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Music in Worship
Minor
Where Music and Faith Meet
Grow as a musician and a leader while you explore how music shapes faith and builds community.
The Music in Worship Minor at Goshen College explores how music shapes faith. It also builds community and inspires worship in many contexts. Additionally, music in worship weaves together musical excellence, theological insight, and spiritual formation. As a result, it prepares you to lead worship in churches, ministries, and faith-based organizations.
You’ll also study everything from traditional hymns to contemporary praise, all while growing your leadership and performance skills. It also fits students preparing for ministry. Likewise, it welcomes those who simply want to understand music’s role in faith more deeply. Either way, you’ll leave equipped to serve others meaningfully through song.
What You’ll Study
This interdisciplinary minor blends courses in music and in Bible and religion. Accordingly you build real musicianship alongside the theological insight that worship leadership asks for. You’ll move from traditional hymns to contemporary praise and grow as a collaborator and a performer, not just a soloist.
It pairs well with majors such as music, Bible and religion, and communication, which makes it a natural add-on whether you’re heading toward ministry, teaching, or the stage. View the complete program requirements in our catalog.
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You’ll Lead From Day One
Through campus ministry and performance, you apply what you learn in real, hands-on ways. You can lead and take part in bi-weekly chapel services, contribute to community hymn sings and special events, join music ensembles or serve as a worship intern.
You’ll do this in real venues like Sauder Concert Hall, the Umble Center, the Church Chapel, and other worship spaces, with rehearsal rooms and practice spaces to prepare. Small classes and close mentorship mean you’re known by name and supported as you grow.
Common Questions About The Music in Worship Minor
No. The minor fits students preparing for ministry and students who simply want to understand music’s role in faith more deeply, and the community welcomes people of every background. You’ll build leadership, collaboration, and performance skills that serve you in a church, a classroom, or on a stage, whatever path you take.
It pairs naturally with majors such as music, Bible and religion, communication, and education. Because it is interdisciplinary, it complements both performance-minded and service-minded paths, and your advisor helps you fit the courses and worship experiences around the major you’ve chosen.
You can lead and take part in bi-weekly chapel services, plan and perform in student worship bands, contribute to community hymn sings and special events, collaborate with campus ministry staff, and join ensembles or serve as a worship intern. You’ll perform in venues like Sauder Concert Hall, Rieth Recital Hall, and the Umble Center.
Students pursuing music in worship may be eligible for music scholarships, which range from $2,500 to full tuition and are based on an audition and application process. Use the net price calculator on the financial aid page to see your real number, and a financial aid counselor can walk you through the options.
The minor builds a foundation for worship leadership, church music ministry, Christian education, youth ministry, and music performance, as well as arts and theology graduate programs. It also strengthens your musical and leadership gifts for lifelong service in faith communities, whatever your primary career turns out to be.
Ready to get started?
Matthew Hill
Professor of Music
Scott Hochstetler
Professor of Music
Solomia Soroka
Professor of Music
