For most of us, the school year is finally over! No more morning carpool, no packing lunches, no late-night homework sessions. Aaahhhh.....summer.
With summer kicking into full swing, I thought it would be fun to do a Summer Kick-Off Giveaway! Up for grabs this time around will be a set of all new Fun Ways to Sing Cards. This set will include 10 new laminated cards to add to your collection. And don't worry - I will make them available for you to download as soon as a winner is announced.
So here's how to enter this giveaway:
1. As always, you can become a follower or add my button to your website. Make sure to post a comment so you get credit for the entry.
2. Post a comment in the form of a question or an answer. Here's how:
- A question could be something like, "What do I do when..." or "How do I..." or "What is the best way to..."
- An answer would simply be an answer to a previously posted question. If you choose to answer a question, make sure to reference the comment you are responding to (they are numbered).
You will get one entry for each question and/or answer that you post. I will start things off by posting a common question I am asked by other choristers.
What advice are you seeking? What wisdom are you able to share with others?
A winner will be announced on Monday, June 13th, so make sure to check back often and see if there are any new questions that need your expertise! Good luck!
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How do I teach a new song?
ReplyDeleteHow do I involve every child when we have SO MANY children? It seems like someone is always being overlooked.
ReplyDeleteI am looking for advice for being the ONLY counselor in Primary and playing the piano EVERY week. On the month that I don't have sharing time, I prepare AND play the music. Whew! This becomes very difficult as I go back and forth between introducing a song, hurrying back to the piano to play it. I could use any handouts I could get!
ReplyDeleteI am a follower!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great ideas
ReplyDeleteHow on earth do you get boys, you know, the 'I'm to cool to sing' older boys to sing? And, I'm a follower:)
ReplyDeleteI have been in this calling for over a year and a half, ever since I moved into this ward. I absolutely love this calling, but am feeling burned out. What can I do to get excited again or to stop feeling burned out? Should I change how I do singing time?
ReplyDeleteI am a follower:) beclind12@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteTo the burned out question...I just got this calling for the second time (in 3 years, after doing it for 2 previous years and having a year "break") and was struggling with those same feelings. I found my answer reflecting back on my mission after being in the same area for almost a year..."I'll go where you want me to go" sometimes means not going anywhere. Sometimes it means serving in the same calling. There mmust be a specific reason you are in primary, a specific way you can teach or testify that will bless the lives of the children. I found my energy renewed reading blogs (like this one) and putting more effort into bringing the spiritual into singing time instead of just fun (but don't forget the fun too!) I hope this helps a little :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a follower!
ReplyDelete@ Brittney, I have the teachers help me choose children to help. I'll ask the teachers to be ready with someone in their class and then I'll just call on the teacher to send up their 'helper.' When I was a long-term class substitute I could tell which kids were chosen often and who (it seemed) never got picked. Hope this helps!
I am a follower! Thanks for all you do.
ReplyDeleteJennifer- I have found to get boys to sing I have to make it FUN and involve action. For "Scripture Power" today we did step & glide on the upbeat and they loved it. Also, I have threatened & followed through with a solo to make sure they are paying attention- they know I mean business- so they sing because they DON'T want a solo.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a problem getting my older boys to sing at all. Not sure if it is because one of them is mine, or if it is because I have them be my helpers outside of singing time. They get me chalk and eraser, or pictures, or scriptures when we sing the books on the b of m ect. I want them to know they are an important part of the primary.
ReplyDeleteAnother think I love is that I can come up with 2 different lessons for singing. One for jr. and one for sr. I love to adapt the lesson to the younger age.
I am a follower
2. My favorite way to involve EVERY child is to do activities that require actions from everyone. The kids in my primary love sign language and they learn the songs so fast. Plus, with sign language, it gives you an added opportunity to further discuss what the words mean.
ReplyDeleteHow do you encourage the older boys to participate?
ReplyDeleteWhat do I do with a Primary Presidency that doesn't give me enough time?
ReplyDeleteIm a follower:
ReplyDeleteHow do you let the presidency know that you are in control during singing time. We do sometimes get a bit rowdie, but I know how to keep them under control and to quiet them when needed, but my presidency keeps interrupting and telling the kids they need to show me respect and be quiet....
I'm a follower! Thanks for the wonderful ideas!
ReplyDeleteHow do you get the attention of the younger kids and still hold the attention of the older kids?
ReplyDeleteI'm a follower! I don't know how I would do singing time without wonderful blogs!
ReplyDeleteI am a follower.
ReplyDeleteTo answer the question #15 - get some "cool" men in the ward who can sing to come in and sing for them. Also I find the song can make the difference. So far they all LOVED Praise to the Man and Scripture Power. Maybe have a big group of just boys sing in sacrament meeting. Then they will really have to practice and most kids LOVE to perform. That might get them excited about singing.
Also, do the boys have a ring leader who is setting the example of not singing? If so, pull him aside and very gently tell him that a lot of the boys aren't singing because he isn't singing. Maybe have it be yours and his secret that he is going to help you get all the other boys to sing just by showing some enthusiasm.
As female music leaders, I think we often do things that are cute and girly. We have to not leave the boys out and do things that they will enjoy and find fun too.
In answer to comment #19. I had never been the chorister of anything before i got this calling back in October. I had the same dilema of keep all the age groups interested. The best thing i did was separate the 2 groups. Right after opening exercises the Sr. Primary separates for classes, there is a 15 minute sharing time, then 20 minute singing time. Then Jr. primary goes to class. After a 10 minute break for the presidency, Sr. primary comes back for the same sharing time/singing time allotment. About 1 minute before Jr. primary returns for closing exercises I have the Sr. Primary return to their normal seats, REMIND them to be good examples for the little kids, then start singing a more reverent song. The little kids come in singing, the teachers are of a mind to help them reverently find their seats, etc...
ReplyDeleteOnce we get close to the actual program we will have several practices as a whole primary. But it allows me to adapt the teaching to the appropriate age level.
What is the best way to teach the theme of the month?
ReplyDeleteI am a follower.
ReplyDeleteIn response to question #2...
I have a big primary and so most weeks I take the emphasis off getting turns when a child's stick is drawn. There are so many children that most of them would go home unhappy if I empahsized that. I try to do things that engages everyone at the same time so that really everyone is having a "turn" at the same time. Actions and sign language work great for this but there are other games that also do this. Even "Name that Tune" works. I have lots of little cardstock circles that I cut with my circle punch that I have used for several games including a sounds game where I give each child three to five different colored circles, hide several different types of bells, cover them while I ring one, uncover and instruct the children to hold up the circle that matches which sound they heard. I make it harder for Sr. by doing two bells at the same time. This can be played in about 15 seconds in between songs and involves everyone. Also, signs that stacatto/legatto etc. involves everyone.
I am a follower!
ReplyDeleteHow do I repeat the song we're learning enough times that the kids learn the words, but don't get bored singing it over and over.
ReplyDeleteI'm a follower!
ReplyDeleteHow do you bring in the spiritual while having fun? I struggle so much with finding a balance. Also, how do you repeat things in new ways? I'm a musician used to learning music through reading it, so teaching by rote has been quite an adventure for me! Love these blogs and the help they give me!
ReplyDeleteI am a follower and trying to find fun things for my very small primary. Senior and Junior meet together because we're so small. How do I keep the Senior interested and not bored and engage the small ones as well?
ReplyDeleteI just found this website. I have spent a good hour reading it now. I just don't get how to print anything off of it. Ugh.
ReplyDelete