Aspiring Worship Leaders
Who want to start leading worship.
St. Louis, Missouri
Worship
Leadership
Music & Mentoring
Worship Leadership · Music · Discipleship
Personalized lessons for students and young musicians who want to grow in their musical skills, leadership, and faith.
Now accepting students 8 or 12 week personalized track In person, in the St. Louis area
Learn to
More than just music lessons
Every lesson builds a musician and a leader at the same time. The instrument is the starting point, not the destination.
Play
Sing
Understand music
Lead a band
Grow spiritually
Lead others
The goal isn’t simply to become a better musician; it is to become a bold and courageous, Spirit-empowered leader.
Who it is for
This program is designed for
Developing Worship Leaders
Who already lead but want to grow.
Worship Team Members
Who want to become a stronger musician and eventually lead.
Young Musicians
Who love music and want to explore worship ministry.
Aspiring Worship Ministry Leaders
Who want to prepare for a future in worship ministry.
Not sure which one is you? That is a good reason to start.
Reserve your weekly timeThe curriculum
What you will learn
Keyboard Skills & Chord Charts
Learn to play worship songs and understand chord progressions.
Vocal Development
Build confidence, technique, harmony, and vocal leadership.
Worship Preparation
Learn how to prepare songs and set lists for a worship service.
Band Leadership
Learn how to communicate with musicians and lead rehearsals.
Cues & Hand Signals
Learn practical ways to communicate with your team while leading.
Learn the music.
Develop the leadership.
Grow in your faith.
Beyond the instrument
Discipleship and mentorship
Each lesson provides one-on-one mentorship that goes beyond musical and instrumental development, creating intentional space for spiritual growth and discipleship. Students will be encouraged to grow not only as musicians and leaders, but also in their relationship with Christ, because effective worship leadership begins with who you are in Christ—not simply what you can do.
The method
Don’t just practice. Lead.
- Learn
- Practice
- Lead
- Receive feedback
- Grow
Learning happens best when students have the opportunity to put their skills into practice. Students may have opportunities to lead worship with me in a safe environment where mistakes become opportunities to learn, feedback leads to growth, and confidence is built through real-world experience.
How it works
Your time stays yours
Most booking tools make you re-book every single week, and the slot you love goes to whoever clicks first. This studio does not work that way — start a track and that same day and time is held for you for every week of it.
- 01
Pick your time and track
Choose the hour that fits your week — Thursdays at 6pm, say — and whether you want an 8 week or a 12 week track. That same day and time is then held for you for every week of it, not re-booked each time.
- 02
Fill out the student assessment
A few minutes on the student assessment tells Emily where you actually are — your instrument, your experience, what you already lead, and what you want to get better at.
- 03
Your first lesson
You arrive to a plan already built around your answers, so the hour goes into playing and leading instead of getting acquainted. Same time next week, and the week after that.
Tuition
Now accepting students
Lessons are one hour, in person, and sold as a personalized track: 8 weeks or 12 weeks, one lesson a week, at the same time every week. Keyboard and voice cost the same.
At Emily's studio
$50/ 60-minute lesson
You come to Emily, here in the St. Louis area. She sends you the address once your lessons are booked.
8 weeks
$400
8 lessons in total
12 weeks
$600
12 lessons in total
- The same day and time held for you all track long
- Keyboard or voice — the same rate for both
- Worship prep, band leadership and one-on-one mentorship
- Pay week by week, or pay for the track up front
- Make-up lessons, arranged with Emily directly
- Free to cancel up to 24 hours before a lesson
In your home
$60/ 60-minute lesson
Emily comes to you, anywhere in the St. Louis area.
8 weeks
$480
8 lessons in total
12 weeks
$720
12 lessons in total
- The same day and time held for you all track long
- Keyboard or voice — the same rate for both
- Worship prep, band leadership and one-on-one mentorship
- Pay week by week, or pay for the track up front
- Make-up lessons, arranged with Emily directly
- Free to cancel up to 24 hours before a lesson
Pay week by week
Your card is charged automatically on each week of the track — one lesson, one charge, right through to the last week. Nothing carries on afterwards unless you start another track.
