Primary Music Leader Training

We had a fun Stake Primary Music Training in our stake recently.  All of our ward Primary Music Leaders came and shared their ideas.  I wanted to share the information from that night.

Sing Your Heart Out

Music Leader Training Get-together

“We care so much about you and about the children you are teaching. Prepare well to bless these little ones.  Give it your best effort.  Your influence will - quite literally - affect these children for eternity.  Enjoy the assignment that you have, and discharge it faithfully.  However much we love and admire children, I am certain we underestimate who and what a child is, and what in the hands of God he or she may become.  May God bless you always in your sacred opportunity to help save the children of this Church.”   

-Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Leadership Training Library, “Supporting the Primary Music Leader”

“We are able to feel and learn very quickly through music...some spiritual things that we would otherwise learn very slowly.”  

-Boyd K. Packer, “The Arts and the Spirit of the Lord,” Ensign, Aug, 1976, 61

PLANNING MUSIC TIME

Know the Song

Before you can teach a song effectively, you must know the song yourself. Become familiar with the words and melody by playing the song on the piano or listening to the music on the Church music website.

·         Do I know the song well enough to make eye contact with the children?

Use the Scriptures

Study the song to learn what message the words convey. Use the scripture references at the end of the song in your preparation or in teaching the song.

·         Do I connect the doctrine to the words the children are singing?

Sing, Sing, Sing

Children learn to sing a song by hearing it sung and by singing it themselves. Spend more time singing than talking during music time.

·         Do we sing more than we talk or play games?

Capture the Children's Attention

Engage the children's attention with an object, a picture, a scripture, an experience, or simply a whisper.

·         Do the attention-getters that I use enhance the learning experience?

Include Different Learning Styles

Use a variety of approaches to involve as many of the senses as possible.  Seeing, speaking, moving, and doing, as well as hearing, will help children better understand and remember the songs.

·         Do I vary my teaching plan to include different learning styles?

Direct Children's Listening

Ask questions that will encourage children to listen to the song and help them understand the gospel message. For example, ask—What? Where? When? Why?—and state the question in such a way that children can discover the answer as you sing the song.

·         Do I ask questions that encourage thinking?

Involve the Children

Create opportunities for children to participate. For example, invite children to improvise actions, assign small groups to sing different sections, ask for ideas to vary the styles of singing, or give them a picture or object to hold to remind them of the words to a song.

·         Do I use activities that involve all of the children rather than a few?

Bear Testimony

Bear your personal testimony or read testimonies recorded in the scriptures. As children hear the testimonies of others, they will be strengthened.

·         Do I bear brief testimony of the doctrine taught in the song?

Reverence Ideas               

 Bubbles in cheeks (Junior Primary)

To fold arms with choices (jets or fish, in lap or on chest)

Stand up/Sit down

Proximity Control

“If you can hear me ______.”

“To Catch a Butterfly”

https://www.lds.org/friend/2001/05/to-catch-a-butterfly?lang=eng&query=butterfly+reverence

Positive Reinforcement - “I” statements    

• “I’m looking for…”
• beautiful eyes
• big smiles
• chins up
• mouths moving to sing
• “I noticed…”
• Include specifics
• Whole group, class, or individuals
• Use a variety
• Praise around

           

• “I give ______ to those who ______”  
• thumbs up, smile.
• winks, look at me.
• pats on the back, sit up straight.

• Silent cheers

Old Reliable! (Games for THOSE weeks)

From The Barefoot Chorister, Stacy Sanchez

http://barefootchorister.blogspot.com

1. Hide the Note/Hot and Cold

2. Name that Tune (Notes, humming, rhythm, etc)

3. Stump the Chorister

4. Pop the Balloon

5. Skittles Challenge

6. Who's Missing

7. Something's Different, Sister ________

8. Swat Team

9. 4 Corners

Choose and Review games

From Kathleen Mower

http://thechildrensing.blogspot.com

1. Everyone who…

2. Three in a Row

3. Scrambled Word Puzzle

4. People in the Scriptures Made Good Choices

5. I Spy With My Little Eye

http://www.twoladiesandablog.blogspot.com/2012/07/roll-and-blow.html

Roll ‘em and Blow “em

Cut the Bishop’s tie

Roll/Spin Mix ‘n’ Match - Fun Ways to Sing

http://afprimarysingingtime.blogspot.com/2010/09/fun-ways-to-sing.html

http://kamisprimarymusicideas.blogspot.com/2014/04/review-activity-ways-to-sing-cards-more.html

http://teachldschildren.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Fun-Ways-to-Sing.pdf

http://primarysingingtimewithmatilda.blogspot.com/2015/01/20-minutes-for-singing-time-what-should.html

Battleship

Children can put their arm into the elephant's trunk and practice leading the song.  A simpler version could be an apple with a worm sticking out of it (if you don't want to try drawing an elephant).

