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Church Music
We can bring glory to God by how we share music. And Dordt’s church music emphasis is designed for people who want to lead others as they seek to find a meaningful worship experience.
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Program Overview
Getting an emphasis in church music will prepare you to head into the world of ministry. It’s one thing to have a passion for music. It’s another thing to use that passion for God’s Kingdom through your gifts and skills.
With a church music emphasis, you'll take private lessons, courses in church music, and participate in Dordt's choral or instrumental ensembles. And when you’re done, you’ll be ready to lead worship in diverse spiritual environments.
What You'll Learn
The church music emphasis will equip and train musicians to lead as worship planners or directors. You’ll be ready to enrich and contribute to communal worship. With courses in orchestration, choral music education, and more, you’ll be challenged and you’ll leave changed and ready to serve.
What You Can Do With A Church Music Emphasis
When it comes to a church music emphasis, you can choose from several career options, including church worship leader, audio/visual technician, music program coordinator, and other pastoral roles.
Recording Artist
A Recording Artist records and performs his work with a specific and distinct style.
Choir Director
Choir Directors oversee a choir and lead them during musical performances.
Church Worship Leader
A Church Worship Leader guides and manages a Church Service.
Career Preparation
Dordt University's 2023 Career Outcome Rate was 99.4%! “This data point tells us that Dordt graduates are prepared for the careers of their choosing,” said Amy Westra, director of Career Development. “A Dordt education provides students with industry-relevant courses and connections that make a difference.”
Students who choose the church music emphasis will complete courses in the history of music in the church, worship and liturgy, and other topics that will teach them about music in the church, in addition to completing the general requirements of a music degree. This emphasis includes several field trips, additional private music lessons, and a service learning or individual studies course.
- History of Music in the Church: A survey of the development of the church’s music, beginning with the Old Testament and continuing through the present, and engagement with pertinent repertoire. Students will gain a historical understanding of the music of the church, from chant to the present day, with concentration on Luther and Calvin’s contributions to congregational song, psalmody, and hymnody. The course will expose students to a vast repertoire of music for congregations, choirs, instruments, and soloists, and inform students’ historical perspectives, provide insight, and equip them with skills for service as church musicians in the 21st century.
- Worship and Liturgy: A study of the various liturgical worship practices of Christian denominations, with primary focus on music in the Reformed denomination. Experiences such as field trips and participation in various Christian worship practices will deepen the student’s familiarity with liturgy and practical (musical) skills needed in a worship context. Students will receive instruction on planning music for worship, gain exposure to a variety of materials and methods, and cultivate their own musical skills by designing liturgies, culminating in the development of a Reformed philosophy of church music. The course will help to prepare students to serve aptly in a church setting.
- Orchestration: A study of transposition, instrumental ranges, and balance by arranging keyboard and choral works for instrumental ensembles.
- Choral Music Education: Teaching techniques and methods for the prospective vocal music educator. Designed for those preparing to teach choral music in elementary and secondary schools, this course also deals with repertoire selection and rehearsal planning and techniques, and is therefore suitable for those preparing to enter the field of church music.
- Service-Learning
- Individual Studies
- Aesthetics: A study of the aesthetic dimension of creation, the nature and qualifying function of artistic activity, and artifacts, and an introduction to general aesthetic theory and its history.
- Foundations of Worship: A study of the Scriptural foundation for worship and of the components of worship. There will be a brief study of historic patterns of worship, leading to the preparation of liturgies and the practice of worship-leading skills.
- Private Voice Lessons
- Private Piano Lessons
- Private Organ Lessons
- Private Instrument Lessons
See the course catalog for more information.
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Faculty
With experience in a variety of fields, our faculty members are equipped and ready to help you succeed.
Faculty Info
B.J. Haan Auditorium
As a Church Music Major, you'll have the opportunity to spend time in the B.J. Haan Auditorium and it’s adjoining Music Building. These facilities include access to mechanical action and electro-pneumatic pipe organs, upright and grand piano practice rooms, instrumental practice rooms, a Yamaha Disklavier, and a Dekker harpsichord.
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Student Stories
Dordt students and alumni use their gifts to make a difference in the world. Check out their stories to see how Defender Nation lives out our mission to work effectively toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life.
Into the Unknown
Anna BlauwAnna's experiences at Dordt allowed her to grow the faith and confidence that she needed to overcome the fear of the unknown by focusing on who God wanted her to be.
Anna Blauw
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