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Primary Music Sharing Page

This is information in the box below is taken from the church's web site

Music is a language everyone can understand! Music is an excellent way to help children recognize the Spirit of the Lord. Music supports gospel principles and testifies that these principles are true.

The Friend magazine often includes wonderful songs that are fun and engaging. Many of the songs support the yearly theme for Primary and may be used during sharing time, in classes, and even in activity days! The good feelings the songs bring will help those we teach recognize and remember they are children of God.

Music used in Primary brings reverence, creates an atmosphere that invites the Spirit, teaches children the gospel, and gives them joy as they sing songs using fun and engaging methods.
Okay well, I have had people ask for it, so here it is, the start of a Sing Time Page. I am not sure how it will be, but with your ideas we might be able to help others.
If you have an idea that we can post on this page please email me! Thanks Liz 

 

 

 
Music Help From Others

From Angela -Music Review Ideas

From Natalie

From Brenda

 


From Amy

From Tressa Woods


From Jody Roberts


From Marce Wilkin

Music Helps from Monica
   

Latter-day Prophets with President Monson added!
The church has now come out with an official change to this song, you can get this music at this link http://www.lds.org/cm/pdf/Latter-day_Prophets_revised 2008.pdf

Latter-day prophets are: number one,
Joseph Smith; then Brigham Young;
John Taylor came third, we know;
Then Wilford Woodruff; Lorenzo Snow;
Joseph F. Smith (remember the F);
Heber J. Grant; and George Albert Smith;
David O. McKay was followed by Joseph Fielding Smith,
Then Harold B. Lee, Spencer W. Kimball,
Ezra Taft Benson, Howard W. Hunter.
Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S Monson. These are the latter-day Prophets,


 

I will follow God's Plan - Singing time idea

Thanks to Rebecca of Brisbane , Australia for this GREAT idea, and help for everyone to use! 

I’ve put together some pictures and ideas on how to teach the song “I will follow God’s plan” and thought some others might like to use it.  I use the net a lot and thought it was about time I start sharing some of my ideas and things that I put together.  

I Will Follow God's Plan Music Sharing Time Idea.pdf

I Will Follow God's Plan music pictures.pdf

Pioneer Themed Activities

from Alice Baker--thank Alice
During the month of July, I try to have a different pioneer-themed activity for singing time each week.

(1)  “PIN THE PIONEER ON THE HANDCART” – This is a pioneer-themed cross between “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” and “Hot & Cold.”  I make a poster with a picture of a handcart, and tell the children that it needs some pioneers to push and pull it.  I select a child, hand them a picture of a pioneer, and instruct them to put the pioneer next to the handcart, while blindfolded. 

I use both a traditional blindfold and a small potato sack, so the child can’t see out the bottom of the blindfold.  (The children think the potato sack is hilarious.)

The other children’s job is to guide the blindfolded child to the handcart by singing louder when the child is near the handcart, and softer when the child is away from the handcart.

For the junior primary, I turn the blindfolded child around two or three times, and then face him/her in the direction of the poster. 

For the senior primary, I turn the blindfolded child around two or three times, and then face him/her in some random direction other than the direction of the poster.  The blindfolded child has to use audio clues (louder/softer) from the other primary children to figure out where the poster is.


(2)  “HANDCART COMPANY” is very popular with the junior primary.  (I haven’t tried it with the senior primary, and they’d probably be bored silly.)  I tell the junior primary children that they are crossing the plains in a handcart company and will have some adventures.

First, I organize the children into groups of 3-5 and assign each group to a “handcart.”  The “handcart” can be anything that will keep the children reasonably together as they walk around the room:  a hula hoop; a swimming pool noodle that they all have to hold onto; even a piece of yarn tied loosely around the small group.

Then I line up the “handcarts” and have the children walk in a path around the room while they sing.  They then have an adventure of some sort, which varies from week to week. 

(2)(a):  In the “CROSSING THE SWEETWATER” variant of Handcart Company, I teach them a little about the Sweetwater River.  A blue marker on the floor becomes the Sweetwater.  The children cross the “Sweetwater” several times while they walk around the room and sing.  If the music stops, any handcart company that is in the Sweetwater at the time the music stops is deemed to have gotten stuck in the mud, and has to be pulled out.  We mime pulling the “stuck” group out of the Sweetwater.  The children call this variant the “falling in the mud” game; it is one of their favorites.

