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, primary music, ways to repeat a song, directed listening, lds primary singing time, lds primary, lds primary music, lds singing time ideas, primary songs, lds primary printables
Directed Listening is an efficient and effective way to teach and reinforce primary song learning with your primary kiddos. This article explains what directed listening is, tips for implementing and examples from actual primary songs.
The point of Directed Listening is to have the kids hear the WHOLE song several times before they sing the song, and to give them something specific to do for each repetition.
The way you accomplish this is by engaging the kids in different ways each time they listen to the song. Youdirect the kids listening and help them notice things in the song. Directed Listening works well because it helps the children listen for specific things in the song as you sing and helps them to focus their attention, instead of it being drawn elsewhere.
Check out this fb post for a directed listening post for "My Country Tis of Thee" and here for "Have I Done Any Good?"
These will give you good ideas of the types of questions and similar process you can take the kids through for other primary songs as well.
Also check out this old, "How to Teach a Song to Children (1986)" from the church.
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, freebies & more!
First, choose whether to do the whole song in one fell swoop or if it needs to be done in two or more sections. Two line songs should be done all at once. If it's longer, consider splitting it up into 2-3 sections.
Every time the kids hear the song, give them something to do, whether it's listening for an answer to a question, singing a part of it with you while you sing the rest, raising their hand or standing when they hear a certain word, etc.
Before you write your questions, look at the song carefully. Note interesting things about the MELODY, RHYTHM, WORDS, and if you use-ACTIONS. (And if you do use actions, don't wait to use them. Use them all at once so the kids get a multisensory experience).
Make a list of the interesting things you notice about the song.
-What word is on the highest note? Lowest note?
-Is there a scale of notes going up or down?
-Are there repeated musical patterns? Word patterns? Rhythms?
-What are the gospel messages?
-What sign language on keywords could you include?
-Are there rhyming words?
As you put together your questions, make sure you take into consideration the age and abilities of your kids. Junior primary won't be as detailed when it comes to questions, especially about melody, rhythm, etc.
ADD IN SHORT SINGING EXPERIENCES. For example, in Donna's post on "I am like a Star," she had the kid sing a few short parts of the song with her - like, "shining brightly," "smiling," and "for I know Heavenly Father loves me." This gives the kids more to do as you build in additional song repetition.
So, to summarize the steps...
1. ATTENTION GETTER - start with something really quick that will grab the kids attention and that they can relate to (ex: in the video above the Primary Music Leader asked a question about gifts).
2. ASK A QUESTION then sing the song as the kids listen for the answer.
3. KEEP REPEATING (7-10x), giving the kids new things to do and listen for on each repetition and having them sing small parts to include short singing experiences as you go.
DO ALL OF THIS WITHOUT THE PIANO.
AT THE END OF THE REPETITIONS, GET THE KIDS SINGING THE WHOLE THING.
And I love that Donna shared the two things Elder Packer said to NEVER teach without:
1. Bear testimony (quick and short - under 1 min. during singing time), and
