Worship Keyboard: 8-Week Group Course

Course Summary

This 8-week course introduces students to foundational harmonic progressions used in worship music, with a focus on creative voicing and accompaniment. Students will explore chord functions, inversions, and stylistic applications using well-known hymns and worship songs. Through hands-on projects, learners will build the skills to support worship with musical depth and spiritual sensitivity.

Course Description

Course Duration: Weeks 1–8 Level: Beginner to early Intermediate Course Type: Hands-on, worship-focused musicianship In the first 8 weeks of this course, students will be introduced to core harmonic progressions commonly used in worship music, including I–IV–V and I–ii–V patterns. Through practical exercises and weekly projects, learners will explore the function and feel of these progressions in various major keys. Topics include chord inversions, left-hand accompaniment styles, voice leading, and how to creatively arrange familiar hymns using a range of harmonic textures. The course is designed to help students go beyond basic triads and develop a vocabulary of voicings they can use in real worship settings. Through weekly repertoire and performance-based projects—featuring songs like Father I Adore You, God Is So Good, and Amazing Grace—students will experiment with different chording styles and accompaniment techniques. By the end of Week 8, students will be able to confidently build and play progressions with smooth voice leading, arrange simple worship songs using multiple harmonic approaches, and understand how to apply theory creatively in a worship context.

Syllabus

8-Week Class Syllabus & Weekly Projects Focus / Topics Learning Activities Project / Assignment (to complete) Week 1 Chapter 1: Two chord progressions I-IV-V and I-ii-V - Introduce the progressions in C and D major key - Show how they function (tonic, subdominant, dominant) - Students learn the melody of "Father I Adore You" - Students play simple progressions hands separately - Students will learn the Roman Numeral System Repertoire: (Father I Adore You) Map out its I-IV-V progression (in lead sheet / chord chart form). Extended for chord I and IV explanations for beginner students. Week 2 Chapter 1: Two chord progressions I-IV-V and I-ii-V - Introduce the progression in G major key plus we will add Seventh Chords - Show how they function (tonic, subdominant, dominant) - Students learn the melody of "Father I Adore You" - Students play simple progressions hands separately - Students will continue learn the Roman Numeral System Repertoire: (Father I Adore You) Map out its I-IV-V progression (in lead sheet / chord chart form). Extended for chord I and IV explanations for beginner students. Week 3 - 4 Chapter 2: Ways to play the two progressions - Explore inversions, spacing, root position / first inversion - Demonstrate left-hand options (root / 5ths / octaves) - Students try various voicings in class Project: Take the I-IV-V progression from Week 1’s song. Create 3 different voicing versions (e.g. root position block chords, spread voicing, inversion-based). Submit both notation (or lead‐sheet sketch) and play for class.. Week 5 -6 Chapter 3: Back to Basics - Review basic triads, intervals, voice leading - Emphasize smooth connects between chords Project: Transcribe (or create) an 8-measure progression using I/IV/V in one key and then write a smooth voice‐leading version (minimal motion). Play both versions. Week 7 - 8 Chapter 4: Ways to play God Is So Good / Amazing Grace - Use those hymn melodies as vehicles to try different chording styles - Demonstrate simple accompaniment vs richer voicings Project: Students arrange Amazing Grace (or God Is So Good) in one key, using at least 2 different accompaniment styles (e.g. block chords, broken arpeggios, spread voicings). Note: Each week I will upload a video demonstration for your weekly practice.

Supplies

Required Textbook: Keyboard Worship: Book 1 of 4 by Dr. Barry Liesch Search “Keyboard Worship: Learn, Integrate, Apply Basic Chords, Voicings, Progressions (Keyboard Worship Books 1 - 4)” on Amazon Direct link to shop: https://a.co/d/0fbXku4 Reliable internet connection. Laptop/webcam facing you so I can see you playing the piano (preferable a side view works well)