New Primary Chorister . . . I Need Help!

[Shalou]

Oh my jellibeans! I've been called as the primary chorister and need some fun ideas to teach the songs for the primary program. I broke my ankle/leg and have missed the last 5 weeks. We're behind and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed .

Please help!

[MaidservantX]

I've been a chorister a couple of times. I concentrate on teaching the gospel. If they also learn the music that's fine, but mostly I use the music to highlight the gospel. Of course, there are lots of songs just to have a little fun with. Here is one little game to get you started: for the senior, write the words or short phrases of the song (or verse) on a paper and cut it out like a puzzle (do this at home). Then tape the puzzle piece under chairs. They look under their chair and bring up the puzzle piece and try to put the words and phrases together on the board, meanwhile, trying to sing it with and without knowing all the words or having them all mixed up. It could get silly for a little while. You could have them all bring the pieces up at once, and then sing it, or one at a time, and just sing the word or phrase they brought (out of order!) whatever you like.

[Shalou]

What a fun idea! I've been trying to figure out a way to teach them the theme song for this year's program. It is a bit difficult to put each phrase together. This sounds like a great idea for that song.

Thank you!

Anybody else have secrets?

Try this site Primary Songs/Singing Time Helps, you can also try Deseret Books. There are books for Primary Singng Time. I prefer those by the Finch Family. Check them out on-line first (read the reviews if they have any first) and see what appeals to you.

[StrawberryFields]

What a great resource MrsS!

I was 1st Councilor in Primary for 4 years. Most of the time we had more leaders than children - so the children really got an intensive and tailored to them lesson.

We used the all of the Church issued manuals and helps. ALL of us leaders were artistically impaired :P - so we utilized the other helps that were available from Deseret Books and the internet. UNFORTUNATELY I deleted ALL of my internet links to those helps last month! AHA, I forgot to delete this one, and it is the best one too. http://lds.about.com/library/gallery/clipa...ry_subindex.htm

Our Chorister found some great helps through those books at Deseret Books, plus she went to the Stake Primary Chorister, and the other Ward Primary Choristers and got great helps and hints from them.

I loved Primary - I still miss My Children, and it has been 3 years. Three of them have graduated into YW and YM.

[Shalou]

Thank you all for your ideas. Things are slowly coming together. I appreciate all your help!

Keep 'em comin'!

[NateHowe]

Generally, the more senses you can involve in the teaching, the better the kids will remember the lesson. This goes for music teaching as well. Try to incorporate something visual (perhaps pictures) and something kinesthetic (actions or a game) in addition to the auditory sing-along portion. This will help them remember the doctrine and the songs. If you can get smell and taste in there for some songs as well, all the better.

Good luck!

[MorningStar]

My mom made a big cardboard elephant with a large sock for a trunk and let the kids direct the music with their arm in the sock. It was really cute!

[WillowTheWhisp]

If noise traveling isn't a problem in your Ward you could try giving the children percussion instruments to play. When I was in Primary we had tambourines, maracas, shakers, bells, small cymbals, triangles - just something to make some of the louder fun songs a bit more fun.