About Dr. Ken Steorts
Dr. Ken Steorts (pronounced ‘storts’) is the founder and president of Visible Music College in Memphis, Tennessee and founding guitarist of the Grammy-nominated band Skillet. Ken left Skillet in 1999 to build Visible Music College, an accredited, bachelor degree granting institution of higher education in music, music production, and music business for artists, musicians, worship leaders, audio technicians, music business professionals, and ministry bands (see www.visible.edu).
After having spent years leading and training worship teams and bands, earning a Master of Music in Composition and BFA in Commercial Music – Recording Technology at the University of Memphis, touring as a Dove Award-nominated songwriter/musician, and working in management as well as marketing within the music industry, Ken received his Doctorate in Sociological Research at Oxford Graduate School.
Ken also presides over Madison Line Records, a non-profit record label, which facilitates and supports regional music groups into the modern church and to the mainstream media through quality recordings, concert promotion, artist development, and internet marketing. Ken writes and performs with his three-piece modern rock band, “the beep”.
Ken is a 2013 Visionary Award winner, presented by the Downtown Memphis Commission and a 2016 Thomas W. Briggs Foundation Community Service Award winner.
Ken is happily married to his wife Joy and they have two musical sons, Freedman and Skye.
Teaching Subjects from Ken:
Courses Designed/Taught at college level:
Music Theory
Artist Management
Worship Leading
Songwriting
Event Promotion
Music Biz Legal Issues
Intro to Music Business
Worship History
History of CCM
Class Guitar/Guitar Lessons
Audio Production
Recording Techniques
Publishing Administration
Publicity and Promotion
Commercial Music Seminar
Missional Leadership
Seminars Led/Speaking Engagement Topics:
How to Start a Worship School at Your Church (NWLC 2016)
One Week to Turn Around Your Worship Team (NWLC 2016)
Higher Education Impact on Worship Teams (NWLC 2015)
Music Education and You: EIEIO (Grammy in the Schools 2009)
Songwriting Workshop (finishing a book on this subject in 2009)
Death of a Musician: Worship Leader Serving the Minister/Ministry
Team Development and Leadership
Indie Music Opportunities
Local Expression: Writing Songs for Modern Worship
Organizational Development/Systems Creation
The Lion Tamer: Training Young Musicians for Service to God
Creativity and Innovation: The Playground of Education
Numerous sermon topics and spiritual topics