Music Matters

October 2008
Online Church Music Resources for "Online" Church Musicians

This will not, by any means, be an exhaustive list of online resources, although every one of the citings will allow seekers to come into virtual (and hopefully “real”) contact with concepts, materials, sources, distinct ministries, links and people. A concept of inspired guidance which President-Prophet W. Wallace Smith brought to the Community of Christ during his leadership encouraged followers of Jesus Christ to search for truths contained in all good books and resources.

Most, if not all, musicians have interesting stories of contacts with congregational musicians or other denominational music leaders while attending annual conferences, workshops, and symposia of many of the organizations listed below. Such encounters and networking provide access to ‘one-of-a-kind’ resources which assist our personal ministries of music. These have resulted in irreplaceable fellowship, two-way caring, sharing and mentoring, on many beneficial and worthy levels.

If you love constant learning, internet browsing / research and church music, check out following list (and let us know of additional sites to be shared). As has been quoted in previous Music Matters articles . . . “Study to show thyself approved . . .”

• American Choral Directors Association: www.acdaonline.org
• American Guild of English Handbell Ringers: agehr.org
• American Guild of Organists: agohq.org

There are nine jurisdictional Regions, each with many Chapters. (Dr. Jan Kraybill, AAGO, Principal Organist and Director of Music, Community of Christ International Headquarters, is presently serving her second term as Councillor of Region VI).

• Incorporated Association of Organists: http://www.iao.org.uk/
• ChoralNet: www.choralnet.org
• Chorister’s Guild: www.choristersguild.org  
• The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada: http://www.thehymnsociety.org/
• Leadership Program for Musicians (LPM): www.lpm-online.org
• Church Musicians: An Online Workshop: www.nacmhq.org
• Community of Christ Music / Worship Resources: www.CofChrist.org/worship/
• Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts: http://www.fummwa.org/
• Presbyterian Association of Musicians (PAM): www.presbymusic.org/index.htm
• United Church of Christ Musicians: www.uccma.org
• Cyber Hymnal (texts, tunes, histories, mp3 files: www.cyberhymnal.org/
• Doxadoxadoxa (Choral Music Database): www.doxadoxadoxa.com
• Emerging Worship: www.Emergingworship.org
• Hymn Site: www.HymnSite.com
• Lift Up Your Hearts (extensive list of worship/music links): www.worship.ca
• Music Resources on the Internet: www.skdesigns.com/internet/music/index/htm
• Sing Harmony: www.singharmony.com
• Copyright: www.CofChrist.org/legal/copyright.asp
• Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI): www.ccli.com

—Dale G. Rider, MSacredMus, CAGO

If you have suggestions or ideas for future columns, please contact:
Jan Kraybill
Principal Organist and Director of Music
Community of Christ Headquarters
Independence, MO, USA

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