Or pay up front
Prefer to settle it in one go? Pay for the whole track when you book. The total is exactly the same either way — it is simply fewer charges to keep an eye on.
Every lesson runs the full hour, and the rate is the same for keyboard and for voice. Tracks do not renew on their own — when yours ends you decide whether to start another. See the studio policies for make-up lessons and cancellation details.
Your teacher
Hello, I’m Emily
I teach worship leadership, keyboard and voice here in St. Louis. Lessons are one hour, in person, and built around the student sitting in front of me, because watching someone find their voice — and then use it to lead — never gets old.
These lessons are for middle school age and up: young musicians exploring worship ministry, team members who want to become stronger players, and anyone who already leads but knows there is more in them. All of them are welcome.
Lessons are warm and unhurried, but we do real work. You will leave each week knowing exactly what to practise and why it matters.
Questions
Good to know
Where do lessons happen?
In person, always — either at Emily's studio in the St. Louis area or in your own home. There are no video lessons; the mentorship side of this works face to face.
What is a track?
A track is a personalized run of weekly one-hour lessons — 8 weeks or 12 weeks, whichever you choose. Eight weeks means eight lessons, twelve weeks means twelve. Emily builds the plan around your goals and experience, and the same day and time is held for you the whole way through.
How do I pay?
Two ways, and the total is the same either way. Pay week by week and your card is charged automatically on each week of the track, or pay for the whole track up front when you book.
What happens when my track ends?
You decide. Most students carry straight on with another 8 or 12 week track and keep the same weekly time; some stop there, which is completely fine. Nothing renews on its own.
What is the student assessment?
A short form — a few minutes at most — about your instrument, your experience, what you already lead, and what you want to get better at. Emily reads it before you meet, so your very first lesson is already tailored to you instead of spent getting acquainted. Fill it out at the student assessment.
When does Emily teach?
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5 to 8pm, and Friday afternoons from 4 to 6pm. She does not teach on Wednesdays. Pick one of those hours and it becomes your standing time for the whole track. You can book up to 60 days ahead, and at least 24 hours before a lesson starts.
How old do students need to be?
Middle school age and up. If the student is under 18, we take a parent or guardian's details when you book.
What if I have to miss a week?
Cancel that lesson in your student portal at least 24 hours ahead and there is no charge, then email Emily and the two of you will find a make-up time. Inside 24 hours the lesson is charged. Either way your standing weekly time is untouched.
Where is the studio?
In the St. Louis area. Emily sends you the exact address once your lessons are booked rather than publishing it here. If you would rather she came to you, in-home lessons are the other option.
Can I learn keyboard and voice?
Both, and the rate is the same for either. Most students end up doing some of each, because leading worship usually means playing and singing at the same time.
Do I need to already play or sing?
No. Some students arrive having never led anything, others already lead every week and want to get better. The plan is built around where you actually are, not a fixed syllabus.
Do I need my own instrument?
For keyboard work, yes — you will need a piano or a weighted-key keyboard at home to practise on. For voice, you just need somewhere you can sing without feeling self-conscious. Happy to advise on what to buy before you spend anything.
Will I actually get to lead?
That is the point. Students may have opportunities to lead worship with Emily in a safe environment where mistakes become opportunities to learn and confidence is built through real experience.
Is this only for church musicians?
The program is built around worship leadership and discipleship, so that is the centre of it. But the musicianship underneath — technique, chords, ear, arranging, leading a band — travels anywhere you take it.
Ready when you are
Now accepting students
Pick the weekly time that fits your life and it is held for you for every week of your track. Learn the music, develop the leadership, grow in your faith.
Prefer to talk first? emilymichaelboard@gmail.com · 314-566-3876 (text or call)