HIGHER EDUCATION
TO BE, OR NOT TO BE… A STUDENT? | Alex MacDougall
In the recent June issue, I wrote a piece entitled,
“Why a College Education Can Be a Good
Idea”. It certainly was for me. In my experience,
age and curiosity brought discipline to my life
after over 40 years in Christian music as a
player, songwriter, producer and executive.
But after teaching now for over eight years as
an adjunct professor, I thought I might pen my
thoughts from the other side of the coin, which
is my perspective of students, many of them
who have graduated. Many currently serve as
worship leaders and team members in their
own churches, and lead in worship celebrations
for various campus church services and
gatherings.
Every semester I take classroom polls and
at least 35% of my students consistently
say that their dream is to become a full-time
worship leader/pastor. Many of my students
are extremely gifted in their musical and vocal
abilities. I’ve also been regularly amazed at
the insight, maturity, and heart of many of my
students. They are very articulate and have
something to say!
Consider a couple of my students…
Jae was an international student visiting from
South Korea. I will never forget an assignment
for students to present an artist to the class that
they admired from the “classic” area of rock,
the 70’s and 80’s. So predictably, students
presented Tom Petty, Van Halen, Earth Wind
and Fire, Parliament-Funkadelic, Led Zeppelin,
and Crosby, Stills, and Nash. Jae Lee presented
Karen Carpenter. Why? Because long haired
artists were not allowed in South Korea (neither
was long hair on men), and Karen Carpenter
was “cool” to him. I was so moved by his
sincerity that day, and Jae Lee is now enjoying
huge success producing radio and recording
projects for the Korean church and engineering
multiple mega church services weekly.
Adam was a bright student, very much involved
in classroom dynamics (in a good way), a
leader, and possessed one of the greatest
guitar collections ever assembled. Following
his undergraduate studies in Music Business,
he entered seminary and graduated in Biblical
Counseling. He currently is the content creator
for the Worship Initiative, a highly influential
ministry to worship leaders and teams, and
tours with a popular musical duo.
Because of changes in the music business,
some of my Music Business and Worship
Studies students have decided to go on and
earn their graduate degree in Theology. In
addition to deepening their understanding of
the Faith, this allows them the option of serving
in the pastorate. Many of my students, as well
as my associates’ students, have gone on past
their undergraduate degrees to become IT
workers, social media entrepreneurs, lawyers,
music publishing licensors, a successful Disney
voiceover artist, a mainstream country music
voiceover sensation, and yes, full-time worship
pastors and leaders.
The point is, there’s a big world out there and
you have a calling on your life. To quote “I Have
a Hope” a great Tommy Walker song, “I have a
hope. I have a future. I have a destiny, that is yet
awaiting me.” So, don’t immediately dismiss
the notion of a higher education. Pray about
it. It can lead to some wonderful experiences
for you and expand your world as you know it.
There are so many good options to continue
your education. Some of the online courses
and programs available are absolutely brilliant,
thanks to technology transforming the online
experience into a virtual and valuable classroom
time. There is so much that you have to offer,
so get prepared and be open to the things that
God brings your way. You’ll be stretched by the
process but rewarded in your results.
Alex MacDougall
Former member of Daniel Amos (DA), Larry
Norman Band, Randy Stonehill Band, and the
Richie Furay Band. He’s also worked with Andrae
Crouch, Bob Bennett, Phil Keaggy, and hundreds
of additional artists and projects. He serves as an
Adjunct Professor, teaching in Music Business at
Dallas Baptist University and Trevecca Nazarene
University’s National Praise and Worship Institute, in
Nashville, TN. Alex is available for lecture, teaching,
and conference workshops.
[email protected]
36 July 2020
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