(2)(b):  In the “INDIAN RAID" variant of Handcart Company, I play an Indian who is bent on attacking the handcart company – I use a koosh ball.  They walk around the room while singing and try to avoid my attack.  If the “Indian” successfully attacks a handcart, the music stops and that handcart group must say the next word in the song.


(3)  “PIONEER STOP & GO” – This is a pioneer-themed version of “Stop & Go,” with a twist to catch the children’s attention.  (I assume the reader is familiar with the basic rules for Stop & Go.)  As advance preparation for this variant, I create four signs, with pictures of:  (1) a pony express rider; (2) a stagecoach; (3) an Indian; and (4) a bandit.

I tell the children they are crossing the plains in a wagon train and will meet some people on the way.  If no strangers are present, it is safe to make noise, and they should sing.  If a pony express rider or a stagecoach appears, it is safe to make noise, and they should keep singing.  But if an Indian or a bandit appears, they need to stay very quiet until the danger goes away, and they should stop singing.  Once the Indian or bandit leaves, they should start singing again.

So the bottom line for the rules is:
   No sign up = sing.
   Pony express rider or stagecoach sign = sing.
   Indian or bandit sign = don’t sing.

This variant adds a level of complexity to traditional Stop & Go because the children have to decide from the picture whether they should “stop” or “go.”

(4)“BUFFALO STAMPEDE” – As advance preparation, borrow a few stuffed animals from your children.  The animals should be species that are indigenous to the American West.  I use a buffalo, armadillo, skunk, and bat.  You could also use a bear, rabbit, cougar, mouse, raccoon, rattlesnake, moose, etc.

I tell the children they are crossing the plains in a wagon train and will encounter some animals on the way.  They start out singing normally.  If they encounter a stampeding buffalo, they must stop singing, lest they spook their own cattle into joining the stampede, until the buffalo goes away.  If they encounter an armadillo, they continue singing normally.  (Nobody is afraid of an armadillo stampede.)  After we go through a song with the buffalo and armadillo, I introduce the skunk.  If the children encounter a skunk, they must sing with their noses plugged.  If they encounter a bat, they must wave their arms in the air to shoo the bat away.

After a few rounds, I invite two children up and have them choose one animal each.  The child is responsible for introducing or removing the animal as we sing.  This creates the possibility that the Primary will have to do two things at the same time.  If the buffalo and skunk are both present, the children must stop singing and plug their noses.  If the buffalo and bat are both present, they must stop singing and wave their arms.  If the skunk and bat are both present, they must sing with their noses plugged and wave their arms.  (I have tried doing it with more than two animals, but that becomes too complicated.  I recommend two animals as a maximum.)

A possible variant on Buffalo Stampede is AFRICAN SAFARI, which works exactly the same, except that you use a stuffed lion (either [a] sing really loud, or [b] stop singing until the danger goes away), monkey (scratch under your arms while singing), hyena (sing with your nose plugged, because hyenas are really stinky), giraffe (stand up), etc.
 

Puzzled

Puzzled by Jennifer Rush

This is a fast and easy way to have a fun time with both Junior and Senior Primary. I was looking for a way to review the songs we had learned so far in the year.

I wanted it to be fun but challenging at the same time. Most children like putting puzzle pieces together so I went with that. Since our Theme this year is Follow Him In Faith I tried to find a picture that went with that theme. I used an 8x10 print that we already had at home and cut it into puzzle pieces. I took one line from each song that we had already learned (I did two lines for one song that I thought needed extra work) and printed all of them out, then I put each line on the back of a puzzle piece (just for the Senior Primary I left a word out). A little before Primary started that Sunday I put the puzzle pieces all around the room. With the Junior Primary they had to guess which song the line belonged to. If they got stuck the pianist would play the music just with the line in it. Once we got the entire puzzle on the board I shared a scripture with them and a testimony. With the Senior Primary we did the same thing except they had to figure out what the missing word in the line was and then what song the line belonged to. Both Classes had fun and so did I.  

