Church Music History Course Helps JCM Students Find Their Roots

January 27, 2007

While forward looking concepts such as cutting edge technology and the future trends of Christian music are the norm in the lecture halls of the Jubilee College of Music, students at JCM are taking a step back this semester to look at some of the history behind their musical studies.

"It's always good to know from where we have come.  "What is our background?  What is our story?  This is certainly true with church music," says JCM Dean Dr. Smoak, who taught the opening course for MH100 History of Church Music I on Thursday at Olivet.  "JCM students are preparing to spread the gospel to the 'network generation' through music; specifically through contemporary praise & worhsip music, which is becoming the church music of this generation.  A historical review of church music will help JCM students better understand the current trends in Christian music and thus help them be more effective witnesses to the 'network generation.' "

The course takes a particularly broad survey of church music, including material on the music of the Bible, Greek and Latin Hymns, and early Western church music including the hymns of Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley.  Primary reading for the course will be taken out of Donald Hustad's standard Jubilate II: Church Music in "Worship and Renewal."

"This book is a classic," comments Smoak, who cites Hustad to be a mentor in his own church music ministry.  "For more than 20 years now it has been the primary text for evangelical church music studies."

Complete with worship service presentations and concert attendance, MH100 History of Church Music has JCM students eager to find their roots.

"It's true that the moment you step into Olivet you take on a perspective for the future," says JCM Director Christopher Chou, "but there is certainly just as much emphasis here on understanding and appreciating the past.  Jesus said that He came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it, and we hope that our historical studies here at JCM will allow students to unite with the great Christian musicians of the past and to honor their work and their sacrifice."

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