Candyland 

Wiggles and Giggles - Children can pick one of these cute things out of the jar and there is a fun song attached that they can sing.  Great idea to pull from when you see the kids need a little break and some movement.

 Roll the dice to see what style to use while singing the song.  Kids love that!  

Uno Game to learn a song. 

This was a fun idea.  One binder contained a copy of the Primary Children's Songbook that she had taken apart and put in sheet protectors.  The other binder had the plan for the month.  Great way to be organized and what a fun theme.

This was the treat table for our training.  Our theme was Sing Your Heart Out since we held it a few weeks before Valentine's Day.  Who doesn't love sugar cookies and chocolate?

This was the table of things we gave our music leaders. 

Here's a link to a folder which includes some documents such as fun ways to sings songs and our training documents.

HOPE HAS COME - Cason Smithson, Jacob Packham

Sacrament Visuals (for teaching children)

I made these visuals when I was teaching a Primary lesson on the Sacrament.  Feel free to use them.  Click HERE for the PDF file.

To learn more about the Sacrament, visit this website.

Campfire Songs

Here are a collection of campfire songs that I collected from my mom, aunts, sister-in-laws, and from Girls Camp.  Hope you enjoy them!

(PS There are a ton of them so be sure to click on the "read more" link to view the entire post)

The Animal Fair

I went to the animal fair

The birds and the beasts were there

The big baboon by the light of the moon

Was combing his auburn hair.

The monkey bumped the skunk

And sat on the elephant’s trunk

The elephant sneezed and fell on his knees

And that was the end of the monk, the monk

And that was the end of the monk!

The Ants Go Marching

The ants go marching one by one hurrah, hurrah,  

The ants go marching one by one hurrah, hurrah,  

The ants go marching one by one,

The little one stopped to suck his thumb,

And they all go marching  

Down to the ground, to the earth.  

Boom, boom, boom, boom.

Two by two - to tie his shoe
Three by three - to scratch his knee
Four by four - to shut the door
Five by five - to dance and jive
Six by six - to pick up sticks
Seven by seven - to look to heaven
Eight by eight - to shut the gate
Nine by nine - to tell the time
Ten by ten – to say the end! 

The Barf Song - "Let It Blow"

I know I have a strange sense of humor and this might prove it.  Two of my boys had the flu last week so I wrote this parody to describe my experience.

This should be sung to the tune of "Let It Go" from Frozen (click here to hear the original song)

Let It Blow (a flu inspired song)

The barf blows right in the toilet tonight
Not a wink of sleep is seen
A sickness of isolation,
And it’s smelling quite obscene.

Tummy is growling like this swirling storm inside
Couldn’t keep it in, heaven knows you tried

Don’t let them in, don’t let them see
Be the good mom I always have to be
Clean well, don’t smell, run to and fro
Oh this just blows

Let it go, let it go

You can’t hold it back anymore
Let it blow, let it blow
Hit the bowl and not the floor

I don’t care
I want my boy okay
Let the flu be gone,
Your barf never bothered me anyway

It’s funny how some sickness
Makes everything seem small

And the illness that controls you
Won’t last that long at all

It’s time to see what I can do
To get you better from this flu
No snacks, no drink, no food for thee
Empty!

Let it go, let it go
My poor baby’s up all night
Let it blow, let it blow
I just want you to feel all right

Here I stand
And here I'll stay
Let the flu be gone

Your vomit’s spewing from your mouth onto the ground
Your stomach’s spiraling in messy upchuck all around
And one thought originates like a barfy blast
We’re never going back,
This blast is in the past

Let it go, let it go
And we'll rise at the break of dawn
Let it blow, let it blow
Will this keep going on

Here I stand
In the light of day
Let the flu be gone,
Your barf never bothered me anyway

Gethsemane Song

This is my new favorite song.  It brings tears to my eyes when I hear my Primary kids sing this at church.

Gethsemane

Jesus climbed the hill
To the garden still
His steps were heavy and slow
Love and a prayer
Took Him there
To the place only He could go

Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
So He went willingly
To Gethsemane

He felt all that was sad, wicked or bad
All the pain we would ever know
While His friends were asleep
He fought to keep
His promise made long ago

Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
So He went willingly
To Gethsemane

The hardest thing That ever was done
The greatest pain that ever was known
The biggest battle that ever was won
This was done by Jesus.
The fight was won by Jesus.

Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
So he gave His gift to me
In Gethsemane

Gethsemane
Jesus loves me
So he gives His gift to me
From Gethsemane

Click HERE to hear the song on YouTube.

"Let It Go" Christmas Song (to the tune of "Let It Snow")

This little song came into my mind tonight when I was starting to stress out about all the Christmas stuff (and normal every day stuff) I have to do.  I tell ya, it is hard to work full-time and be a mom/wife/friend/daughter/sister/church volunteer/school volunteer/neighbor, etc.  There are only so many hours in a day and I feel like to find more time I need to steal from my sleeping hours.

