Year 3 Worship School: The Heart of Worship

We are excited to share with you the Year 3 Worship School and its heart to serve with unity and excellence.

This year’s Worship School is the largest ever, with 23 students enrolled. Chandra Erickson, Director of the Worship School, states that it is a privilege and honor to partner with the students and to let them shine. She believes that the Worship School is important because it is worship unto the Lord, eternal, and serves this house. Lela Killion, Worship School Coordinator, also emphasizes the importance of walking in humility and coming to the Worship School as a prepared vessel.

Within the Worship School, anointed leaders guide students in facilitating a move of God and inviting the congregation into it. Chandra often tells her students that the heart of worship is that God is looking for the song of your heart, not your lips, and letting your being worship Him, not just participating in the words.

The Worship School strives to teach students not only how to perform their roles effectively but also how to do so in unity with the Lord. The heart of worship includes surrender and humility, and without this perspective, worship leading can become just a job. It’s essential to remember that longevity in this field comes from doing it with and for the Lord.

Worship School students actively serve in the Ministry, participating in chapels, the hybrid program, conferences, and more. Recently, they have gained valuable experience by leading in venues like the Banquet Hall and classrooms, learning to use various platforms and equipment.

Worship School’s Three Tracks

Leadership Track

The Leadership track, led by Chandra Erickson and Mark Bovee, is the largest track because many people come with a desire to become worship leaders. Leadership students learn by doing, learning to lead from all angles as they work through various practicums. In these practicums, students create their own set, run a team in the classroom, prepare for rehearsals, manage soundtracks, lead the set, and then participate in a debrief session.

Additionally, students learn the administrative side of leadership by working with scheduling software, including working behind the soundboard, as well as becoming familiar with software programs like ProPresenter for displaying lyrics. Another key component of the leadership track is learning to flow into spontaneous moments and steward them, allowing the Spirit to move freely.

Studio Track

The Studio track is led by Brian Cosmos, with a focus on doing everything with excellence. One of the projects that the Studio track completes each year is the EP Project. The EP is composed entirely of songs written by the class. Students start writing in the first week of school in September. From there, they narrow down 10 songs that are performed and observed by the students to determine which ones flow and sound the best. The students then vote for the top six songs, and from there, they learn how to mix, record, and produce each song. Through this meticulous process, students run everything in the studio and are involved in the instrumentation, vocals, and recording.

In the studio track, everyone has a part to play, and at the end of the year, the EP songs are released to the entire class. Some of the songs are performed in Monday and Friday chapels, where the entire student body can enjoy them.

Artist Track

The Artist track, led by Christi Bovee, is more individualized, as each student brings their own vision and desires. Each Artist track student can pursue a project that aligns with their calling. Some students feel led to focus more on songwriting, creating original pieces that include various instrumentation while others have other creative projects they choose to present on.

In this track, students progress at their own pace. One student is composing songs about biblical characters, such as “Mary’s Bedroom,” which reflects the prayer Mary wrote after the angel spoke to her, and another piece inspired by Esther, which has a very musical theatre theme. The goal is for each student to make these projects uniquely their own.

What Makes the Worship School Unique

Equipping Students to Serve in Their Local Churches

The primary goal of the Worship School is to prepare students for service in local churches. Students will receive training to become valuable contributors in both churches and studios, fulfilling the important needs within local congregations. All leaders in the Worship School are actively engaged in their local churches, setting the example.

Classes Offered in Worship School

One unique aspect of the Worship School is the variety of classes offered. Outside of their track-specific courses, these classes for all the Worship School students aim to equip them in both practical skills and the spiritual aspects of worship. In terms of skill development, students receive instruction in administrative tasks, musical techniques, vocal growth, and the use of studio equipment. However, the ultimate goal is to ensure that students develop a deep relationship with the Lord, not just acquire technical skills. All three elements—heart, unity, and excellence—are essential for a successful career in worship ministry or as an artist.

Students also choose to participate in either group guitar or piano lessons, both of which are utilized for songwriting. All students also receive group vocal lessons. Greg Mohr, along with Alexis and Chandra, also teaches on local church ministry topics. Christi teaches a class titled “Heart of the Artist.”

Technical classes include the basics of Planning Center, an introduction to production and worship media technology (AVL), music theory, the history of worship, and biblical worship in both the Old and New Testaments, primarily taught by Javan Smith. Additionally, a full week is dedicated to international worship, featuring some of our international directors who explore the cultural aspects of worship and help students understand how to engage with diverse communities. Core classes also cover band theory, musical elements, and songwriting.

Who Should Come to Worship School

The interview process is both thorough and unique. Candidates without prior experience are encouraged to engage in musical activities, taking music and vocal lessons to develop their skills. The program aims to ensure candidates will not feel overwhelmed and are prepared in mindset, heart-set, and skillset. Ideal candidates are humble individuals eager to grow spiritually. Successful students are those who embrace humility and openness, allowing themselves to be used as vessels for God’s glory.

You can learn more about and apply to Charis Worship School by going to https://www.charisbiblecollege.org/worship/.