Music FAQ

While prior musical and worship ministry experience is helpful, it is not required to enter the School of Worship degree programs.  Our tracks are geared to help students build their musical knowledge from very basic concepts leading to more advanced.  However, students are recommended to have taken some private lessons and had worship team experience.

As part of the application process for entering the Church Music program, two video demo submissions are required.  The production quality needed is low, however will showcase a fast tempo and slower tempo song demonstrating the prospective student’s proficiency of their instrument or vocal relating to the degree track they may be seeking.  More information and specific details for these demos are provided in the online application process.

Private voice/instrument lessons, music theory, prior musical experience, participation in worship teams, as well as having a passion to lift up the name of God through your art and serve, are all ways to prepare for a season at the School of Worship.

Choosing an emphasis for your degree program can have many factors, all of which should be guided by prayer and counsel.  All music students take the same core classes the first fall semester they attend School of Worship, which also gives time to help identify and define passions and giftings in the student.  Students are strongly encouraged to seek the counsel of their pastoral and parental covering, as well as faculty.

No.  Any of the four tracks of emphasis (Worship Ministry, Leader, Worship Songwriter, & Musician) lead into the 3rd and 4th years towards the Bachelor of Church Music (BCM).

The School of Worship has many students who are key leaders and worship team members in their home church locally, and are encouraged to stay connected and involved there.  We make provisions for course requirements that conflict with ministry events and services for students this applies to, and the student is required to communicate these to the instructor if a scheduled event or requirement present itself.

The School of Worship has many students who are key leaders and worship team members in their home church locally, and are encouraged to stay connected and involved there.  We make provisions for course requirements that conflict with ministry events and services for students this applies to, and the student is required to communicate these to the instructor if a scheduled event or requirement present itself.

Guitars, small to medium-sized amps, keyboards, and other gear that can be stored in your dorm room are permitted.  Storage is not provided for student-owned drum kits, large keyboards or any equipment or gear rigs that will not fit in dorm rooms.  If you have any questions on this, feel free to contact the Music Department Administration office for help.

The School of Worship provides practice rooms and facilities with pianos, drums for practice.  Practice studios can be accessed during normal day and evening facility hours for vocal, guitar, and other practice sessions.  The chapel stage venue may be reserved by approved students at open times for band & team rehearsals. Guitars are not provided if you do not own one, although some instruments may be available through our loaner program.

Out of consideration for others in the dorms, you can practice quieter acoustic instruments or with headphones in your dorm room, but practice studios and rooms are provided.  Piano and vocal practice rooms are available in the classroom building and Chapel lower level.  The Orchesta Room is available for band rehearsals, and the drum studio for lessons and drum practice.

Our recording and MIDI labs will provide all the gear you need to complete assignments for your courses.  Having your own laptop or computer for assignments or music projects is handy, but not required or necessary to complete what will be required of you by courses.

Basic headphones are available for use in the Keyboard and MIDI labs, however many students find it beneficial to have their own personal pair of audio-recording quality headphones.  These can range in price from $30 on up.  You will use headphones in keyboarding, theory, recording, and songwriting classes to name a few, so we strongly encourage this investment.  Drum students are generally required to have their own personal headphones for use in lessons and practice. Contact our administration office if you have questions or need suggestions.

Classes run from 7:30AM to 12:00PM (Noon), with the Keyboard 1 course occurring just after lunchtime.  Music students will participate in various areas of ministry and worship events for practicum and experience that require an evening or specific weekend to be dedicated to.  Upcoming events are communicated as early as possible to give the student opportunity to coordinate work and ministry schedules.  Many students are involved in various ministry areas that require a rehearsal another day of the week prior to service, often Thursdays.

Absolutely, and we encourage students to take financial responsibility, and specifically have courses in the morning hours to allow for part-time work hours.  Many of our students graduate debt-free from PBC.  Music students need to take into consideration ministry involvement, rehearsals and services, and worship practicum commitments that require additional time in their schedule above studying and homework time.

Hands on service that is coached and mentored by the overseer and adviser for a worship-related ministry area, 30 hours or more each semester.  Time spent serving in their Portland Metro area local church qualifies for students this applies to.  Opportunities abound in the Mannahouse, formerly City Bible Church,  ministries that all on-campus students will be plugged into.  Worship Practicum is a 1 credit course whose instructor coaches and helps students get involved in fitting ministry areas to grow and develop in.

Private lessons are required for every student.  The type of lesson is determined by the track in the Associate of Church Music level, and continued in the Bachelor level working towards junior and senior recitals.  The very first semester is piano focused for all new music students, taking either private piano lessons or Keyboard 1 group piano class based on proficiency levels after the entrance exam.

Students may add another private lesson in addition to the track-required lesson, but need to take into account the increase in credit load, practice time involved, as well as the financial increase by adding another private lesson fee.