Church Music |
Church music students are prepared for full-time or part-time work as directors, ministers, or college teachers of church music. The program is open to students interested in organ and voice. The curriculum is designed to acquaint students with a variety of worship traditions. A certificate in church music also is offered but it is not intended to substitute any of the professional degrees offered by the Department of Music. The program is intended to serve people who are employed full-time, so allchurch music courses are offered on weekends throughout the school year. Church music students and certificate in church music students are in the same classes so that each student profits from the diverse makeup of the class.
DEGREE OPTIONS
Bachelor of Music in church music or certificate in church music
PROGRAM SIZE
There are five church music students and about 20 certificate students. Average class size is five to ten students.
FACULTY
The Department of Music includes one full-time faculty member focused on church music courses; he holds a doctorate in music.
ACADEMIC PREPARATION
There are no prerequisite high school courses or requirements needed for enrollment in church music, but students should have a well-rounded academic high school curriculum.
REQUIRED CREDIT HOURS AND COURSES FOR A MAJOR
There are three major components: courses in various aspects of music, specialized professional courses in church music, and the Drake Curriculum.
| Courses in music | Profesional Coursework | |||
| APPLIED MUSIC MAJOR | MUS 120 | History of Hymnody | ||
| APPLIED MUSIC MINOR | MUS 121 | Conducting from the Console | ||
| MUS 1 | Materials of Music 1 | MUS 122 | Church Music Literature | |
| MUS 2 | Materials of Music 2 | MUS 125 | Chant and Liturgics | |
| MUS 5 | Intro to Music Literature | MUS 126 | Organ Improvisation | |
| ENSEMBLE MUSIC 148, 149, or 150 |
Band, Choir, or Orchestra | MUS 127 | Service Playing | |
| MUS 129 | Practicum in Church Music | |||
| MUS 21 | Recitals | |||
| MUS 3 | Materials of Music II | |||
| MUS 4 | Materials of Music II | |||
| MUS 51 | Materials of Music III | |||
| MUS 52 | Materials of Music III | |||
| MUS 53 | Materials of Music IV | |||
| MUS 54 | Materials of Music IV | |||
| MUS 107 | 20th Century Literature and Performance Practices | |||
| MUS 111 | History of Music I | |||
| MUS 112 | History of Music II | |||
REQUIRED CREDIT HOURS AND COURSES OUTSIDE MAJOR
The Drake Curriculum, required of all undergraduates, is designed to help students meet personal and professional goals as they acquire fundamental knowledge and abilities in ten Areas of Inquiry, including communication, critical thinking, artistic experience, historical consciousness, information and technology literacy, international and multicultural experiences, scientific and quantitative literacy, values and ethics and engaged citizenship. Students work closely with their academic advisers to craft a program of study in general education that prepares students for civic and professional leadership.
The Drake Curriculum also requires first-year seminars, which foster development of critical thinking and written and oral communication skills through a topical focus; and a Senior Capstone, in which students demonstrate the capacity to bring information, skills and ideas to bear on one program.
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES/INTERNSHIPS
Church music majors have ample opportunities to work as musicians part-time in the many local church congregations.
CAREER OPTIONS
The church music program prepares students to work either part-time or full-time in a church program, or as teachers in the field.
SCHOLARSHIPS
There are a number of named scholarships available to all music students who are majors. These are renewable as long as the student maintains the academic standings of the Department of Music. Several scholarships are awarded annually to music students who exhibit academic excellence and good character.
ORGANIZATIONS
Church music students participate in a wide range of co-curricular activities including those made available through residence life, Greek life, student organizations, student government, recreational and athletic programs and opportunities in fine arts.
NOTED ALUMNI
- Jeffrey Brillhart, FA'77, music director, Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, music director, "Singing City,î Philadelphia, PA
- Larry Schipull, FA'79, associate professor, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA
- Kendall Crilly, FA'83, head music librarian, Yale University, New Haven, CT
- Tim Robson, FA'74, deputy director, Case Western Reserve University Library, Cleveland, OH
- David Christiansen, FA'79, director of music, St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, Chicago, IL
Visit the Music Department website
