Music Production Programs Further the Kingdom of God

Music is everywhere. Between social media, TV commercials, and the grocery store, it provides the soundtrack for your life. 

But when was the last time you stopped to think about who created the music?

When a song is produced, it takes more than the person singing or playing; an entire team of people makes sure an early demo successfully becomes the polished song you hear. 

When you study at music production schools like Grace College, you will learn how to get into music production, create the songs people hear every day, and teach others to worship God. 

What is music production? 

Music production details how music is created and produced. Music production schools teach you how to multitrack record, overdub, edit, and mix music. 

“With the recent worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, there has never been a greater need for trained audio and video professionals in our churches,” says Dr. Walter Brath, Assistant Professor of Worship Arts. 

Kyle Brenneman, who has been leading worship in a church setting for 13 years, agrees. Brenneman was the worship pastor at Mission Point Community Church in Warsaw, Indiana, when the pandemic hit. 

“Because we met in the high school’s auditorium, we had to come up with a different solution than many other churches,” Brenneman said. “We pre-recorded all of our music and sermons in five or six different locations. We sent the songs to a friend of mine in Nashville, who mixed and mastered them for us each week. Then we edited the video to match the cuts we made in the songs.”

Music production took on a whole new level of importance in the church when Covid-19 hit, but churches aren’t the only organizations that need graduates of music production programs. You can use your music production degree to help performers create their next big album, to produce the soundtrack for a Blockbuster movie, or to give a concert audience an unforgettable experience. 

What can you do with a music production degree?

We’ve covered the types of organizations that will hire music production majors, but what types of jobs can you land with the degree? Music production programs teach skills in video production, studio recording, and live audio, allowing you to produce music for yourself and others. There are many jobs you can pursue with music production programs. Here are some of the most popular:

• Audio Director
• Concert Technician
• Music Editor
• Live Audio Technician
• Church Tech Director
• Studio Engineer

What are things to look for in music production programs?

When you are looking at music production schools, you will have a variety of things to consider. It is important for you to get hands-on training in the field. That’s why we give our students the opportunity to apply their learning by being a part of our chapel team. Music production majors help with the sound system and videography. 

Jalen Williams completed his undergraduate at Grace with a minor in music production and is now working as a graduate assistant as an audiovisual tech assistant for the chapel team.

“I have learned everything from how to work the soundboard (mixing) to stage setup and even a few things here and there about lighting and camera work. My favorite part has been working with the music groups who have come to do special events on campus like Kings Kaleidoscope,” he said.

It’s also important to scope out the space and equipment you’ll have access to. Learning how to use top-of-the-line gear will prepare you for top-notch opportunities. At Grace, you will get firsthand experience with our studio space, where you will work with a cutting-edge recording studio, a fully outfitted performance space, and a high-tech MIDI lab and classroom. 

You can use instruments like classical guitars, steel-string acoustics, basses, and a keyboard, all from Sweetwater, the largest online retailer of pro audio equipment in the United States. We also have gear like mics, amps, and focal monitors to acquaint you with professional equipment you will use during your career in music production. Our studio provides everything you need to embrace the advancing world of technology in the music production space. 

Outside of the classroom, many of our students find internships at local churches so they can apply their knowledge in a professional setting. They also have the opportunity to spend a semester in Nashville at the Contemporary Music Center through a program that teaches students how to create music and prepares them to work in the entertainment industry.  

How can music production be used to further the kingdom of God? 

When you study at music production schools, you will have the opportunity to create music that praises the Lord. After all, it’s not just the one singing the praises that is leveraging music as an act of worship. Those who produce the music play an important role in allowing even more to hear the praises of God. Even if your music is not overtly Christian, its positive messages can be used to reach non-Christian audiences and point them back to God. 

“Music production gives people the chance to express themselves,” Williams said. “I love helping people create experiences that allow them to pour their heart out into their music and performances.”

Learn more about how to get into music production and create God-honoring music with our music production program and read stories about students who are loving our Worship Arts Department.