Name That Tune Twist

Thanks to Tifany (Orchard Heights Ward, WA) for sharing this idea!
Name That Tune Twist
 
This is a fun Singing Time that my Primary Kids loved!  I did a twist on Name That Tune.  I had 5 plastic bugs (from the dollar store) that I taped a Children's Songbook page number on each of their bellies or the underside of their wings.  I had a bug net for a child to come up & "catch" one of the bugs that I'd set up on the table.  The child would then carry the bug in the bug net over to the pianist (this way they could interact more with him & get to know him better).  While the child was doing that, I had another child take a croquet mallet & ball over to the course I had set up.  They would then choose which wicket they wanted to try to hit the croquet ball through.  I had 3 wickets to choose from.  They each had a number on them.  There was a number 3, 4 & 6.  I then had placed masking tape in an X in front of each wicket.  The lowest number had the closest X & the larger numbers were further away.  Of course, number 6 was the furthest.  The child could choose any of the numbers to try to hit the ball through.  They would place the ball on the X & go for it. I always let them keep trying until they made it.  If they didn't make it by the 4th or 5th time, I would simply slide the wicket over to make the ball go through it.  The number on the wicket that the child hit the ball through would be the number of notes that the pianist would play.  The children were told that the bugs were special bugs with special songs & only the pianist could know what each bug's special song was.  It was the Primary children's job to try to guess the song.  Once they guessed correctly, we would sing it.  If they sang well, we would "catch" another bug.  If they didn't, we would stop to work the "bugs" out of that song before we could "catch" another bug.  The kids loved it!!!  They were awesome, too.  The Jr. Primary generally only tried to hit the ball through the wicket 3.  But they were able to guess every song!   For Sr. Primary, I didn't talk about the special song story (they are way too cool for that).  I told them about the tape with the numbers.  Instead of them just coming up to the front to put a bug in the net, I told them I would toss it to them & they had to catch it in the air with the bug net.  But they only got 2 tries.  If they missed the 2nd time, they had to pick up the "dead" bug & put it in the net to take it to the pianist.  They had a great time too!  Of course, I talked about gross things the bugs do, or eat, or land on.  It was great!  They all sang loud so they could "catch" another bug.  Jr. Primary got through all 5 bugs, Sr. Primary made it through 4.  This is definitely a game worth playing again, especially for fine tuning the Program Songs!
 
 

Music Helps from Monica
So here are some picture prompts for the "Picture A Christmas" song in the Children's Songbook.  Also, I have files for "Children All Over the World" and "Rain is Falling All Around".  For the Rain clipart I cut out each season (rain, wind, snow, leaves, etc) and glued a magnet to the back.  I then made a posterboard with each of the words repeated in each verse glued down one side (rooftops, ground, head, etc).  I made a slit on opposite ends of the posterboard so I could run a ribbon through them, on which I glued another magnet so the rain/snow/wind/sun could be pulled down from the rooftops, ground, etc.  I let the kids help pull the ribbon as everyone sang, which even the older kids loved.  These files have all worked really well for our primary, which consists of 24 Sunbeams who don't know many songs!  I hope they can be of use to someone else now.....
 
Monica Theriot

Ideas from Melissa Corry
The "Primary Singing Time Ideas" word document is a list of ideas that I have made up or heard of that I finally wrote down in one spot.  Some of the ideas require additional documents that I have made or found so I have also attached them for convince.   I hope maybe a few can help.

Thanks. 

Melissa Corry

Singing Time Ideas word file

Singing Time How To Signs.doc Singing Time Sing Like A Signs.doc Valentines Music Memory.doc Piano Notes Game.xls

Singing Time Ideas

Learning a New Song

  • Button, Button – Have one child leave the room while the children hide a button. The child returns and the children begin singing.  As the child gets closer the children sing louder.  As the child gets farther away the children sing softer.  Keep singing till the child finds the button.

  • Home Run Singing – Create a poster board of a baseball field.  Have a spot on each base where a cut out baseball player can attach.  Have the children sing the song.  After the song, decide whether they got a home run, a triple, a double, or single by the way they sung.  Continue to move players around the board and see how many points they can score during singing time.  You can challenge them the next time to beat their record.

