Music Production Course Descriptions

This 3-credit course investigates the dynamics of Christian maturity. Students build a framework for spiritual formation using scriptural insights, self-awareness, a knowledge of God, and historical perspectives, while balancing personal and corporate spiritual growth. The curriculum combines practical application, discussion, and research.

Introductory training for in-studio video production editing techniques and processes. Three hours.

Designed to give the musical worship leader a basic knowledge of music fundamentals, this course is balanced around written theory, ear training, and keyboard proficiency. Focus will include basic music notation, scales, tonality, keys/modes, intervals, and chords. Prerequisite: placement or permission of instructor or program director. Three hours.

A continuation of Music Theory Fundamentals with strong emphasis on diatonic triads, writing melodies, and part writing. Ear training and keyboard proficiency will also be included. Prerequisite: WMU 1300. Three hours.

A continuation of Music Theory I with strong emphasis on harmonic progression and part writing. Ear training and keyboard proficiency will also be included. Prerequisite: WMU 2600. Three hours.

Students will acquire basic theories and practices of lighting for stage, theatre, and live production. Covered topics will include energy needs, focusing, optics, moving lights, color theory, and various control surfaces. Three hours.

Students will learn signal flow through sound reinforcement systems. Basics of acoustics and room design will be investigated. Use of real-time analyzing software and basic equipment diagnosis will be investigated. Hands-on mixing opportunities will be given on industry standard equipment. Students will gain skills in running audio for different settings and develop problem solving skills to resolve audio-related issues. Three hours.

Students study and implement strategies for successful planning in worship arts ministry. Emphasis will be given to aspects of biblical leadership, pastoral ministry, and business administration. Topics include scheduling, working with volunteers, budgeting, vision development, worship team dynamics, and long-term ministry growth plans. Three hours.

This course provides an historical overview of Christian worship. Historical traditions and current trends of worship ministry will be studied, including music styles and the broader role of the arts in the local church. The interaction between worship and today’s culture will also be addressed. Three hours.

This course is a study of the biblical and theological aspects of worship. A wide spectrum of Christian traditions will be studied as well as the relationship of personal to corporate worship. Emphasis will be given to understanding how the patterns of worship found in the Bible affect every aspect of the worship service. Three hours.

Presentation of a corporate worship service representing significant research and creative endeavor during the academic year preceding graduation. Presentation projects must be approved by the program director, department chair, and faculty adviser. Program notes must be submitted to and approved by the program director prior to the presentation. Students are responsible for assembling the necessary team to execute the live event (musicians, speakers, etc.). Prerequisites: completion of major course requirements and approval of department chair. Three hours.

Performance development encompasses a wide variety of practice and performance experiences including co-curricular opportunities such as ensembles and worship teams. Performance development experiences may include choir, gospel choir, wind ensemble, string ensemble, or worship teams.

See WMU 2001 (Lab 1); WMU 2002 (Lab 2); WMU 3001 (Lab 3); WMU 3002 (Lab 4); WMU 4001 (Lab 5); WMU 4002 (Lab 6). Labs 1-6 required for major; Labs 1 and 2 required for minor. Weekly practice hours assigned by the instructor

Performance development encompasses a wide variety of practice and performance experiences including co-curricular opportunities such as ensembles and worship teams. Performance development experiences may include choir, gospel choir, wind ensemble, string ensemble, or worship teams.

See WMU 2001 (Lab 1); WMU 2002 (Lab 2); WMU 3001 (Lab 3); WMU 3002 (Lab 4); WMU 4001 (Lab 5); WMU 4002 (Lab 6). Labs 1-6 required for major; Labs 1 and 2 required for minor. Weekly practice hours assigned by the instructor

This course builds on advanced recording, allowing students hands-on experience working within a professional studio environment. Prerequisite: WMU 4300. Three hours.

Selected topics in Worship Music offered on an as-available basis. Content includes research, field experience, and a music product. Three hours.

Advanced level synthesis in performing, developing, producing, or presenting worship arts content or forms. Cross-discipline or community integration would result in performing arts evidence utilized in a final portfolio or public presentation. Prerequisite: permission of program director. Three hours.

Students apply knowledge gained from Theory I and II, learning different approaches to using scales to improvise over chord progressions. There will be a focus on blues and jazz styles as well as contemporary music. Students will learn to transcribe solos from recordings. Prerequisites: WMU 2600, WMU 3100, and WMU 4100. Three hours.

This advanced level worship performance or worship production-based research course focuses on an individual topic selected by the student. Prerequisite: completion of major course requirements, approval of research proposal, and permission of program director and department chair. Three hours.

Provides students with the tools and hands-on experience necessary for producing professional MIDI projects, audio tracks, and visual recordings. Introduction to multi-track recording, recording studios, and the technology involved in mixing and processing sound. Live event to take place within a worship environment. Prerequisites: WMU 2600. Three hours.

Provides students with the tools and hands-on experience for working in a professional recording studio. Students will learn microphone placement for a wide range of instruments, as well as tracking and mixing in Pro Tools. Students will be equipped to record a wide range of projects from live bands to music and film. Prerequisite: WMU 2460 Intro to Recording (formerly WMU 2450). Three hours.

This course examines the basic elements of contemporary music composition including form study, melody/lyric construction, and harmonic/rhythmic patterns. Each student will receive instruction in various musical styles with specific emphasis on worship songs for the local church. Three hours.

Worship leaders and directors need to have a basic understanding of how all the instruments function in a worship team. Focus is on the elementary principles of playing keyboard, voice, guitar, and percussion. Emphasis is on development of tone production of each instrument, as well as transposition and the capabilities and limitations of each instrument. Prerequisites: WMU 2600 and WMU 3100. Three hours.

An internship served under the guidance of an experienced and qualified worship arts leader in an approved church music program. Prerequisite: permission of program director. Three hours.

WMU 4550 Junior or Senior level: The course of study for a Fall or Spring semester at the Contemporary Music Center (CMC) is offered through Greenville University, a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). A total of sixteen credit hours are taken on location in Nashville, TN. All other credits in the Worship Arts major are taken at Winona Lake, Grace campus. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior academic level. Sixteen hours.

For more information and application deadlines, contact Grace Institute for Global Studies: global@grace.edu.