Worship Leading

When you graduate from the Worship Leading program, you’ll be prepared to:

• Lead worship and music ministry in church settings
• Use music to worship, bring God’s Word to life, evangelize, disciple others, and further God’s work
• Effectively use multimedia presentations
• Play the piano and guitar proficiently
• Apply written and aural music theory
• Conduct
• Write original worship songs
• Oversee administration—organize, manage time, create budgets, understand public and staff relations

To ensure that you’re prepared as an experienced, highly-skilled musician, we have a few extra requirements for our Worship Leading majors.

• Ensemble participation—You need to participate in at least one ensemble each semester. You can choose from: Woman’s Chorus, Festival Chorus, Chorale (audition only), Rhythm Players, Jazz Workshop ( upperclassmen), String Ensemble

• Recital performance class—You’ll register for this class each semester to prepare for your senior recital, perform on your primary instrument, and learn recital etiquette.
• Recital attendance—You’ll be expected to attend all recital classes, senior recitals, and faculty recitals.
• Conducting lab—This class serves as the choir for the senior recitals of Music Pastor and Music Education majors.
• Applied lessons—You’ll take music lessons in one major instrument and one minor instrument. You can choose from the following: piano, voice, guitar, drums, bass guitar, violin, flute, cello, saxophone, trumpet and french horn. Piano is the minor instrument for anyone who isn’t a piano major.
• Theory Placement Exam—You’ll take the theory placement exam before you enter the Worship Leading program or register for classes.
• Jury exams—You’ll take final jury exams at the end of each semester. At jury exams, you’ll perform pieces you’ve studied that semester.
• Piano and guitar proficiency—You’ll be required to demonstrate piano and guitar proficiency by the end of your fourth semester of theory.
• Entrance audition (for transfer students and sophomores)—If you’re transferring to North Central or at sophomore status you’ll complete an entrance audition.
• Senior project/recital—All Worship Leading majors need to complete a senior project and perform a senior recital to finish their degree. A junior recital will also be completed prior to approval for the senior recital.

You’ll participate in an internship as part of your program. Your internship will prepare you with real-world experience and valuable connections as you follow your calling as a worship leader.

We want you to be well-rounded and well-prepared when you graduate, so you’ll have the opportunity to choose a minor or supporting program so you can explore another area of interest. Here are some possibilities:

• Campus Missions
• Evangelism & Church Planting
• Intercultural Studies
• Leadership Development
• Media Production
• Theatre
• Urban Studies
• Youth Ministries

See the full list of minors and supporting programs.