Program: Church Music, B.M. - Belmont University

Apr 01, 2025

Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

The Major in Church Music provides training for those interested in careers in music and worship ministry incorporating diverse musical styles and methodologies. Students pursuing this major choose either a traditional applied performance track (in which all private study is classical in nature) or an integrative track (which includes private study in both classical and commercial styles). The major is appropriate preparation for graduate study in church music at the seminary/graduate school level.

BELL Core Requirements: 38 Hours (minimum)

Bachelor of Music (B.M.)

Music Core: 40 Hours

Common Music Core: 30-33 Hours

^IAll classical majors take MUT 2310 and MUT 2340 and commercial majors and Music Therapy majors take MUT 2315 and MUT 2350 .

^II Commercial Music majors, Music Therapy majors, and Musical Theatre majors do not have this requirement.

^III All students seeking the Bachelor of Music degree must participate in at least one ensemble each semester enrolled as a full-time student and earn a minimum of eight (8) hours credit except Music Education majors and Music Therapy majors who earn a minimum of seven (7) hours credit and Musical Theatre (BFA) majors who earn a minimum of ten (10) hours credit. This number of credits only may count toward degree requirements. See specific Ensemble Requirements for each principal area.

^IVCommercial Music majors only

MUT 1310 Theory I 3 Hours
MUT 1320 Theory II 3 Hours
MUT 1330 Aural Skills I 1 Hours
MUT 1340 Aural Skills II 1 Hours
MUT 2310 Theory III–Classical 3 Hours ^(I) (Classical or Commercial)
or
MUT 2315 Theory III - Commercial 3 Hours ^(I) (Classical or Commercial)
MUT 2320 Theory IV - Post-tonal theory 3 Hours
MUT 2330 Aural Skills III 1 Hours
MUT 2340 Aural Skills IV Classical 1 Hours ^(I) (Classical or Commercial)
or
MUT 2350 Aural Skills IV Commercial 1 Hours ^(I) (Classical or Commercial)
MUH 2200 History of Western Music: 1700 - Present 3 Hours and
Choose one course (3 hrs) from the following:
MUH 2220 History of Electro-Digital Music 3 Hours
MUH 3200 History of Western Music: Ancient - 1700 3 Hours
MUH 4110 History of Commercial Music 3 Hours
MUE 3230 Basic Conducting Techniques 3 Hours
or
MUE 3320 Commercial Conducting 3 Hours ^(IV)
MUN Ensembles 5-10 Hours ^(III)
MUG 2000 Recital Attendance 0 Hours (4 semesters required)
MUG 3010 The Professional Musician 1 Hours

Specific Music Core: 7 Hours

MUK 1110 Introduction to Digital Musicianship 1 Hours
MUE 3240 Choral Conducting 3 Hours
MUT 3310 Form and Analysis 3 Hours
or
MUT 4330 Contemporary Arranging 3 Hours

Major Area: 42 Hours

Applied Principal (8 Semesters Required): 16 Hours

Traditional Applied Track:

MPA 22_ Private Applied Study 8 Hours (4 semesters)
MPA 42_ Private Applied Study 8 Hours (4 semesters)

Integrative Applied Track:

MPA 22_ Private Applied Study 8 Hours (4 semesters)
MPA 41_ Private Applied Study (Classical) 4 Hours (4 semesters)
MPA 21_ Private Applied Study (Commercial) 4 Hours (4 semesters)

Support Courses: 3 Hours

Voice

Piano

MAB 2050 Piano Literature I (Baroque and Classical Eras) 1 Hours
MAB 2060 Piano Literature II (19th and 20th Centuries) 1 Hours
MAB 3050 Piano Pedagogy 1 Hours

Organ

MAC 2050 Organ Literature I 1 Hours
MAC 2060 Organ Literature II 1 Hours
MAC 3050 Service Playing 1 Hours

Instrumental

Guitar

MAD 2050 Classical Guitar Literature I 1 Hours
MAD 2060 Classical Guitar Literature II 1 Hours
MAD 3050 Classical Guitar Pedagogy 1 Hours

Additional Required Courses:

MSM 20_ Music Seminar (Required each semester enrolled in Applied Principal, minimum of 8 semesters)
MPR 30_ Half Music Recital 0 Hours
MSA 2___ , Applied Secondary 4 Hours ⁽²⁾
MUG 2010 Piano Proficiency Examination 0 Hours
MUR 3410 Church Music Education for Children 3 Hours
MUR 3420 Church Music Education for Youth and Adults 3 Hours
MUR 3430 Using Instruments and Media in Worship 1 Hours
MUR 4410 Foundations of Church Music Ministry 3 Hours
MUR 4420 Hymnology 3 Hours
MUR 4430 Music Ministry Internship 2 Hours
MUR 4440 Music in Worship in the 21st Century: Philosophy and Practice 3 Hours

Additionally, students choosing the Integrative Applied Track must also take:

MSM 20_ Music Seminar (required every semester enrolled in commercial applied principal, minimum of 4 semesters)

Free Electives: 12 Hours (minimum)

(with 38-hour General Education Core)

Total Required for the Program: 132 Hours

¹ No more than 16 hours of the Applied Principal may be counted toward degree requirements.

² Secondary applied study must be continued each semester until proficiency is passed. Piano is the required secondary for all principals except keyboard. Voice is the required secondary for keyboard principals.