So, I've been teaching "Jesus Has Risen" to our primary this past month (along with Stand For the Right, of course!), but I'm always on the lookout for new music! Typically I don't venture far from the Children's Song Book...aside from songs from the Friend, or songs written for older primary themes because there is really no need. Usually if I'm looking for music, I'll look for a DIFFERENT (but simple) arrangement of one of the songs in the primary program...just to switch things up. For example, I found a nice arrangement of "Choose the Right" that I'm hoping to use with our primary program from www.jennyphillips.com
Today, however, I happened to come across a beautiful Easter song called "The Miracle" written by Shawna Edwards, AND it would be beautiful to sing with the kids. Now, please, before you get all geared up to teach this song to your primary please be sure to get the o.k. from your Primary President & your Bishop, but as I listened to the words, I could totally envision singing this with the kids and really bringing the Spirit into the meeting. (There are some songs that just do that!)
Anyhoo, here is the video for the song. You can get the sheet music on her website:http://shawnaedwards.com/ (and for a little while, she is giving it away...so get there quick)
Monday, March 26, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Hello...or Jello??
When your primary sings the "Hello Song" do they sing the right words...or are they like my primary and sing "Jello!"??
I don't know about you, but this drives me nuts! I know the kids enjoy it, but I don't think it really helps welcome visitors into our primary. What to do??? I wanted the kids to enjoy singing, but I also wanted to reinforce how important the REAL words to the song were. Initially I started emphasizing BEFORE we sang the song that this was the HELLO song. I thought it might help a little...be a little reminder. It didn't. It just encouraged the kids to sing "JELLO" with even more enthusiasm. (Not my intention.) After trying this technique several times, I decided we'd have to do something else. A few weeks ago, when we sang the Hello Song to welcome our visitors, I again reminded the kids that it was the HELLO song and asked them kindly to please sing the correct words. Of course they sang "jello", so when we finished the song, I took a couple of minutes to explain why I felt it was important for us to sing the correct words for the song, and then I suggested we try singing it again CORRECTLY. Maybe it was the fact that I took the time to explain why I felt so strongly that we needed to sing the correct words. Maybe they understood the fact that it bothered me and just wanted to make me happy. Maybe it was that we actually took the time to sing the song again...correctly, or maybe the Spirit was testifying to them how important it was to sing the words correctly. Whatever it was, it worked, and I couldn't be happier about it.
As a small reward for singing our Hello Song correctly, I've written new words for our "Jello Song" so that the kids can have some fun with the song too.
I don't know about you, but this drives me nuts! I know the kids enjoy it, but I don't think it really helps welcome visitors into our primary. What to do??? I wanted the kids to enjoy singing, but I also wanted to reinforce how important the REAL words to the song were. Initially I started emphasizing BEFORE we sang the song that this was the HELLO song. I thought it might help a little...be a little reminder. It didn't. It just encouraged the kids to sing "JELLO" with even more enthusiasm. (Not my intention.) After trying this technique several times, I decided we'd have to do something else. A few weeks ago, when we sang the Hello Song to welcome our visitors, I again reminded the kids that it was the HELLO song and asked them kindly to please sing the correct words. Of course they sang "jello", so when we finished the song, I took a couple of minutes to explain why I felt it was important for us to sing the correct words for the song, and then I suggested we try singing it again CORRECTLY. Maybe it was the fact that I took the time to explain why I felt so strongly that we needed to sing the correct words. Maybe they understood the fact that it bothered me and just wanted to make me happy. Maybe it was that we actually took the time to sing the song again...correctly, or maybe the Spirit was testifying to them how important it was to sing the words correctly. Whatever it was, it worked, and I couldn't be happier about it.
As a small reward for singing our Hello Song correctly, I've written new words for our "Jello Song" so that the kids can have some fun with the song too.
