HOW TO TEACH A SONG: IDEAS FOR INTRODUCING & TEACHING PRIMARY SONGS
lds primary songs, lds primary singing time ideas, primary singing index, singing louder, how to teach a song
Keyword Topics: lds primary songs, lds childrens songbook, lds primary song book, primary music leaders, lds primary singing time ideas, primary chorister, lds chorister, lds primary chorister, how to teach a song, lds primary singing time, lds primary, lds primary music, lds singing time ideas, primary songs, lds primary printables, primary music ideas for getting kids to sing louder
A very commonly asked question among primary music leaders is how to introduce and teach new songs? This article gives you several ways to do just that.
Hello and welcome to LDS Primary Printables. I'm so excited you are here! LDS Primary Printables provides Come Follow Me, Gospel Topics, Primary Events, and Primary Singing Time Resources for Families, Primary Teachers and Primary Music Leaders.
--------------------------------------------
Join the mailing list for updates, specials & freebies.
Add song actions, ASL, stand or sit on certain words, lap-clap-snap-thumbs, etc.
BACKWARDS:
Teach a phrase at a time starting at the end and working towards the beginning.
BAG OF CLUES:
As you sing, pull objects out of the bag that relate to the song. Ask the kids to see if they can figure out what the objects mean in relation to the song. Repeat and hold the correct object up as singing.
EXTENSION: Let the kids come up and hold the objects and put themselves/objects in order of the song phrases.
CALL/REPEAT:
You sing a phrase, have the kids sing the phrase back to you.
CONDUCTING FIGURES:
Let kids move the figures to the beat, in movement patterns, tap the beat or rhythm on their palms or body with the figure, conduct in beat patterns and more!
DIRECTED LISTENING/DISCOVERY GAME:
Directing children's listening by asking discovery questions is one of the best ways to engage the children as they learn the words and understand the message of the song.
Ask questions like:
-How many times does the song say (word)?
-What x thing begins with (letter) - use for keywords
Ex: What 3 things in this song begin with B - birds, bees, blossoms
-Words that rhyme
-Melody: When you hear this melody, raise your hand.
-What word is on the highest note? Lowest note?
-What words rhyme?
DRAW A PICTURE:
Draw a picture of the song or individual song phrases.
GUEST PERFORMER:
Invite Guest Performers or small groups of kids to come perform the new song for the primary.
One Music Leader shared:
"I have zero musical talent and was floored when I got this calling but I have found some things that work great for us. The first Sunday of every month we introduce the new song. I think it helps for them to hear it first and since I can’t sing myself I invite a “guest singer” to “perform” the song. We have had groups, individuals, some sing, some play the piano, we have even had a brother sing while playing the ukulele and one will be playing an accordion for our song in May. The kids LOVE it and I love that they get to see people in our own ward sharing their talents. I think it shows them to have confidence and be more open to singing in church too. For some reason it helps me be more confident as well. It’s also very little prep and keeps things simple."
MELODY MAP:
Melody Maps are outlines of a songs melody with added colors, shapes and symbols.They provide a way to repeat a song many times while students figure out the clues of the melody map.
Ask the kids what they notice about the map, what patterns/symbols/colors they see, which words the symbols fall on and what they mean, etc. Sing and tell the kids to check what x pattern, symbol, or color means. Repeat till you've identified each.
Have the kids sing certain color or symbol words and you sing the rest. As they learn it better, switch.
EXTENSIONS: Add movements to each color or symbol. Have the kids inner-sing the colors or symbol words and only do the actions and vice versa.
Record the kids singing a couple song phrases then have them listen to themselves singing and give their feedback as to what they can improve. Repeat singing those phrases and record and listen again and let kids give themselves a thumbs up or down.
Continue for all the phrases of the song.
RECORDING & VISUAL DISPLAY:
Play the Song on your phone (or sing it) while putting up pictures that go along with the song.
SECRET MESSAGE:
Make a simple secret message code (write on board) like, “You get a treat” or “I love all of you!” or even better, the key message of the song (you could already have some words written up so it doesn’t get too long, if needed. Write lines for each letter of each word on the board. Every time the kids sing a line well, they get to guess a letter till the message is revealed. Write up all the letters in the corresponding blanks.
SILENT VIDEO:
Play a video relating to the song and play as you (or a recording) sing. Have the kids sing along as they can.
SING ALONG VIDEO:
Play a sing along video and have the kids sing along.
SINGING CHARADES:
Write out lines of the song on the board and then do the action to a line and the kids have to guess which line matches your actions. Sing that line, do the actions, have the kids repeat then erase the line and sing and do actions for that line again. Repeat for each song phrase then sing the song in order with the actions.
SONG STORY/STORY SONG:
A song story/story song is a story that interviews lines of a song into the story. They have a strong power to attach images and emotions from the children’s minds to the song, as well as giving them an opportunity to hear the entire song and give context to the words.
