For anyone in the Salt Lake City, Utah area, Pat Graham will be presenting a workshop on teaching the music for the 2014 Primary theme.  Pat has written 5 songs in the Children's Songbook.

Saturday, January 18th from 10:00 until Noon
Workshop on Primary Music with Pat Graham
Pat will focus on teaching music to children based on music from the 2014 LDS Primary theme.
$10.00 fee
http://www.daymurraymusic.com/cgi-bin/e.magine/productlookup.cgi?productNum=173949

He Sent His Son

The idea in the 2014 Outline for Sharing Time p. 26 for teaching "He Sent His Son," is great.  Having a group sing the question and a second group sing the answer helps child and adult understand and learn the song.  One challenge we had was when to use tell and show.

• How could the Father tell the world of love. . .
• How could the Father show the world the pathway . . .
• How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice . . .

I wrote those three words in the order we sing them on the board and pointed to each just before we sang that word.  We also worked on gradually singing louder (not shouting) as we sang the phrase, and rise with living breath.  Hold out the word breath for at least 3 counts.  I, also, like a slight break after faith and hope.  We tend to pronounce the words more distinctly if we break between those words and listeners can understand our words better.

We spent 15 minutes singing this song and the time flew by.  We divided in many ways, singing the entire song again and again in different groupings.

• one half of the room and the other half
• boys and girls
• adults and children
• four classes and the other four classes
• children with pets and children without pets

There are many ways to divide up the group.  Be creative -- the children love that.

Be Prepared!

The songs that our primary will be singing throughout the year and for the Primary Sacrament Meeting are listed below.  The * songs are suggested in the 2014 Sharing Time Outline.  Our primary has chosen songs for each month's theme and then we sing them in the program in the fall.

*He Sent His Son p. 34

*I Will Follow God's Plan p. 164

*I Stand All Amazed # 193

*The Family of God

Latter-day Prophets p. 134

Love Is Spoken Here p. 190

*Baptism p. 100

*Seek the Lord Early p. 108

I Want to Live the Gospel p. 148

Happy Family p. 198

Jesus Is My Shepherd

Did Jesus Really Live Again p. 64

In preparation for the coming year, I have a paper for the teachers with all the words to the songs that we will be singing.  This is especially helpful to me as I learn the songs.  I also give the pianist a list so she/he can be prepared.  Read the 2014 Outline so you can support the themes and emphasize stories, scriptures and lessons each month through the music.  

The best suggestion I can give to anyone teaching children and youth is BE PREPARED ! ! !  Prayerfully prepare and plan each week.  It shows when you are prepared and the spirit can touch the lives of the children when you do your part.

NOTE: On page 26 & 27 in the 2014 Sharing Time Outline, there are some great ideas and suggestions to help teach each song.  

Gifts

Children love to tell what they received for Christmas.  This activity allows the children to share a favorite gift they received for Christmas, then ask them to either share a gift that Christ has given them or a gift they can give to Christ.  Example:

• I got a very special art set that I have wanted for a long time.
• Christ has given me a loving family.
• I can share my testimony with someone.

If you have a large primary, time will not permit to have each child share, so choose names from a jar as time allows.  After a child shares his thoughts, ask another child to choose her favorite song from the past year and sing it.  Or you can have a list of songs that you know are favorites and sing one.

Events of Christ's Birth

Gather 5 or more pictures of Christ's birth - Samuel predicting His birth, Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem, the stable, shepherds, kings, angels, etc.  Choose songs that go with each picture.  Mix up the pictures and place them on the board.  Ask the children to put them in order.  Choose one child to find the first picture (Samuel).  Sing Samuel Tells of Baby Jesus.  Continue putting the pictures in order and singing a song to go with the picture.  (Choose songs that the children are familiar with.)  Be sure to watch your times so you can complete the activity in your allotted time.

God's Christmas Gift

Every month The Friend magazine has great stories and ideas for talks, sharing time and singing time.  This month, on p. 21, there is a beautiful Christmas song, God's Christmas Gift.  It has two short verses and a chorus.  Below is an idea for teaching this song.

You will need a picture of:
First verse:

•  baby Jesus
• Bethlehem
• a gift/present
• Christ

Second verse

• a Wreath - optional: Christmastime written below the wreath
• Christmas tree with presents beneath
• a different picture of Christ
• a gift/present

Chorus

• Christ on a cross
• Children doing service
• a heart
• a gift/present
• Jesus with children

Use colored paper (red and green) or Christmas wrapping paper to cover each picture.  Arrange the pictures in order: 1st verse, chorus, 2nd verse then tape them to the board and cover them with the colored paper or wrapping paper.

Have the pianist play through the song while you recite the words.  Ask a child to uncover the first "gift".  Sing the phrase 2 or 3 times.  Do the same thing with the rest of the song uncovering the picture and singing the phrase a few times.  As you add a phrase, be sure to sing from the beginning until you come to the next new phrase.  This helps the children hear the continuity of the song and it's great repetition which is how children learn.

*Note: You can use this idea for any Christmas song.

Compare Songs

Sing the following songs (you may have to sing them more than once) and list all the things that tell about Christ's birth.

Away in a Manger p. 42
Mary's Lullaby  p. 44
Who Is the Child?  p. 46
Sleep, Little Jesus  p. 47

Compare the things that are the same and the differences.  For instance: Do they all tell about the manger, shepherds, the animals, Mary and Joseph, etc.  This is a great way for children to learn and understand what they are singing about.