Fundamentals II

3

Music Fundamentals III

3

Music Fundamentals IV

3

Music History and Literature I

3

Music History and Literature II

3

Teaching Music in the Church

3

Song Writing for the Church

3

Performance and Ensembles Core (18 hours)

COURSE

CREDITS

Ensembles
The student will be able to choose from the following ensembles:
Handbell Ensemble,
Seminary Chorus (SATB),
the Seminarians (TTBB),
Ladies Ensemble (SSAA),
Instrumental Ensemble, or Providence Players (Keyboard Ensemble.)
Each ensemble receives 1 hour credit per semester. The student must participate in Seminary Chorus for at least four semesters.

8

Performance*
After placement audition, the student will be required to take at least 10 hours of class or private instruction in one of the individual performance areas: voice, piano, organ, or orchestral instrument. [Two of the 10 hours of private voice will be Vocal Diction.] When the student successfully advances to the senior level, he or she will be required to perform a 30-minute undergraduate recital.

10

Worship Minor {required} (18 hours)

COURSE

CREDITS

Worship Ensemble Leadership

3

Theology & History of Worship

3

Worship Perspectives

3

Worship Arranging & Orchestration

2

Planning Effective Worship Ministry

3

Worship Music in the Church

3

Worship Ministry Discipleship

1

*Additional Requirements:

  • At the end of the second year and 4 hours of private study in their area of concentration, all students will take a recital proficiency exam (vocal, instrumental, etc.) in order to continue in their field of concentration. The recital proficiency exam will be held during the end-of-semester juries. The student must demonstrate sufficient ability in critical areas of the concentration in order to proceed toward recital.

    Students passing the proficiency may continue in their studies under the present program, working toward their senior recital. Students unable to meet recital proficiency requirements will have one additional opportunity to meet these requirements at the beginning of the following semester.Students unable to meet recital proficiency requirements will be required to take 6 hours of music related course work approved by a Music Faculty member of Leavell College and moved to the non-recital track.

    Students completing the non-recital track of the Bachelor of Music degree will be required to enroll in MUED4001, Senior Music Ministry Paper. The topic of the writing project must be approved by the Leavell College music faculty representative. All students must receive a “C” or higher in MUED4001 to graduate. No credit hours are received for MUED4001.

    Students may transfer credit for Music Theory and Music History courses taken at other institutions in which the grade received is a “C” or higher and upon successful completion of the respective proficiency exam. If the transfer student is beyond the second year of study and has completed the 4 hours of study in the area of concentration, the student will take the recital proficiency exam during regular juries. Upon approval, the student will continue toward recital as in the present program. If the student is unable to pass the recital proficiency exam, the student will be subject to the same options before mentioned.

    Students completing the non-recital track are encouraged to continue their studies in the Master of Arts in Worship Leading or the Master of Divinity in Worship Ministry degree programs. Only those students completing the recital track may continue toward the Master of Music in Church Music degree and the Master of Divinity in Church Music. Students are encouraged to check the Music Handbook for further explanation about degree requirements.

  • All students must take at least 6 semesters of MUSS 4001, Recital Laboratory.

  • Piano Proficiency
    All students must pass the undergraduate proficiency exam. Information regarding the piano proficiency is located in the Music Student Handbook, which may be obtained in the Music Division Office.

  • Voice Proficiency
    All students will be required to sing two songs, in English, from memory, as an entrance examination. Songs should be of contrasting styles.