- Baptist Press - https://www.baptistpress.com -

Keyboard, instrumental music are first of LifeWay downloadable resources

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention is making keyboard and instrumental music available as downloadable resources from the Internet at www.lifeway.com/musicministries.

The move is a first for the agency in providing for-sale resources instantaneously, and LifeWay is believed to be the first major denominational publisher to employ technology to provide downloadable music.

Initially all music offered will be audio of selected instrumental music and keyboard titles from LifeWay’s Genevox Music and Church Street Music.

According to Danny Jones, leadership development team leader for LifeWay Music Ministries, music will be offered in MP3 (audio) format.

In early 2000, PDF for Adobe Acrobat (print) versions will be added. Keyboard print music will be sold for one dollar for each instrument required (solo, duet, and so forth). Instrumental series will be sold for actual retail price. Some audio selections are available at no charge.

“The great appeal for this service will be the ability to have resources immediately, rather than waiting for a shipped order,” he said.

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Choral print music, with both MP3 (sound) and PDF (print), will be added later, along with resources from other publishing imprints.

A link to download a free player for the audio selections is provided on the site.

“This is the first in many enhancements anticipated in the future for LifeWay’s Web site,” according to Darin Moore, Internet applications manager for LifeWay. “For now, only LifeWay church accounts may be used, but we hope to offer the use of major credit cards soon.”

The new feature is part of a larger music ministries site under development that is expected to include sub-sites for Dovetail Music, Made for Praise, Genevox Music, Church Street Music, Church Street Press, the Children’s Music Series, and hymnals and other resources. In all, nearly 3,000 music ministry and worship/congregational resources will be in the online music catalog.

In other areas, LifeWay’s Web site at www.lifeway.com includes:
— The ability to order both dated and undated products 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Since online ordering of dated and undated materials was made available two years ago, almost 100,000 orders have been placed on the Internet.
— Secure ordering by the use of a Personal Identification Number,
eliminating the need to provide confidential account information online. More than 14,000 churches have Personal Identification Numbers to use for ordering their materials
— Response with an email acknowledging receipt of the order.
— Easy way to review what has been ordered in the past.
— Offers the ability to check on the status of an order and the status of its shipment.
— Account history and invoices online.
— Includes an online LifeWay Christian Store, offering thousands of resources.
— Registration for LifeWay conferences.
— Weekly helps for Sunday school teachers of preschool, children, youth and adult classes.
— Information on new resources.
— Information about LifeWay Christian Resources, its history, facility, employment opportunities, writing opportunities and frequently called numbers, among other useful material.
— “Experiencing God” daily devotions.