CIM has a unique ‘Singing Talent Development Programme (STDP)’. The programme includes:
• Audition identifying singing-talents
• Grading (‘E’ - Excellent, ‘D’ – next Top level, ‘C’ – Medium level , ‘B’ – Lower to Medium , ‘A’ – Ordinary level) according to the level of the talent
• Training in Pitch, Time, Rhythm, Dynamics
• Education in Fundamentals of Indian & Western systems of Music
• Forming choir groups
• Voice culture & care of vocal apparatus
CIM conducts training programmes in Western, Karnatak and Hindustani systems of music.
• Keyboard, Violin & Guitar are the subjects in Western Music
• Veena and Vocal are the subjects in Karnatak Music
• Sitar & Tabla are the subjects in Hindustani Music
The south Indian art-dance form Bharatanatyam and folk dances of Tamilnadu region are being taught.
Hundred days of teacher-training programme is being conducted at CIM. Aspirants talented in music & dance are admitted to the programme. After completing the course the successful candidates are included in the CIM teaching team.
The CIM teaching team conducts weekly or biweekly classes at educational institutions and churches as listed below:
1. Alphonsa Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Nagercoil
2. St. Teresa’s Matriculation School, Kottar
3. St. Teresa’s Matriculation School, Vazhukamparai
4. St. Joseph's Matriculation School, Kalimar
5. St. Vincent Pallotti CBSE School, Padapachai
6. AG Matriculation School, Cherikadai
7. St. Anne’s Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Ritapuram
8. Kannan Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Thengampudur
9. St. Aloysius Matriculation School, Velliavilai
10. MPA Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Puthukadai
11. Carmel Matriculation School, Manalikarai
12. Maria Rafol's CBSE School, Abiramapuram
13. OLS Matriculation Higher Secondary School, T. Kallikulam
14. Soundara Pandianar Matriculation School, Chettikulam
15. St. Aloysius Primary School, Madathattuvilai
16. Sacred Heart Primary School, Panagudi
17. CMC Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Konam
18. Vedavyasa Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Vellicode
19. Annai Chellamma Matriculation School, Thirupathisaram
20. Auxilium ICSE School, Puthenthurai
21. Nanjil Catholic School CBSE, Vazhuthalampallam
22. Navajothi Matriculation School, Karumankudal
23. Pon-Jesly Matriculation School, Nagercoil
24. Pon-Jesly CBSE School, Parvathipuram
25. SMRV Primary School, Vadasery
26. Holy Trinity International School, Melpalai
27. Government Primary School, Vadalivilai
28. Bethani Matriculation School, Kanyakumari
29. Sahaya Matha Matriculation School, Vavarai
30. Sri Krishna Matriculation School, Kalladai
1. Church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Vavarai
2. Church of St. Joseph, Kamplar
3. Church of St. Antony, Pullani
4. Church of St. Teresa of Child Jesus, Chetticharvilai
CIM organizes intensive music training programmes of five days or ten days during summer vacation at schools and churches. Keyboard, Guitar, Violin, Tabla and Vocal Music are the subjects being taught.
Stage performing items include Karnatak Singing, Hindustani Sitar, Hindustani Tabla and Western Violin.
Following are the books published by CIM for the past seventeen years.
1. Maerkathiya Isayil Harmonium (tutor book in Tamil for Harmonium)
2. Western Music Keyboard (tutor book in English for Harmonium)
3. Karnatak Music – Initial lessons (in Tamil)
4. Paadagargalukku Kuralisai Payirchi (guide for singers in Tamil)
5. Church Choir
6. KARNATAK AND HINDUSTANI SYSTEMS OF INDIAN ART MUSIC - A Comparative Study -
CIM conducts Seminar in Indian Church Music for Church Choir Members, Organists and other musicians involved in Divine Worship; also seminar is conducted for priests and religious. Following are the details of the seminar:
• Motivating choir members to lead / help congregational singing
• Church’s teaching on Sacred Music (Vat II, Musicam Sacram)
• Motivating organists to provide suitable accompaniment for congregational singing and to avoid solo-domination – Promoting manual playing rather than pre set mechanical playing of the Electronic Music Keyboard
• For Priests – Indianising Sacred Music (Making use of Indian Ragas, Talas & Instruments in music-making) - to sing their solo parts in prescribed Indian ragas (scales) - Choir Management
• For Composers - Explaining moods and emotions expressible for forms of liturgical music according to various seasons and occasions - Selecting suitable Indian Scales (Ragas) and Time (Talas) to emotional contexts – Fixing rhythm patterns (Chandams) and tempo - melodic phrasing to lyrics