  • What Word’s Missing – Have one child leave the room while the children help you pick a word to omit from the song you are learning (you can have them draw the word from a hat if there are to many children to decide on a word). The child returns and the children begin singing omitting the word they picked.  When the children finish singing the song then have the child tell you which word was omitted from the song.

  • Sing Like A - Open attached Singing Time Sing Like A file.  Print off all the pages.  Put the signs into sheet protectors for durability.  Begin singing.  As the children sing hold up a sign. Change the signs randomly.  The children sing as the sign instructs them to do.

  • Sing a Song How To – Open attached Singing Time How To Signs file.  Change the word in the sign to all of the following (Sing, Hum, Sing, Whistle, Loud, Soft, Stop, Go, Boys, Girls) and print off one of each.  Put the signs into 5 sheet protectors with the following grouped front to back. Sing/Hum Sing/Whistle Loud/Soft Stop/Go Boys/Girls.  Have a Child come up and choose one without looking.  Then let the child or you hold the sign and turn randomly as the children follow the instructions on the sign.

Reviewing Songs

  • Spring Time Singing – Have a vase of silk flowers.  On the end of each flower have the name of a song.  Have the children take turns coming up and picking a flower and then singing the song on the stem.

  • April Showers Singing - Make a large cloud, a sun, and lots of rain drops. Put the songs on the back of the raindrops. Have the children take turns coming up and picking raindrops and then sing that song. When all the raindrops are gone remove the cloud and show the sun hidden behind the clouds.

  • Fishing for Tunes – Create several cutouts of fish or use small toy fish.  On the bottom of each fish write the name of a song and attach a paperclip to it.  Create a fishing pole with a magnet on the end of the line.  Have the children take turns coming up and using the fishing pole to “catch” a fish.  Sing the song on the bottom of the fish.

  • Sweet Songs - Make an ice cream cone and scoops. Write songs on the back of the scoops. On some scoops instead of songs write instructions like "Pick someone wearing red to choose the next song" or "Or pick a teacher/leader to tell his/her favorite song."
    Have a reverent child come and pick the first scoop to go on the cone. Tell everyone that the best singer gets to pick the next ice cream scoop to put on the cone.  See how high you can make your ice cream cone grow.

  • Musical Notes – On a poster board or chalkboard draw a musical staff. Next, make musical notes, whole, half and quarter notes and write Primary songs on each. Put the notes in a container.  Now the fun begins. Have the pianist start playing music and let the children pass the can. When the music stops, the child holding the can pulls out a note. Sing the song on the note. Then have the child place the note on your musical staff. After all of the notes have been placed, have the piano player play the song the children created. You can even have them sing it too.

  • Mystery Song – Pick some songs the children are familiar with and tell the pianist. On the chalkboard write Team 1 and Team 2. Divide the class into two teams making an even amount of older and younger kids on each team to make it fair. Then instruct the children that the team that guesses the Primary Song correctly will receive a point. Have the pianist play the first note (the full chord if there is one) of a song and let Team 1 guess. If they guess correctly they get a point, if not then the pianist will play two notes and Team 2 gets to guess. If they get it wrong than Team 1 gets to hear 3 notes. Once a team has correctly guessed the song they receive their point, then instruct the children that the team that sings the best (not screaming, but singing well) will also get a point.  If both teams sing equally well you can give them each a point. Then when you're finished pick a new song and start with Team 2 trying to guess after hearing only one note.

  • Piano Notes – See the Attached Piano Notes file.  Have the child come up and pick a card to play.  The child can then play the song on a little tykes Xylophone toy.  The notes colors match the toys.  This is a great way to teach the children that the different look of notes represent different counts.  The child might need a little help playing.  Have the children guess what song it is and then sing the song.

 

"if you sing louder I'll cut off Bro. Smith's tie" 

A man in the room wears a tie (a tie picked up at the thrift store and provided by the music leader, but the kids don't know that) and when the children are singing she casually says, "if you sing louder I'll cut off Bro. Smith's tie"  AND SHE DOES.  The louder they sing the more of his tie she cuts off.  This was easily the biggest singing time "hit" we've ever had.

