What's in it for you?

The Leadership Program for Musicians serving Smaller Congregations (LPM) covers key areas in church music and liturgical education as well as spiritual formation. It is open to musicians, clergy, pastors, choir members, worship leaders, interested lay persons, anyone of any age from any denomination! Not sure yet what it's all about?  Most LPM programs welcome visitors to observe and see what's going on. If you want to see a sample of each course, go to the Documents page of this website and look under Curriculum Samples.

 How do I get started?
Contact your local LPM Coordinator (see the Affiliates page), John Marsh, LPM Chair, or Anna Leppert-Largent, LPM Consultant-Coordinator, for more information on an LPM program in your area. Seeing us in action is the best way to see how we can help you.  Local programs are run by the coordinator(s) who are assisted by a board and highly respected instructors.  So details are set by the local LPM board and the details of each program may vary: the number of class meetings, tuition fees, location(s), instructors, and other details.  This enables LPM leaders to tailor the classes to suit local needs.  So that's why it's important to speak with your local coordinator. If you've just found us and are still trying to figure out what LPM is all about - keep reading!  If you don't find your questions answered, contact us or post a discussion question on the Facebook page.

Are there fees?
Yes.  Fees are set by local LPM boards.  Ask the program coordinator for specific information.  The national average per year for three classes (plus Philosophy) is $500.  In some places, it may slightly more or less.

How do I pay for the classes?
The national LPM board offers the Marti Rideout Scholarship for participants in local LPM programs.  Some local programs also offer scholarship assistance.  It is strongly recommended that the musician (or other program participant) and the home church split the cost of the LPM tuition — 50% from the parish budget and 50% from the student. Your church will benefit significantly from your participation in LPM. Most programs offer payment plans.

Where are the classes held?
Each local LPM program finds facilities where classes can be held.  So that's something your local LPM coordinator can tell you. Usually, a central location for the area being covered is the most likely class location. Most often, it's a local church that is representative of of small to mid-sized churches where most LPM participants serve. Sometimes, the locations vary to offer participants the widest possible experience in differing situations.  Some programs go to the churches of the participants to offer assistance to the musician or worship leader in their own church.

Who teaches the classes?
Again, the local coordinator assembles instructors who are highly respected, knowledgeable and experienced.  Instructors are chosen for their ability to work with people and to help make all LPM participants comfortable as the enjoy the classes.

How often do the classes meet?
Only your local LPM coordinator can answer this question.  Depending upon regional or geographical needs, the number of meetings vary.  LPM courses are organized in 10 sessions.  Some programs meet 5 times per year in very intensive sessions.  Others meet 6 or 7 times per year by doing Friday-Saturday combination sessions (this helps avoid busy times of year like Advent/Christmas and Holy Week/Easter when all of us are busy).

How do I make it work coming from a long distance for classes?
It can be challenging, but your local coordinator is the best source of information to help you make that decision.  Many local programs offer housing for participants who come for a long distance.  Participants coming from a distance often car pool.  Some local programs rotate meeting locations between the churches of those participating in the program.  A meal is usually included in tuition.  So you can expect to be fed at day-long sessions.

How are the seven courses covered?
To cover the entire curriculum, most programs offer three courses each year (LPM is usually a 2-year program) plus Philosophy (which runs both years).  The skills courses (Leadership of Congregational Song, Conducting) require time and nurture to achieve the best results. Classes can be taken in whole or part.  So you can audit only those classes you want to take.  When all requirements met, the LPM Certificate in Church Music is awarded at the successful completion of the program.

What should I expect to get from the program?
LPM seeks to respond to many concerns:

• Church musicians working in small churches struggle with new ways of doing things and new materials.
• Young people and others, who have the potential skills to be a congregation's musician, but need encouragement and support.
• Established musicians value an opportunity to gather and learn from one another and establish a network of support for their ministries.
• Pastors and laity with an interest in the music of the church need a boost to their worship lives.

Classes call on participants' imagination and creativity, asking them to explore the different opportunities music in worship presents, such as diverse ethnic repertoires and styles and music's role in evangelism, parish liturgy, and parish life. Attention is particularly given to the needs and ways of smaller churches.

The program's ultimate goals are to give participants an increased commitment to music ministry, and self worth as lay ministers, to improve their musical, pastoral, and leadership skills, and to expand their own and their parishes' visions of the variety of music and leadership practices.

What kind of classes are offered?
With a regular commitment, you will receive practical skills, professional information, and personal formation tailored to your needs. Taught by a faculty who bring expertise with a special sense of mission and affirmation, LPM offers seven skillfully designed courses:

I. Philosophy of Music Leadership/Ministry
This course helps participants to define their role as leaders in music and worship and to explore that role from the perspectives of history, theology, and pastoral concern. You assess your own parish's situation and the importance of recognizing and using the gifts members of your congregations have to offer. The use of the voice for music leadership is emphasized. Students are asked to write a short paper summarizing their theological understanding of church music and to lead a group in singing several pieces of music of different forms and styles. This course was completely revised in 2007.

II. Teaching New Music to the Congregation
This course helps you train both congregations and less able choirs. The background and analysis of hymns and tunes, and ways in which to introduce different kinds of music not previously experienced by your congregation, are studied. Hands-on practice with the group is included so that all can "have a go" with the encouragement of their peers. Your assignment is to teach a hymn, song, or service music selection in one of several situations, such as to an intergenerational group attending a parish supper.

III. Leadership of Congregational Song
This course helps you develop the skills to lead the congregation in singing hymns, songs, and service music. Teaching is given both to keyboard players, whether on organ, piano or synthesizer, and to those who play a non-keyboard instrument (guitars or other instruments). So those involved in leading contemporary music will particularly benefit from this class. Emphasis is placed on adapting music to a given situation, and you learn to adapt two-staff music for organ, prepare arrangements for guitar and melody instruments, realize the notation used in the psalms, and look at the principles of improvisation. Assignments include teaching and leading the group in singing music of many different types and styles. The guitar track of this course is being revised in 2008.

IV. Survey of Christian Hymnody
This survey covers historical analysis and playing and singing of materials in various styles. You also explore other hymnal resources. Assignments involve writing an entry for your bulletin on the hymns used and preparing a service such as Vespers or an Easter Vigil service. This class was completely revised in 2008.

V. Liturgy and Liturgical Planning: Foundations for Christian Worship
This course uses books of worship and other materials as starting points with emphasis on developing cooperation between pastor and musician. Aims include developing awareness of the congregation's pastoral needs and the use of negotiating skills, the church year, and the role of silence in worship. Your assignment is to plan several different liturgies, such as Sunday morning communion, a funeral, a wedding, and to write about the liturgical circumstances for which you have planned. This course was completely revised in 2007.

VI. Resources for an Effective Music Program
This course looks at the congregations and worship committees, and at the help we need for our jobs, local resources, methods of communication, networks, and collegial assistance. It also covers practical concerns such as simplifying music for particular situations, arranging hymns and service music as anthems, planning music for worship, children/youth choirs, handbells, and developing skills in critical thinking and analysis as a help in decision making. Assessment is done by class discussion, and a short paper outlining your plans to develop and strengthen your church's music program.

VII. Principles of Choral Leadership
This class consists of two five-session courses: Conducting for Church Musicians (to learn basic conducting skills) and Voice Training for Choirs (to learn techniques for vitalizing choral singing).

LPM: The Leadership Program for Musicians

“empowering musicans in churches to lead worship that is vibrant and participatory"