Church Music Skills
Developing your skills as a church musician
Church Music Skills is a pioneering new education programme designed to help practising church musicians to develop the skills and understanding that they need for their role, and to equip those who want to be able to lead music in worship.
The programme is based on distance learning, combining private study at home with practical experience in the student’s own church. It is designed for use by students studying alone or with a teacher, and may be complemented by optional attendance at RSCM workshops, masterclasses and short residential courses. It is open to students from the UK and abroad.
Joining the programme
Students enrolling in Church Music Skills opt to follow one of two pathways:
The Award Scheme leads to vocational-type qualifications at three levels
The Flexible Study Scheme allows students to ‘mix and match’ units according to their own personal development goals
- Download the Church Music Skills brochure
- Download the Information Pack - contains full details of the programme and units (updated 5 Mar 2009)
- Download the Registration Form
- Go to information on residential courses and training days
- Read an article about Church Music Skills by Stuart Robinson
- Find out about The Complete Church Organist – a new series of organ tutors from RSCM Press
The Award Scheme
The Church Music Skills Award is designed to enable students to become effective leaders and enablers of music in their local church. The Award affirms the student’s abilities and demonstrates their competence to potential employers.
Students on the Award Scheme undertake a programme of study that leads to assessment and an award at three levels:
| Level I | Level II | Level III |
|---|---|---|
Foundation |
Intermediate |
Higher |
The Level of the award relates to the musical demands at each stage. Students may begin work at any Level.
To complete the award, students submit a portfolio of written and practical work (the latter in the form of audio or audio-visual recordings of rehearsals and performances at their church). They have a choice of Principal Skill – either Organ, Choir Director, Cantor or Music Group Leader – for the practical work.
The written work includes submissions on a series of Supporting Studies related to church music, for example choosing music for worship, Christian seasons and festivals, copyright legislation or managing volunteers.
Students have a choice of Practical and Supporting Studies units (see 'Units of learning' tab above for the full list of topics).
On completion of the award, students may go on to do further study, either proceeding to the next Level, or enlarging their portfolio by taking a Secondary Skill (eg where an organist wants to undertake study as a choir director or vice versa).
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
Step 1 |
When you register, you will select a Principal Skill (either Organ, Choir Director, Cantor or Music Group Leader). Upon registration you will receive a welcome pack and introductory units for your Principal Skill. |
Step 2 |
After completing the introductory units, you will select three Practical units (at Level I, II or III as appropriate) plus three Supporting Studies units from the list below. You will then receive learning materials and a list of assignments to complete for each unit. |
Step 3 |
You will work through the learning materials at your own pace and then send your work for assessment. |
Step 4 |
Once you have completed the necessary tasks to the satisfaction of the tutor you will receive an award that affirms your achievements at that Level. |
Step 5 |
After completing your award you may wish to proceed to the next Level or work on a Secondary Skill at the same Level. You are also able to transfer to the Flexible Study scheme, which enables you to work on any additional units of your choice. |
The Flexible Study Scheme
Church Music Skills is also open to church musicians who would like to study in a more flexible way. Students who enroll on the Flexible Study Scheme may undertake any combination of units to suit their needs. They may work at any of the three Levels. If at a later stage they want to go on to undertake the Church Music Skills Award, they will be credited accordingly for any units they have already completed.
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
Step 1 |
When you register, you will select a Principal Skill (either Organ, Choir Director, Cantor or Music Group Leader). Upon registration you will receive a welcome pack and introductory units for your Principal Skill. |
Step 2 |
After completing the introductory units, you can select any number of units of study at any Level. You will then receive learning materials and a list of assignments to complete for each unit. |
Step 3 |
You will work through the learning materials at your own pace and then send your work for assessment. |
Step 4 |
You may continue to select further units of study and can at any point transfer to the Award Scheme, with all relevant prior learning credited accordingly. |
Units of learning
Students on the Award Scheme will select three units for their Principal Skill and three for their Supporting Studies (which must include at least one unit from the Worship and Ministry section and one from the Church Music in Practice section).
