by Maria Mulder

Staff Writer

To better meet the new and varied needs of music and worship in the church, Calvin's music department has revised its Church music program. The faculty hopes to instill in students an appreciation for a broad range of styles through the new major, Worship in Music. These students can later incorporate this knowledge in the places of worship they may serve in one day. They can then lead the church as it discusses and learns more about worship.

Music professor John Witvliet sees the new program as innovative in the way it effectively combines contemporary and traditional styles that typically have caused strife within the church. In addition, Witvliet said, ``The program is now more flexible and theologically based.''

The Music in Worship's focus is still to train students to be musicians first of all. The previous program allowed for concentration in organ or chorus. In addition, students now are able to focus on piano, guitar and composition as specialized performance areas. As for a theological base, a religion department course on worship has been previously offered and is now required as well as a musical leadership course. They will still be completing the basic requirements of the music major such as music history and theory. Current church music majors take courses such as conducting, perform in ensembles and take individual lessons.

Witvliet mentioned another reason for revision being the desire to bring more of the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship's work on campus. Currently they lead workshops and conferences for a variety of people already with in the church but new program will allow for more student involvement and benefit.

As for student's influence in the transformation of the program, most came from prospective student's interest. ``We wanted to make the major more appealing and flexible to prospective students looking at Calvin,'' Witvliet said.

A Music in Worship minor is also available. Although there is less emphasis on a specialized performance area, a knowledge or concentration of some instrument is needed.

There was no need to hire new faculty, as many of the current professors of music will be teaching the required classes such as Christian Worship taught by Witvliet. This course considers the biblical reasoning for worship and studies its use through different practices in addition to music such as prayer, dance and art seen in traditional and contemporary genres.

Junior Rachel Klompmaker, is a church music major and plans to stay a part of that program. ``I am looking forward to the opportunities that the Music in Worship program offers. The church music program is what you make of it. You can supplement your own classes - it's very flexible.'' She will be taking theology classes such as the History of Christian Theology and Calvin's Institutes next semester. She is also interested in classes of the same topic that are offered through Calvin Seminary. Klompmaker believes the program is overlooked in comparison to other music concentrations such as secondary music education which can be quite rigorous.

Professor Witvliet, along with Dr. John Hamersma and Dr. Calvin Stapert, fellow music department faculty, formed the committee that redesigned the old Church Music program and then brought the idea to the music department for approval.