“One Thing That Matters”: An Exploration of Commercial Music Techniques for the Benefit of the Local Church

In this study, I explored the potential benefits of applying commercial music techniques to writing, arranging, and recording church music by interacting with literature as well as performing a full creative project in writing, arranging, and recording a new worship song. Research was focused in two areas: the nature and importance of Scriptural worship music, and commercial music techniques in songwriting, arranging, and recording. The project was written in collaboration with a fellow songwriting student, and then arranged for two church contexts, and recorded at a professional recording studio in Lynchburg, Virginia. By interacting with the research, the process of writing, arranging, and recording a new song provided insight into how commercial practices in excellence and engagement can be used for the benefit of local church ministry