School of Music

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Benjamin I. J. Harding, DMA, Dean

Adjunct Faculty

Graeme Burgan, MMus
A. Scott Watson, DMA
Virginia M. Whitney, MMus

The School

The School of Music exists to educate and prepare students to be musicians of excellence and integrity who glorify God by serving in the church, society, and the world.

Goals

Implicit in the mission of the School of Music are specific goals relevant to music majors, other University students, faculty, the Christian church, constituency, and the community. The four primary goals are:

1. To educate and prepare music students to integrate musical and artistic excellence, professional skills, personal integrity, and biblical truth.
2. To awaken students to the performing arts as an expressive gift of God’s creation, and engage them in participation, understanding, and enjoyment.
3. To support the faculty’s ongoing artistic growth, scholarly research, and educational aspirations.
4. To serve the student body, the University as a whole, and the local and global community as a resource for worship, education, and musical enrichment.

Accreditation

Cairn University achieved accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) in 1979. The program had achieved associate membership in NASM in 1972. The curriculum requirements that follow are designed to meet the NASM standards required for the Master of Arts degree. (National Association of Schools of Music, 11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21, Reston, VA 20190; Telephone: 703-437-0700; Web Site: nasm.arts-accredit.org)

The Program

The School of Music of Cairn University offers a Master of Arts degree in Worship and Music with the following purposes:

1. Enrich the worship and music experience in the local, evangelical church
2. Be a resource to local churches around the world through an online offering
3. Broaden perspectives in both music and worship styles that are experienced around the world in an evangelical context

Since the School of Music’s beginning, the commitment to train church musicians and worship leaders has been present. A degree in church music was the first degree offered through the School of Music. This degree program will further the University’s commitment and mission to train students to serve Christ in the church, society, and the world.

The purpose of this new graduate program in the School of Music at Cairn University is to further Cairn’s mission across the globe in students’ lives who are involved in worship ministry. The curriculum is designed to reflect the relationship between serious scholarship and professional outcomes. Emphasis is placed on the characteristics of an effective worship leader in the context of an evangelical congregation. The course of study includes a diversity of subjects. First, students will be enriched in their study of theology through a general theology course and a practical theology course related to the ministry of worship in the local church. Second, students will gain a more in-depth knowledge of worship in other cultures and acquire skills that are applicable in their specific cultural context. Third, students will explore the development of musical skills related to worship ministry. They will delve into the practice of conducting, developing worship music around a theological plan, applying technology to these plans, and strengthening their understanding of practical application. Fourth, the students will culminate their experience in projects that reflect the job market within the field of worship ministry. The job market within the worship ministry field requires a breadth of skill in many areas and a deep understanding of how theology impacts the practice of worship.

The purposes of this new graduate program align with the content offered. First, in the core of general studies in the music portion, a rich and comprehensive foundation is laid for students attending this program from around the world from diverse backgrounds. Each student’s experience is valued as the content within this section of study is foundational and global in perspective. The content carries out the University and School of Music’s mission. This section of the curriculum defines common worship and music terms and a graduate-level understanding of those terms, and the skills of research and inquiry will also be advanced. Knowledge of the global history of Christian worship will be explored.

Second, in the other studies in the music section of the curriculum, students will apply many of the former category’s key concepts. With skill advancement being the focus, students will have the opportunity to work on the application of worship ministry in a local congregation context. These courses include a commitment to diversity in the application of learning. With African American music being sought worldwide in evangelical contexts, the music curriculum is designed to bring deeper awareness, appreciation, and understanding of this music born in the United States.

Third, in the outside fields and electives section, the content allows students to delve into interpersonal dynamics and leadership essential for a thriving career in music ministry. Deeper philosophical explorations are possible in these courses, and students can gain a nuanced perspective on their philosophies.

The program’s requirements hold the content together with its purpose, yet there is the opportunity for students to pursue interdisciplinary work around their daily schedule due to the coursework’s asynchronous nature. The music unit anticipates this program’s market to be working professionals within a variety of worship contexts. Therefore, the students will be able to apply their learning in their situations.

The requirements also allow for depth and breadth of competency within the field of worship ministry. As research, music skills, scholarly inquiry, and practical application are combined with a focused purpose, the program will enable students to excel in their place of worship leadership. The balance between leadership, philosophy, technology, and academics is achieved in this program because it is wed together with purpose, content, and structure.

The School of Music has established program objectives as it relates to this new program. They are as follows:

1. To demonstrate advanced knowledge through research and coursework related to the historical, practical, theological, and biblical understanding of worship in the Christian church.
2. To construct, plan, organize, and write on original research on topics related to worship ministry in the evangelical church.
3. To demonstrate an ability to manage and lead with character a complex music ministry within an evangelical context.
4. To present, arrange, compose, and record music using current music technology that is related to a modern music ministry context in the evangelical church.
5. To appraise what makes a quality, gospel-centered, culturally, and historically informed worship service in a Christian and evangelical context.
6. To formulate a comprehensive philosophy of worship, life, and ministry.

Related Program Information

Audition Requirements

Students should prepare a piece that they are comfortable with and displays their strengths as a musician. It should be approximately three to five minutes in length, in any style, and demonstrate their instrumental or vocal proficiency and overall musicianship.

Percussionists will be asked to play selected examples from the following list of grooves/techniques:

• 4/4 Swing
• 3/4 Swing
• Rock
• Funk
• Shuffle
• Bossa Nova
• Samba
• Trading fours and eights in 4/4 Swing, Shuffle, and Rock grooves
• Brush technique

Students will also be asked to improvise and sight-read in order to assess where they are in their instrumental development. They will also be asked to participate in call-and-response exercises to assess ear training level. The audition team will play short rhythms and melodies which the students will either sing back or play back on their instrument. Students may also be asked to identify intervals and chord qualities.

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