With the shortage of time, it probably doesn't help that I decided to compose this little poem tonight.  But it made me happy, and only took me 10 minutes to write it, so I indulged.

At any rate, here's my little poem.  If you can relate, enjoy!

Childhood Songs

When my kids were little, I sang them these songs almost every night.  True, I changed the words a bit to make the songs my own, but these were the tunes and words they were based off of.  Great memories.

I highly recommend the Alphabet song to teach kids the letter sounds.  It truly helped my kids (2 of which had speech problems).

You can purchase these at www.BarbaraMilne.com.  (I am not compensated for saying that... I just love her stuff).

Potty Training Video

Click HERE for an awesome video to help with potty training.

I sang this song to my kids when they were potty training and we laughed and laughed.  So enjoy!

"When I Grow Up, I Want to Be a Mother..."

They sang this song at Time Out for Women and a flood of memories came into my mind.

I remember this great song from when I was a little girl.  On road trips, my little brothers and I would lay in the back of the station wagon (yep, I'm that old) and listen to the tape, "Songs for a Mormon Child."  I looked forward to the day that I could have my own children and give them cookies and milk and yellow balloons. I think that song, along with the example of my mom and other great women in my life, inspired me to develop a "Mother Heart."  I love my children more than life itself and I try to teach them, give them opportunities to grow and to develop their testimonies and talents.  My "Mother Heart" extends beyond my own immediate family - to my nieces and nephews, the students at school, Cub Scouts, Primary children, neighbors, friends, etc.  I think the world would be a wonderful place if we could strive to develop our "Mother Hearts" and care and love a little more.

Story - Helen Keller (Excerpt from A Place of Knowing by Emma Lou Thayne)

A LOVELY STORY ABOUT HELEN KELLER

This is an excerpt from A Place of Knowing by Emma Lou Thayne (Emma Lou also wrote Hymn # 129, Where Can I Turn for Peace ...)


Many years into my adulthood, when asked by a Jewish poet friend why I stay in my Mormonism, I explained it with a story, the details recounted by my mother. It is my mother’s story transposed into an allegory about my believing.


When I was a little girl, my father took me to hear Helen Keller in the Tabernacle. I must have been about eight or nine and I’d read about Helen Keller in school, and my mother had told me her story.

I remember sitting in the balcony at the back of that huge domed building that was supposed to have the best acoustics in the world. Helen—everybody called her that—walked in from behind a curtain under the choir seats with her teacher, Annie Sullivan. Helen spoke at the pulpit—without a microphone—but we could hear perfectly, her guttural, slow, heavily pronounced speech. She spoke about her life and her beliefs. Her eyes were closed and when it came time for questions from the audience, she put her fingers on her teacher’s lips and then repeated for us what the question had been. She answered questions about being deaf and blind and learning to read and to type and, of course, to talk. Hearing that voice making words was like hearing words for the first time, as if language had only come into being—into my being at least—that moment.

Follow the Prophet - New Verses

Every week our family sings "Follow the Prophet" for our closing song at Family Home Evening. We grew tired of the same verses, so I wrote some additional ones to add some variety. Enjoy!

President Hinckley was a prophet
He taught the six Be’s
Built so many temples
To give the people peace.
Run away from evil,
Shun it from your mind.
Always share the gospel.
Be good and be kind.

Nephi was the prophet
Tried to get the plates
From the wicked Laban
Inside the city gates.
Laban would not give them
Took their gold instead
Nephi was commanded
To chop off his head.

Lehi was a prophet
Served the Lord so well
Sailed over the seas
To promised lands to dwell.
Used the Liahona
Had visions from our God
Tried to teach his family
To hold the iron rod.

Enos was a prophet
Went to hunt a beast.
Prayed all day and night
Had a spiritual feast.
He asked for forgiveness
Cried with all his soul.
His sins were forgiven
His faith had made him whole.

Ammon was a prophet
A missionary man
Went to teach the gospel
In another land.
He served King Lamoni
Guarded all the sheep
Chopped off arms of robbers
His promises to keep.


Joseph Smith was a prophet
Prayed to know the truth
He received an answer
From Heaven in his youth.
He restored the gospel
To our dreary earth
Brought the Book of Mormon
And spiritual rebirth.

President Benson was a prophet
He said pride was bad
If we compare to others
Then we will be sad.
Read the Book of Mormon
Share it with a friend
Study everyday the
Promises within.

King Benjamin was a Prophet
Worked with his own hands.
Following the Savior
Not the natural man.
Humble, meek and patient
Children we should be
Love and help each other
Serving cheerfully.

Alma was a Prophet
Converted as a man.
Left wicked King Noah
And his evil clan.
He taught many others
Baptized many too.
Prayed for his son Alma
For knowledge of the truth.


Jacob was a prophet
Warned of broken hearts
Of tender wives and children
When wickedness we start.
Seek not after riches
Or things that can be bought.
The kingdom of God
Is all that should be sought.