♪♫♪♫ Jello Song ♫♪♪♫
(to the tune of the "Hello Song")
Jello, (jello), Jello, (jello)
You're ev'ry child's dream
Jello, (jello), Jello, (jello)
Especially with whip cream
Red, orange, and blue
with yummy fruity bits.
Or bright lime green
with pieces of carrots (EWWW!)
Jello, (jello), Jello, (jello)
So good we want to scream!
Jello!
Monday, March 12, 2012
It's All in the Name
I know this sounds silly, but it's something that is important to know & put into practice...and unfortunately, because we work with the kids only a couple of hours a week, get's overlooked.
EVERYONE wants to be called by their name. My sisters and I definitely look like sisters. When we were in college, at one point or time, each of us was mistaken for the other sister. Not a big deal at all. In fact, I always used to joke that I just answered to anything...but it's still nice to be called by MY name.
Do you know all the names of the children in your primary? I know this is easier said than done in some primary's. We have a LARGE primary right now, so getting to know the names of each child in primary has been difficult (and an on-going process), but it's a process that changes everything. I like to be able to call on my helpers by name. I like to be able to praise children by name...and occasionally, I like to be able to call children out (so to speak) by name to get their attention. It's amazing to see a child's eyes when you call their name and they don't even realize that you know who they are. It is a self esteem booster for the child. It encourages them to pay attention, and it helps them to know that you think of them as more than just another child in a big group of children.
The most obvious way to do this is with a list of names from the handy dandy primary secretary, but another PERFECT way to do this is to use the primary song, "Here We Are Together". Choose 4 new people a week. Have the children in primary say hello to each of the children by name (Hi _________), then sing the song with each name inserted. If there is time, our primary likes to sing it once in the order the kids are introduced, and then again with me randomly choosing (I stand behind the children, and point to the child whose name is next) the order the names will be sung in. Not only does this help me learn the kids names, but it helps everyone else in the primary to learn names too.
Whether you learn 1 new name a week or 10 new names a week, take some time to get to know the names of the children in your primary. It will make your calling as a chorister easier, and it make a child's day.
EVERYONE wants to be called by their name. My sisters and I definitely look like sisters. When we were in college, at one point or time, each of us was mistaken for the other sister. Not a big deal at all. In fact, I always used to joke that I just answered to anything...but it's still nice to be called by MY name.
Do you know all the names of the children in your primary? I know this is easier said than done in some primary's. We have a LARGE primary right now, so getting to know the names of each child in primary has been difficult (and an on-going process), but it's a process that changes everything. I like to be able to call on my helpers by name. I like to be able to praise children by name...and occasionally, I like to be able to call children out (so to speak) by name to get their attention. It's amazing to see a child's eyes when you call their name and they don't even realize that you know who they are. It is a self esteem booster for the child. It encourages them to pay attention, and it helps them to know that you think of them as more than just another child in a big group of children.
The most obvious way to do this is with a list of names from the handy dandy primary secretary, but another PERFECT way to do this is to use the primary song, "Here We Are Together". Choose 4 new people a week. Have the children in primary say hello to each of the children by name (Hi _________), then sing the song with each name inserted. If there is time, our primary likes to sing it once in the order the kids are introduced, and then again with me randomly choosing (I stand behind the children, and point to the child whose name is next) the order the names will be sung in. Not only does this help me learn the kids names, but it helps everyone else in the primary to learn names too.
Whether you learn 1 new name a week or 10 new names a week, take some time to get to know the names of the children in your primary. It will make your calling as a chorister easier, and it make a child's day.
My "Why"
I have been involved with primary in some capacity or another for almost my 16 years (I know cause I was called right when my almost 16 year old was a sunbeam...ugh! scary!). I have served in several different callings, in several different wards & stakes within the primary organization over those years, but by far my FAVORITE (I shouldn't say that) calling has been the primary chorister! Music is near & dear to my heart.
