Looking for a graduate program to be a church music composer and pianist

Graduate School
1

Hi, I’ve pretty much said it all in the title, but I’m currently an undergrad music student and pianist. I’m hoping to get my PhD somewhere, and I would like to focus as much as possible on

a) knowledge of scripture
b) piano skills/technic/performance abilities
c) composition (with special attention to the style of traditional hymns)

so that I can write good scripture-based music, bang out some really technical arrangements (of my own) of hymns, and serve my church as a pianist or worship leader.

I’ve struggled to find such a program, so I’m wondering what my best options are in terms of tailoring my graduate education to meet my desired ends. I’m hoping to stay in Virginia, but God only knows where I’ll be a few years from now. Any know-how would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

2

Addendum: I know a lot of church music is harmonically pretty simple. I’m hoping to use the theory I’m learning and continue to learn to provide more interesting structure to my own compositions and arrangements.

3

You might try posting this is on the Music Major Forum. How about Belmont. They offer a grad degree in Church music. http://www.belmont.edu/music/degrees/music_graduate/index.html

4

If you want to write church music for a church, I would say that you probably don’t need a PhD to do that. A PhD is a scholarly/research-based degree; in music, you’d need one if you wanted to teach music at the college level or do scholarship on music at a research institution. If you want to compose church music as a religious leader, a master’s in music is probably your better bet.

Boston University has a Master’s of Sacred Music, a joint effort between their schools of music and theology - you learn to be a leader in a faith community and the program is designed to produce professional church musicians.

Other programs in church or sacred music are at Yale, Baylor, Catholic University of America, Claremont Graduate University, East Carolina University, Duquesne, Emory, Florida State, Indiana, Liberty University (which is in VA), Mercer University, Northwestern, Samford, Santa Clara, Shenandoah University (also in VA), University of Florida and University of Notre Dame. There are also a lot of theological seminaries that offer programs in church music. Here’s a list: https://www.agohq.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/GraduateChurchMusicPrograms.pdf

You’ll have to decide whether you want to go to a secular university or a more religious program. A program like Yale’s or Emory’s will probably be more secular and non-denominational in nature. A program like Baylor’s or Liberty’s is likely to be much more religious, and Christian in nature. A seminary or theological school is probably even more religious, and will also concentrate on teaching you church leadership and religious texts - which it sounds like you want.

5

I appreciate the responses! You’ve given me good things to look into and think about. Thank you.