Students on the Flexible Study Scheme may select any combination of units.
| Introductory Units | |
|---|---|
Organ |
A01 - Introduction to the organ |
Choir Director |
B01 - Understanding the voice |
Cantor |
C01 - Understanding the voice |
Music Group Leader |
D01 - Working with instruments |
| Practical Units | |
|---|---|
Organ |
A1 - Hymns |
Choir Director |
B1 - Hymns and worship songs |
Cantor |
C1 - Hymns and songs |
Music Group Leader |
D1 - Hymns and songs |
| Supporting Studies Units | |
|---|---|
Worship and Ministry |
X01 - Sunday worship |
Church Music in Practice |
Y01 - Organising your life |
How much will it cost?
The table below indicates the principal costs for this programme. Full terms and conditions will be made available to those considering registering for the course.
| RSCM Member | Non-Member | |
|---|---|---|
Registration |
£100 |
£125 |
Award Scheme |
|
|
Flexible Study Scheme |
|
|
Those without internet access or email are required to pay a 10% supplement to cover the costs of printing and postage.
Students may wish to ask their church or diocese for financial support when undertaking this programme.
FAQs
Who might find the programme useful?
Church Music Skills is suitable for any church musician wanting to develop their skills and understanding. This includes:
young people interested in a career in church music
adult beginners looking to develop new skills to help lead music for worship
practising church musicians looking to develop their existing skills and understanding or learn new skills
those wanting to attain a vocational-type qualification in church music
church ministers wanting to develop musical skills and understanding
There is no age limit.
When can I join?
Students can join at any point in the year. Just complete the registration form and return it with payment to the RSCM Education Administrator.
What are the technical requirements?
Some aspects of this programme will require access to the internet and some correspondence will take place by email. Students without these facilities are required to pay a 10% supplement to cover the costs of printing and postage.
Students will be required to submit recordings of their performances for evaluation. These may be on CD, MP3, DVD or video (choir directors will be required to submit DVD or video recordings so that their conducting skills can be assessed) and should be of sufficient quality to accurately represent the performance of the student. Those without these facilities may be able to undertake assessment during an RSCM training course, by prior arrangement.
How will I be assessed?
For any unit of study, assignments may include:
Written work – in the form of essays, diagrams, diaries, commentaries etc.
Practical work – audio or video/DVD recordings of performances or written scores of compositions/arrangements
Assignments will be assessed by course tutors. Successful students will be awarded a pass, merit or distinction for each individual unit and for the overall award. The grade for the overall award will be calculated accordingly, with a weighting of 60% on the Practical units and 40% on the Supporting Studies units.
When will I be assessed?
Students can work at their own pace and submit work for assessment when they are ready. On the last Friday of each month the RSCM Education Administrator distributes all recent student submissions to the course tutors and they are marked within a month of that date.
The only exceptions to this rule are the Quick Study tests. Students can elect in which month they want to undertake these tests. The test papers are issued on the first Monday of that month and students are required to submit their assignment within 14 days of that date.
How long will it take?
Students may work at their own pace and can submit their assignments whenever they are ready, with the exception of Quick Study tests in the Practical Skills units, for which there is a time limit of 14 days.
As a rough guide, students should set aside at least ten hours for work on each unit of study, which will include reading and reflection, performance preparation, submission and evaluation. Students taking the full award will take, on average, around a year to complete one Level.
At which Level should I begin?
The Level at which you work will be determined by your current level of musical skill and understanding. You will be given guidance on the Level at which to begin after you have completed the introductory units.
Level I is for students who are relatively new to their Principal Skill. By the end of Level I students will have demonstrated their ability to play, sing or direct selected items in church services.
Level II is for students who already have good basic technical and musical skills but perhaps have limited experience as a church musician (eg competent pianists wishing to transfer to the organ, who could begin work at this level). By the end of Level II, students will have demonstrated their ability to play, sing or direct the music at a standard church service to a high level.
Level III is for students who are already fairly skilled and who are looking for a musical challenge. By the end of Level III, students will have demonstrated their ability to play, sing or direct music at a church service with significant musical demands to a high level.
Student information
Students may download these documents as necessary. The Word documents can be completed electronically and returned by email, or printed and returned by post.
Resources
A01: The organ: an introduction to the instrument and its care
- Care of the Organ by John Harper
- Caring for the king of instruments a series of articles by Dominic Gwynn
Contact us:
RSCM Education, 19 The Close, Salisbury, SP1 2EB, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1722 424843
Fax: +44 (0)1722 424849
Email: skills(at)rscm.com