I've never considered myself a super-creative person. Instead I decided my talent lies in my ability to look at all of the other wonderful ideas from the other super talented & creative people out there and adjust them to fit the needs of my primary. So what has changed? Why start a primary music blog now when there are so many other fabulous ones to choose from out there? Have I suddenly been blessed with an abundance of creativity? (Unfortunately, no)
Well, my answer to those questions is my "why"
1) Music is IMPORTANT! When I think back to my primary years, I don't remember many of the lessons taught, or talks given. I don't think very often of the sharing times that we had, but I do remember the songs. Quite often during the day I catch myself singing a little song, or humming a little tune, and SURPRISE, quite often it's a primary song. I just love music. I love to sing with the kids each week, and I am giddy with excitement when I hear the kids sing the words to a song I have just taught them, and know that in all liklihood when all of the other lessons are forgotten, the lessons the songs teach (or at least some of the words) will be etched deep within their hearts!
2) I have had several opportunities to be a primary chorister. I've loved each one! I've heard comment that it has to be one of the hardest, worst callings in the ward because you have to be prepared every week to teach & entertain. I suppose some of that statement is true...you do have to come prepared to teach (and occasionally dance) every week, but I can't think of anything better to do than sing with the kids. In serving as a chorister on many different occasions, I have learned that it gets easier with time! Don't get me wrong, I still cringed when I realized I had to teach "Praise to the Man" to a bunch of 3 year olds last year, but I considered it a small victory to listen as they sang each and every word (and knew what they meant...kind of) of that particular hymn in the primary program! I hope that I will be able to share some of the things that I have picked up over the years, and in doing so, help you enjoy your calling as much as I enjoy mine!
3) Lastly (I think this is the one that gave me the big shove to create this blog), I was just called to serve as the stake primary music person, and I thought this might be a work as a useful resource for the other primary choristers in our stake.
So there you have it! My why! Why I've decided to jump on the primary-chorister-music-blog train. That said, I hope you find something worthwhile here!
I've never considered myself a super-creative person. Instead I decided my talent lies in my ability to look at all of the other wonderful ideas from the other super talented & creative people out there and adjust them to fit the needs of my primary. So what has changed? Why start a primary music blog now when there are so many other fabulous ones to choose from out there? Have I suddenly been blessed with an abundance of creativity? (Unfortunately, no)
Well, my answer to those questions is my "why"
1) Music is IMPORTANT! When I think back to my primary years, I don't remember many of the lessons taught, or talks given. I don't think very often of the sharing times that we had, but I do remember the songs. Quite often during the day I catch myself singing a little song, or humming a little tune, and SURPRISE, quite often it's a primary song. I just love music. I love to sing with the kids each week, and I am giddy with excitement when I hear the kids sing the words to a song I have just taught them, and know that in all liklihood when all of the other lessons are forgotten, the lessons the songs teach (or at least some of the words) will be etched deep within their hearts!
2) I have had several opportunities to be a primary chorister. I've loved each one! I've heard comment that it has to be one of the hardest, worst callings in the ward because you have to be prepared every week to teach & entertain. I suppose some of that statement is true...you do have to come prepared to teach (and occasionally dance) every week, but I can't think of anything better to do than sing with the kids. In serving as a chorister on many different occasions, I have learned that it gets easier with time! Don't get me wrong, I still cringed when I realized I had to teach "Praise to the Man" to a bunch of 3 year olds last year, but I considered it a small victory to listen as they sang each and every word (and knew what they meant...kind of) of that particular hymn in the primary program! I hope that I will be able to share some of the things that I have picked up over the years, and in doing so, help you enjoy your calling as much as I enjoy mine!
3) Lastly (I think this is the one that gave me the big shove to create this blog), I was just called to serve as the stake primary music person, and I thought this might be a work as a useful resource for the other primary choristers in our stake.
So there you have it! My why! Why I've decided to jump on the primary-chorister-music-blog train. That said, I hope you find something worthwhile here!
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