It was not the year CMI anticipated, and yet, looking back, it perhaps became one of CMI’s best years. By transitioning to online delivery of courses, workshops, and music, CMI reached more people than ever. CMI’s extensive online libraries—accessible anytime, anywhere—became a bedrock for delivery of services to congregations seeking music in new formats for online […]
CMI 2020 in Review: Fun Facts
2020 Fun Facts Arrived in July 2020: “The United States Library of Congress has selected your website for inclusion in the historic collection of internet materials related to the Professional Organizations for Performing Arts Web Archive. We consider your website to be an important part of this collection and the historical record.” Thank you to […]
During a Time of Silence … Church Music and Church Musicians
by Rev. Dr. Paul Westermeyer The Church is a gathering of people in song at a weekly worship service on the Lord’s Day, around Word, Font, and Table. We gather with song, hear the Word with song, come to the Table with song—the Font too if there are baptisms—and are sent out with song. Service […]
Giving Day on Track to Support Church Music Institute Work
On September 17, 2020, Giving Day kicked off a fall of record generosity to support increasing opportunities from CMI donors to assist congregations who must navigate this unusual season of ministry. At the end of the day on 9/17, donors had given a record number of gifts, and in greater amounts, including funds toward a […]
The Influence of Vatican II on the Music of One Church
By Jeanne Dold St. Cecilia is a small, Catholic, urban parish of about 300 families, reminiscent of a small country church. The building itself is over 100 years old. It lies on the border between St. Paul and Minneapolis in Minnesota. Since “St. Cecilia” is the Patron Saint of music and musicians, we feel a […]
Congregational Members Respond to Online Worship
In preparation for the 2020 annual Summer Workshop, CMI solicited information from congregation members about their experiences with online worship. Their responses informed programming for the summer and fall at CMI, to focus on the worshipper rather than those behind the camera. Here are some of the findings. Music is important to viewers, especially familiar […]