Church Music Major (BA Traditional)
The Church Music major develops students into well-rounded church musicians, preparing them for careers as music professionals in a Christian worship setting. It enjoys all of the opportunities in Concordia's Music program, but also provides additional features. The music program is led by accomplished and caring faculty who give one-on-one attention to students in a nurturing community. The culmination of the major is a senior year public presentation of the student’s work. Students are equipped to lead both traditional liturgies and contemporary worship formats.
The successful Music major will enter the program with music reading ability and previous music performance experience and study. The level of each student’s abilities and experience will be initially assessed through a music placement survey, auditions for ensembles, and placement evaluations by private lesson instructors.
Students may add Director of Parish Music certification by completing the Lutheran Theology minor, compiling a portfolio, and passing entrance and exit interviews with the Department of Theology and Ministry. This leads to rostered church worker status as a Commissioned Minister in The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.
General Education Requirements
All degree seeking undergraduate students must complete the general education requirements.
Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Arts degree consists of a major of typically 30 to 44 credits or two minors, general education courses, and elective courses totaling a minimum of 120 credits.
Prerequisites
The successful church music major will enter the program with music-reading ability and previous music performance experience and study. The level of each student’s abilities and experience will be initially assessed through a music placement survey, auditions for ensembles and placement evaluations by private lesson instructors. Based on this assessment, the student may be required to take one or more of the following courses:
Course Requirements
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Prerequisites from General Education | ||
Music for Life (3) | ||
Required | ||
MUS 102 | Basic Musicianship * | 1 |
MUS 111 | Class Piano I * | 2 |
MUS 112 | Class Piano II * | 2 |
MUS 113 | Class Piano III * | 1 |
MUS 203 | Musicianship I | 3 |
MUS 204 | Musicianship II | 3 |
MUS 261 | Beginning Conducting | 2 |
MUS 303 | Musicianship III | 3 |
MUS 304 | Musicianship IV | 3 |
MUS 321 | Music History I | 3 |
MUS 322 | Music History II | 3 |
MUS 323 | Music History III | 3 |
MUS 402 | The Business of Music | 2 |
MUS 439 | Parish Music Field Experience | 2 |
MUS 713 | Jubilate (2 semesters required) | 2 |
or MUS 714 | Christus Chorus | |
MUS 782 | Chapel Band (2 semesters required) | 2 |
MUS 8XX or MUS 9XX Private Lessons | 8 | |
CHM 130 | Introduction to Christian Ministry | 3 |
Electives | 2 | |
Electronic Instruments Techniques & Pedagogy (2) | ||
Choral Conducting & Methods (2) | ||
Total Credits | 50 |
- 1
Electives may be chosen from any music offerings. Up to 2 credits may be drawn from 700-level ensemble courses. Recommended: MUS 430 History of Sacred Music, and/or MUS 431 Congregational Song
- 2
Contact DPM program coordinator, Dr. David Mennicke, at [651] 641-8828 or dmennicke@csp.edu
- *
Students may be exempted with credit from 100 level courses based on departmental assessment.
Director of Parish Music (DPM) Certification
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Lutheran Theology Minor | 21 |
Additional Requirements
Students must attend eight recitals or concerts per year and document such in their Music Portfolio to be submitted for review each year by November 1 to the Chair of the Music Department. A minimum of a 2.75 GPA is required in all music coursework, as well as a minimum of 2.5 GPA in each area of performance, history/literature, and theory/composition. Students must also complete a performance assessment for the music faculty in February of their sophomore year (or in their first year for transfer students). The Keyboard Proficiency Assessment must be passed prior to internship. Finally, students should take the Senior Music Outcomes exam when Musicianship/Music History courses are completed.