Music Resources and Literature for Worship Leading – WMUS 600
CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 09/05/2023
Course Description
A study of current available resources employed by contemporary worship leaders. Consideration is given to technologies and materials used for service preparation, pre‐production, and worship events. This course includes technologies for programming and sound reinforcement.
For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.
Rationale
One of the primary responsibilities of modern worship leaders is the identification and selection of appropriate resources for worship. This includes musical resources for vocal (choirs, soloists, worship teams, etc.) and instrumental groups (bands, orchestras, ensembles, etc.), as well as technical resources for video, sound, and lighting. In order to successfully complete this task, students must be familiar with publishers, vendors, technical specifications, and online providers. This course introduces students to the wide array of available resources that will be foundational to leading effective worship ministries in the 21st Century.
Course Assignment
Textbook Readings and Lecture Presentations
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. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. Each thread must be at least 350 words and include a minimum of 2 citations demonstrating course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 100 words and include a minimum of 1 citation per response.
Worship Blog Directory Assignment
The student will compile an annotated directory briefly discussing a minimum of 10 worship blogs, specifically identifying worship resources offered through each site. Each entry must be at least 1 paragraph (80-100 words) and adhere to current Turabian format.
Book Review Assignments (2)
The student will complete 2 book reviews on the texts outlined within the course. Each report will be 5–7 pages.
Worship Projection Article Assignment
The student will research and identify 8–10 worship/song projection software packages available to churches. Based on this research, the student will write a 3–5-page article comparing and contrasting the various software packages in relation to effectiveness, cost, difficulty level, etc. The article must be written in a magazine or Internet article style and adhere to current Turabian format.
The student will create a 1-3 minute video resource to hypothetically be incorporated into the local church. The video may feature different ministries within the church, activities or ministry activity in the church, a welcome video with announcements for the church service, or an invitation video welcoming others to join your ministry. This is an opportunity to express creativity and to demonstrate an awareness of how information should be presented to the church body via video presentation.
Church Case Study Assignment
The student will view 4-weeks of online services of 1 of the churches outlined within the course. Following the service observations, the student will prepare a written report outlining the church’s history, worship styles, and stated mission. The report must be at least 8-10 pages.
Worship Resource Directory Assignment
The student will compile a minimum of 12 to 15-page Worship Resource Directory outlining and summarizing worship resources identified throughout the course. The directory must be divided into 12 sections (as outlined in the course) and include a minimum of 5 entries per category. The student will also contact a minimum of 3 publishers to secure preview packets of new materials. Once the packets are received, the student will compile a listing of the various materials contained in each packet and then write a 2–3-paragraph summary of how the resources may be utilized in the local church setting.
Copyright Quiz
After reading the Church Music Publishers Association’s Guide to Copyright Information, the student will complete the 25-question quiz. This quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 25 true/false questions, and have a 30-minute time limit.