Sue H in St. Louis, MO (thanks Sue)

Family Reunion from Lori Walker
I have a fun idea that my Senior Primary singers love.  I call it Family Reunion.  I have pictures (clip art type) of various family members (Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, Aunt, Cousin) mounted on popsicle sticks.  The children pick one of the family members and then a song printed on a slip of paper.  The family members represent different types of singing. For example: Grandma Bessie is a high and wavery voice. Grandpa Joe is basso profundo or very deep voice.  Cousin Gertrude is an opera singer.  Uncle Billy Bob is country western (don't forget the twang). Aunt Olive is nasal (hold your nose for this one) and Little Bitty is sung like a small child.  Encourage the children to really get into the different styles, such as an operatic pose for Cousin Gertrude.  I have gotten strange looks from the teachers and passers-by, but the kids love this one.

Lori Walker (thanks for sharing)
 

Choosing Sticks

 

To help me choose different children each week (without trying to remember whom I've picked and making sure I get everybody)  I came up with Choosing Sticks.  I went to Wal-Mart and purchased a box of 300 Jumbo Craft Sticks for about $3.00.  I then used red paint to paint one end of the stick and yellow paint to paint the other end (any colors would work).   I wrote the name of the child on the center of the stick with a permanent marker.  I placed the sticks in a small can (I used an empty formula can) with the yellow end sticking out of the can.  I choose from the yellow end and return the stick to the can with the red end up.  When all the red ends are up, I dump them out and start over.  This way everyone gets a chance to get picked and I didn't have to spend time coloring or money laminating anything.  The sticks will last and you can scribble out a name or write a new name on the back if someone moves.  I painted a lot of extra sticks so I have them handy in the closet at the church.  When someone new moves in I can quickly add his/her name to the can.  I have two cans: one for JR and one for SR primary.   

 Thanks to Natalie in Ogden, UT for this idea!

 

Here are more helps from Natalie from Ogden, Utah Thanks!

 

First:  If someone cannot draw, they should remember that they can enlarge simple clip art and tape it to the window and trace it onto poster board.  I promise, no one will know you didn't draw it.  People in my ward think I'm this great artist (they don't know my secret!)

 
Second: Latter-day Prophets, p.134.  In a 3-ring binder, place the pictures of the prophets from the Gospel Art Picture Kit (the prophets packet is about $2).  Place them in sheet protectors, starting with the sheet of all the prophets.  Then, turn the page and on the back (in the same sheet protector) have Joseph Smith, then Brigham Young shares his sheet protector back with John Taylor, etc.  Type the names of the prophets in a large, easy-to-read font and cut the paper so you can slide the name of the prophet down to the bottom of the sheet protector.  When you sing the song, you just flip the pages of the binder and the kids and teachers can read the name (if necessary), but they also get familiar with what each prophet looked like.  It is easy to flip the pages with one hand, and everyone likes singing this song!
 
Third: Follow the Prophet, p.110.  I drew a picture of a prophet (from the head down to the chest) vertically on a half sheet of poster-board.  This way you can get 2 prophets out of one sheet.  Cut out the face of the prophet so the child can place his face in the opening (sort of like the things at Disneyland).  I drew the prophet about 1/3 the way down from the top.  At the top of the poster I wrote the name of the prophet, as well as drew a few pictures of things that go with that verse, such as a city in the clouds for Enoch, a whale for Jonah, a tv and a compass for the last verse, etc.  I typed and taped the words and verse # on the back of each poster so that I don't get them out of order or forget who we are singing about when I am standing behind the kids.  They LOVE it, especially the Jr Primary kids, because they think it is so fun to stand there and pretend they are the prophet.  My kids' favorite verse is Enoch (I don't know why).
 
Fourth:  For Father's Day, I drew a picture of a dad (very simple) in a white shirt on a piece of poster board.  Then I printed out a clip art of a tie onto several different colors of cardstock and laminated them.  We play "pin-the-tie on the dad" and on the back of each tie I tape the name of the song, or simply a number.  Then the pianist has a list of the numbers and the songs they correspond to.  That way it takes little preparation from year to year.  I just have to write a list out for the pianist.
 
