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CMU focuses on livestreaming music events

Miki Yoshihito
/
Openverse

The music never stopped at Central Michigan University’s School of Music. During the worst of the pandemic, the college focused on their livestreams and keeping COVID-19 under control, and they remained open year-round.

Livestreaming was already being implemented at the School of Music, so they were as prepared as anyone could be during the pandemic.

CMU started a reservation system for practice rooms. And the rooms were categorized by instrument to make contact tracing easier.

Event director Mateus Garcia Souza said the challenge came in implementing livestreaming for each recital and concert hall.

“During the summer, we don’t have many concerts going on. It’s the only time we have to work on those set ups and have the halls properly fitted.”

Souza said now the CMU music department is looking to keep some of the COVID accommodations and improve equipment to make livestreaming available into the future.

"Our main goal is to have the controls of the main halls back up into the booth where it’s supposed to be," he said. "But that might not be completed by this upcoming fall."

Ben Jodway is an intern, serving as a reporter for WCMU Public Media and the Pioneer in Big Rapids. He has covered Indigenous communities and political extremism in Michigan.