school schedule and curriculum
Classes for 2010 will start on April 12 and run for 10 weeks to June 18th. The course includes lectures as well as hands-on practical instruction particularly in areas such as songwriting, band dynamics and digital recording. Lectures will normally take place in the mornings and the practical sessions will either be afternoons or evenings during the week. Also, some activities will be planned for some of the weekends.
At CWSW we operate out of a core curriculum. Topics include, but are not limited to:
Songwriting
Song structure, effective lyric writing, group song analysis, and co-writing. During the course of 10 weeks, students will be given time for songwriting sessions and also for group critique. Seasoned songwriters will be leading the sessions and giving a wide range of viewpoints and input into those songs developed during the course.
Digital recording and editing
This class will have its introduction in the first week but will also have instruction in recording throughout the ten-week term. The goal of this track is to give students some experience as recording artists as well as in production/engineering and will allow them to see a song through from inception to production. Topics include basic studio set up, digital editing, building song arrangements, audio and midi basics, basic mixing, instrument and vocal recording techniques. There will be several digital studio workstations available throughout the term for the students to record and produce one or more of their songs (as time allows). And at the end of the 10-week term students will have the opportunity to post the mp3’s of their songs, on the canadawestworship.com site.
Staying inspired
How to keep connected to The Source, nurturing the heart of an artist, seeing what others may miss, prophetic worship, Looking at the creative process, group discussions, excellence versus perfectionism.
Kingdom minded leadership values
What does it mean to be a leader in worship? Davidic values. Character issues. Servant-hood for the worshiping musician.
Biblical and ministry perspectives
Why do we worship? Barriers to worship. Worship in Scripture. Prophetic worship. Building a personal devotional live. Living in community. Classroom debates on different philosophies of ministry in worship, historical trends, a look at worship during revivals.
Managing a worship department
Working together with church leadership, effective worship leading from intimacy to celebration, connecting with God while leading, how your spiritual gifts are used in worship leading. Students will have opportunity to lead worship both at the school and various churches in the Kelowna area.
Contemporary band dynamics
Effective rehearsals, drawing the best out of yourself and others, a look at song arrangements that work for your band. Students will be divided into functioning bands and given projects to work towards. Seasoned instructors will be attending various rehearsals to help with this process.
Worship Artists in the Marketplace
The role of a worshiping artist in the community at large, how do we relate to the unchurched as artists, overcoming the fear of man, in pursuit of integrity and excellence, worship and justice, ministering to the poor, having a global perspective. Students will be given the task of working as a team to prepare and perform a concert for the unchurched as well as churched audiences.
Contact Us:
info@canadawestworship.com
(250) 859-3591
Norm Strauss (director)
Box 21133
Orchard Park Post Office
Kelowna, BC V1Y 9N8
CANADA