Be Prepared for Your Rehearsals

As you prepare songs, speaking parts, seating, etc. for the Primary Sacrament Program, do your VERY best to make rehearsals smooth.  The best way to do that is have everything organized prior to the rehearsal.

• How many seats will be needed in the chapel for the children and teachers?
• Are you seating the children in order of their speaking parts?
• Are teachers spaced well for reverence control?
• Do you need extra chairs? Will they be in place before the meeting?
• Make a seating chart prior to the rehearsal and make sure all adults helping have a copy.
• If possible, put the names of the children on the seats before the rehearsal.
• If you plan on a full "run-through" of the program, make sure there are NO distractions for the children.
• all adults focused - no side talking
• Anyone walking around (moving children, making last minute changes, discussing things) takes the focus off of the music leader and/or speakers.
• sit quietly with a paper and pencil and write down changes to be made AFTER the rehearsal.
• Adults make or break a rehearsal.  Be focused. Don't talk. Set a reverent, attentive example.  The children will follow your lead.

Leaders and teachers can make the difference in a fabulous rehearsal or a disjoint and time wasted rehearsal.  BE PREPARED ! ! !

Preparing for the Primary Program

As you prepare for the Primary Sacrament Meeting Program, listen carefully to the children as they sing.

• Can you understand their words?
• Do they know all the words?
• Are they watching you?
• Are they shouting?
• Are they singing too softly?
• Do they stand and sit quietly?
• Do they stand reverently (I ask them to stand like toy soldiers)?
• Are they smiling?

If there is a word or phrase that they are missing, or the first word of a verse (Follow the Prophet might need this), make a word strip and hold it up in front of you just before they sing it.  The congregation won't notice if you keep the word strip right in front of you.  This also helps the children to watch you.

If children are shouting, they are not singing.  You can't sing and shout at the same time.  Be careful when you ask the children to sing louder.  Ask them to make a big, beautiful sound.  Choose words that the children can understand and demonstrate the difference..

Challenge the children to see how quietly they can stand and sit.  They will rise to the occasion.

You may need to make a funny face or hold up a smiley face to help remind the children to smile. 

Are You Ready?

Are you ready for your Sacrament Meeting Program?  I like to have our program before General Conference each year.  This year we will be singing 13 songs and I'm proud to say the children know them all!  This translates into 13 ways we have taught the gospel through music.  We began preparing for it last October with a break for learning Thanksgiving and Christmas songs.   The reason that we sing so many songs is that ALL the children are involved in singing which means less discipline problems.  We stand for each song so the children move a little throughout the program.

As you plan your program, look for ways to involve the children.  Have a seating chart. Plan ahead so the rehearsals are organized and run smoothly.  Beware of over practicing.  We choose to rehearse 1 or 2 times for the program.  It's best to have the children fresh and they perform.

Most of all, we want the children and congregation to feel the spirit.