MAP (Music and Arts Proficiency) is a comprehensive curriculum for training Salvation Army musicians. For students, it is a private practice guide. For teachers, it is a lesson plan guide. Local leaders will help students move through the MAP lessons and report their progress. Divisional adjudicators will track student development and ensure that everyone is studying at the appropriate level. It is no more complicated than that! The curriculum clearly defines what students should be working on, and the resources available on this site make tracking development a simple process.
MAP FAQ
+ What is MAP?
MAP is a new comprehensive curriculum for training Salvation Army musicians. We have programs available for brass instruments, percussion, guitar/ukulele, piano, and voice, all with integrated music theory training.
+ What is the goal of MAP?
To continue progress made by students at Conservatory throughout the academic year and provide guided structure to help continue young musicians’ development, so they can better serve as Army bandspeople, pianists, and praise team members. Additionally, students who are trained through the MAP program will be more likely to develop as complete musicians as multiple areas of performance will be constantly addressed and checked in on.
+ How does MAP work?
There are six unique levels of courses for each discipline: Primer and Levels 1-5. Beginning students will be enrolled in the Primer course for their instrument, and students with prior experience who enroll will be placed in their appropriate starting level by one of our divisional adjudicators.
Each level course has six separate lessons to complete (guided by a Corps MAP instructor), as well as two solo preparations: one to be performed in a public setting – either during a worship service or in a dedicated Corps recital night – and one to be prepared for the final level evaluation. In addition to developing sound and technique, each level requires the student to complete the concurrent music theory MAP at 90% accuracy before gradiating to the next tier.
+ Is there cost to participate in MAP?
No! The AOK divisional music team will provide all materials, either in digital form or as hard copies.
+ Who can enroll in MAP?
Any child or adult who regularly attends a Salvation Army Corps in the AOK division can participate, regardless of their level of experience. Adult musicians who would also like to refine their playing with guided practice are more than welcome to enroll and be placed in their appropriate starting course: Level Primer is for absolute beginners, spanning to Level 5 which will require professional-level playing and musicianship to complete (it is quite an achievement!)
Attending our annual AOK Music and Arts Conservatory or DArts is not a requirement to participate in the MAP program, but it is highly encouraged and beneficial!
+ Can a student be enrolled in more than one instrument at a time?
Absolutely. Students can be concurrently enrolled in multiple disciplines (for example: cornet and guitar). Each participating student will also be automatically enrolled in in the Music Theory MAP, as each performance level requires parallel progress in theory.
+ Is there a required deadline to complete a MAP level?
No – there is no required timeline and students are not expected to complete a MAP level at any particular pace, although instructors are free to set achievement goals for their students to complete at a rate that makes sense for their progress. For the Primer level, most beginning students at our 2021 conservatory neared completion minus the solo requirements (though we are considering counting their conservatory ensemble performances as the solo performance requirement for level P only).
+ Does a student need to complete all MAP levels once enrolled?
Not at all – although we would LOVE to have a division full of MAP Level 5 certified musicians, we recognize that the upper tier of achievement on the program is for serious musicians only. We would encourage you to keep going as far as you can, but if (for example) you complete MAP Level 3 and are a competent musician and are not planning to pursue a career in music, that is totally fine. It is whatever works for the path of each individual student.
+ How do I enroll in MAP?
Any student who participated in the 2021 AOK Music and Arts Conservatory will be automatically enrolled and will be assigned a regional instructor based on their Corps. Additional students wishing to enroll will need to contact their Corps officers or music instructors and be submitted for approval to the program by them.