School of Music launches new specialization in African-American Worship
December 1, 2020 : By Jacob Couch - Office of Communications & Public Engagement
A new specialization at the Liberty University School of Music is shining a light on the rich traditions and heritage of worship music in the African-American culture.
The African-American Worship specialization launched this fall and is offered under the online M.A. in Worship Studies. It consists of four courses: Spiritual Formation for Leading African-American Worship, Emerging Issues in African-American Worship, Team Building in African-American Worship, and God’s People and the History of African-American Worship.
“We have nationally recognized worship programs here at the Liberty University School of Music, and we are excited to offer specialized training in the African-American worship tradition,” said School of Music Online Dean Sean Beavers. “This will be great for those who are African-American worship leaders to learn from other experts in the field and it will be excellent for those who may not be in an African-American church but really want to learn about this tradition and understand it better.”
He said the university had been developing the specialization over the last couple years, but the timing for making it available to students could not be more perfect.
“We are really excited to be launching our first courses at this point in time because it is a real opportunity for greater racial understanding,” Beavers said. “With all the upheaval in our society along racial lines, allowing and promoting racial understanding is a very positive thing.”
Dr. Wayne Singleton designed two of the courses and is the instructor for them as well. In 2017, he earned a Master of Arts in Music and Worship through Liberty while also working as a worship minister at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C.. After witnessing racial tension in his own community, Singleton talked with staff members at the School of Music about highlighting the African-American worship culture.
“I’m really excited about this whole program, and I think more people are wanting to learn about the African-American practices,” he said. “This area of study will certainly address those issues (of race) and shed light on the different practices and various styles of the African-American church.”
Singleton said he expects more students to choose the specialization in coming years as they seek to learn more about the unique needs of the congregations they will serve.
Through the Center for Music and Worship, Liberty engages the hearts, minds, and souls of future congregations and ministries around the world by developing worship that is experiential, holistic, and integrative. Learn more about degree programs in music and worship at Liberty.edu/music.
