Tools, Techniques and Literature for Worship – WMUS 400

CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

A study of the materials used in program building of instrumental and vocal ensembles in non-traditional worship settings. Evaluation is made of select publishers to investigate musical, audio, video, and software resources availability with application to contemporary Christian Worship ensemble. (Crosslisted with MUSC 400)

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

Today’s worship leaders are responsible for developing and administrating comprehensive music and worship programs. These responsibilities require experience in a variety of areas related to ministry, including roles as: teacher, singer, producer, pastor, evangelist, internet technician, audio and video specialist, worshiper, artist, counselor, and skilled musician. This course evaluates many of the week-to-week skills and concepts necessary for the worship leader to develop into these roles.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations/notes.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. The student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. Each thread must be 200–300 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge with at least 1 reference. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to at least 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 100–150 words. Current Turabian format must be used.

Planning Center Project Assignments (2)

At the beginning of the course, the instructor will place the student into a group on an online database system oriented to corporate worship. The student is required to establish a worship team, songsets, and media links and files.

Monthly Overview Outline Assignment

The student will complete an outline form for four weeks of songlists, including general rationales for ministry decisions, rehearsal necessities, and thematic design for corporate worship services.

Christian Copyright Licensing International Evaluation Project Assignment

The student will write an 1,800–2,200-word research-based paper in current Turabian format that focuses on the evaluation of the lyric content and tessitura demands of selected CCLI Top 100 worship songs. The paper must include at least 10 references in addition to the course materials and the Bible. These references will be worship song lyrics, melodies, and arrangements.

Weekly Planning Project Assignment

The student will outline and detail musical, production-based, and technical specifics needed to prepare for the corporate worship program for 2 different churches’ Sunday services–a traditional/blended type of service and a trending/contemporary type of service.

Church Evaluation Case Study Assignments (2)

Case Study: Blended/Traditional Assignment

The student will complete a 1,000–1,200-word evaluation of a blended/traditional church based on 4 weeks of observations. At least 2 references must be included, and current Turabian format must be used.

Case Study: Trending/Contemporary Assignment

The student will complete a 1,300–1,500-word evaluation of 2 trending/contemporary churches on the use of a variety of tools, techniques, and resources for ministry. At least 4 references must be included, and current Turabian format must be used.

Quizzes (2)

Each quiz will cover the Learn materials for the assigned modules. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes and contain short answer and essay questions. The answer to each essay question must be 250–300 words and include at least 1 citation in current Turabian format. The time limit is 2 hours.