Church Music Information
The Calvin College Music Department offers training for both the volunteer and the professional church musician through a wide variety of courses, programs of study, performance experiences, workshops, and conferences.
For the development of musicianship and performance skills, the Music Department offers private lessons, rehearsals in both small and large performing groups, and performance experiences both on and off campus.
Private lessons are available in the wind and string instruments, and (of specific interest to the church musician) in piano, organ, and voice. For students specifically interested in music in worship, the emphasis during organ and voice study is on training the church musician. Private lessons are available to all students through audition and the payment of an applied music fee. Membership in both small and large instrumental and vocal ensembles is open to all students through audition.
Church and chapel performances by instrumental and vocal groups and opportunities for solo performances in chapel and church services provide ample occasion for experience in the practice of church music. In addition, a semester-long internship at a local church is required in the Spring semester of the senior year of study for those who major in church music.
For developing a strong theoretical foundation in the art of music and an understanding of the music of the church, a wide range of courses helpful to the church musician is available, not only to the music major but to all who are interested in the music of the church as well. Almost every year the January interim term offers a practical course for the church musician. A course in the hymns of the Christian church is offered every Fall semester. The Spring semester regularly offers “Christian Worship,” a course which explains the history and theology of worship practices. In addition, courses in conducting, arranging, composition, theory, music history, and music education are available.
Courses of specific value to the church musician are arranged into programs of study for those who wish to major or minor in the music of the church. Both the major and the minor programs may be planned to emphasize either church organ playing or church choral conducting. These programs of study are described in the college catalog.
The Music Department’s faculty and students participate in the annual Symposium on Worship, hosted by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. (Please see www.calvin.edu/worship for more information). These sessions are intended for both the practicing church musician and the student.
For additional information, please contact:
Dr. Bert Polman
Department of Music