Purpose

As part of its overall mission to educate persons for service in the Christian Church, Erskine Seminary offers the Master of Church Music (M.C.M.) degree. The purpose of this degree is to educate persons for the vocation of music ministry in the Christian Church, to the end that God may be glorified. The program is designed to produce church musicians who have developed a strong Biblical and theological foundation for music ministry, who have honed their musical skills and understanding at a high professional level, and who have thoughtfully considered the urgent issues facing the Church’s work and worship at this point in history. While the program is strongly rooted in the historic traditions of worship and music throughout the Church and in the Reformed tradition in particular, it is also deeply committed to the ongoing quest to respond wisely and faithfully to the leading of God’s Spirit in these times of profound renewal and change. Finally, the program is designed to train musical leaders who understand that their role in the church encompasses much more than mere musical knowledge and expertise. As part of a ministerial team, the church musician must not only understand but work to promote and enhance the broader mission of the local congregation and the Church at large, working to integrate the ministry of music in a relevant and holistic way. This requires the integration of all that one learns into a music ministry that communicates the love of Christ to all people.

Admission Policy

Students applying for the M.C.M. program must have an undergraduate degree in music from an accredited school. They are also required to complete an audition before the music faculty. The audition is in one of the following: organ, voice, conducting, or piano. Auditions are normally presented on campus at a time when applicants can also take the Theory/History Placement Exam.

Organ Audition: This audition includes three pieces of organ repertoire representing one’s highest level of achievement, an example of hymn accompanying, and sight-reading.
Applicants should prepare:

1. A composition written by J.S. Bach.
2. A composition by a nineteenth century composer.
3. A composition written after 1930.
4. All stanzas and an introduction to a congregational hymn.

Voice Audition: This audition includes three memorized selections from the classical repertoire of art song, opera, cantata, or oratorio. At least one selection should be sung in a language other than English. The applicant should also be prepared to sing at sight a few simple melodies in either clef.

Conducting Audition: The applicants bring to the audition a videotape of a choral rehearsal they have recently conducted. This video will be viewed and discussed during the audition. Applicants should also be prepared to demonstrate competence in conducting in any meter (simple or compound), attack and release, and general expressiveness.

Piano Audition: This audition requires playing three pieces of classical repertoire from various periods, including the twentieth century. These selections should represent one’s highest level of achievement. The applicant should be prepared to play scales and arpeggios in any key and to demonstrate sight-reading ability.

Goals

1. Graduates will understand the Bible’s message in light of its own literary, historical, and theological settings.
2. Graduates will be prepared to articulate the relation between the Bible and the contemporary contexts in which ministry takes place.
3. Graduates will be prepared to utilize the Church’s historical and theological heritage as an important resource in their personal spiritual development and ministry.
4. Graduates will write and speak using theological language that is clear, well-considered, disciplined, and meaningful for those to whom they minister.
5. Graduates will be competent musicians in the areas of music history, theory, and performance.
6. Graduates will be prepared to serve the Church with Christian character and integrity in their personal and professional lives.
7. Graduates will be prepared to view their ministries in light of the Church’s mission to worship, follow, bear witness to, and serve Jesus Christ.
8. Graduates will be prepared to communicate the Bible’s message so as to make clear that its meaning is relevant for today.
9. Graduates will be prepared to foster a sense of community among those they serve in Christian ministry.
10. Graduates will be knowledgeable and effective leaders of Christian worship.
11. Graduates will be prepared to find and use music that truly glorifies God and meets the deepest needs of the people.
12. Graduates will be prepared to lead a comprehensive program of church music education.
13. Graduates will possess skills in leadership and administration.

Residency and Graduation Requirements

A student must complete 60 semester hours of course work to qualify for the M.C.M. degree. No more than 30 semester hours may be transferred in from another institution, and no more than 30 hours may be taken at Erskine Seminary’s extension centers. At least 30 semester hours must be earned at Erskine Seminary’s Due West campus. No thesis or dissertation is required for this degree. The program is designed to be completed in two years of full-time study, although students may spread their program over a longer period by studying part-time, not to exceed four years.

Relation to Other Degrees

Students whose ministry goals warrant doing so may combine the M.C.M. with another of Erskine Seminary’s master’s degrees. Students who combine the M.C.M. with the M.Div. must complete 120 hours of total course work, including all courses required for both degrees. Students who combine the M.C.M. with another two-year degree must complete the 60 hours of course work for the M.C.M., plus half of the hours required for the other degree, and must take all courses required for both degrees. In such cases, students will ordinarily be conferred both degrees at the same time, after the requirements for both have been met.

Curriculum

All M.C.M. students, full-time and part-time, must take PM 101 Introduction to Theological Education during their first year of study.

Erskine Seminary considers a person to be a full-time student for academic purposes if he/she takes at least 12 hours of classes each semester (fall and spring) AND at least 30 hours in an academic year (fall semester, January term, spring semester, summer term). The schedule below is a suggestion for students who are studying full-time.

Students should pay close attention to the scheduling template and schedules for each year (posted on the web site and the bulletin board in Bowie Hall), to make sure they know when their required courses will be offered.
Students who wish to do so may take the Bible Challenge Exam in lieu of the Bible Survey course. If they pass the exam successfully, they may take a Bible elective to replace BI 101.

A Suggested Schedule for the Master of Church Music Degree

Junior Class First Year

Senior Class Second Year