Fifth: Conducting.  I have found that the Sr primary is very interested in learning how to conduct. I have been the chorister in more than one ward and I have found this to be true each time.  Pay attention and watch to see if any of them are copying you.  If they are, simply switch hands and lead with your left hand so they can copy with their right.  I got out books and explained the time signature and measures to them, so they could understand the different beat patterns and feel the down beat.  I let them lead right along with me whenever they want to.  It seems to give them a greater concentration, as well as allowing them to move their bodies (they have been sitting for a long time, and sometimes I allow them to stand up).  After all, we don't tend to sing the movement songs, such as Popcorn Popping and Once there was a Snowman,  with the Sr primary as much.  This will help them so much as they enter YM/YM and it teaches a life long skill that even the teachers seem to enjoy learning.
 
Sixth: Keep a Tally Sheet.  Make a copy of the songs listed in the back of the book or type up the titles into a table.  Each time you sing a song, make a tally mark next to the title.  This way you can quickly reference that you have sung "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" 12x already this year and you can easily add more variety to your planning.  The children and the teachers will appreciate this, and they will learn more songs this way.
 
Seventh: Use the Ensign and the Friend.  You can make great posters of songs by using pictures cut from these magazines.  I have found the Ensign to be especially helpful, because the pictures are much larger and usually photographs rather than drawings.   These work particularly well when you need pictures of Christ, because these are not cartoon drawings of Him.  Simply tear them out, cut out any unnecessary words, etc. and use a glue-stick to adhere them to the poster.  They don't cost a thing and you don't have to color them!  Ask friends and family members to save their old magazines for you or pick up old copies at the DI.  They are around 25 cents an issue and you can get a lot of pictures from just one issue.  If you laminate the posters, they will last longer, but this is certainly optional if money is an issue.
 
Eighth:  Planning.  Always try to get your songs to your pianist at least one week in advance.  Most of us would be terrified if we were asked to give a lesson or talk at the last minute, and many pianists feel this way when songs are thrown at them with no chance for them to practice.  In my ward the Primary Pres. has me fill out a paper that plans out the entire upcoming month.  We list our songs for Opening/Closing Ex, as well as singing time.  A copy stays with me and one goes to the Secretary as well as the pianist.  Then the Secretary can list the songs on the conducting outline so they can be announced easily. 
 
Ninth: Use Sign Language.  The Church has several books/videos available through the Distribution Center, or simply check out a sign language dictionary from your local library.  Just sign the basic words, as the kids get confused if you sign every one.  We have a child who can hear, but has trouble speaking, and therefore was having a very difficult time sitting through singing time.  This has helped him greatly and the kids love it.  Again, it is a chance to move their bodies, even on reverent songs. 
 
Tenth:  The Chapel Doors, p.156. The words to The Chapel Doors have been changed since your teachers were children!  To help them learn the new words,  I drew a basic Church on a piece of brown posterboard.  Then I glued two file folders facing each other to the middle of the church to look like doors that open.  When you open the doors, you will have 4 panels.  On the first panel, I placed a calendar pointing to the "Sabbath Day."  On the second panel, I placed a picture of Jesus.  On the third, a picture of children singing and on the fourth, a picture of a child praying.   When we sing the part about "We gather here on the Sabbath Day...." I open the doors to reveal the pictures.  Then we close the doors again on "So when we come to the chapel doors...."

 
Bubble Gumball Machine Helper

 

Bubble Gumball Machine Helper poster
Okay here is my start of things to add to these page; in one of the wards I have been in, the music leader made a poster with a big bubble gum machine on it, she cut out a bunch of gumball's and on the back she wrote the kids names in the Primary, when she needed a helper she would choose a gum ball off and call that child up to help! 
You can use certain colors for Jr and SR, or you can make two different posters. 
When you pull one off you can stick it on the back and leave it there until you need to "refill" the machine. Does that make since??
Anyway, here is a machine with colored gum balls you can print out and put on a poster board and then laminate it. You will see the gumball machine is to printed out on 4 different pages, so it won't be to small on a poster board. There are lines where in the middle of the pictures where you would cut it and tape it together.
Anyway take a look and tell me what you think!

I used your idea for the Bubble Gum Machine to choose helpers. The Kids love it. I added a title to the top that I thought rather clever: it says "CHEWS" ME.  Just thought I'd pass that along.

Lori Walker

 

 

gumball.pdf

Nine Values for a Happy Family

Song idea for sharing time for the nine values for happy families
February has been my month to present Sharing Time and a verse I put together to help the kids have fun and learn the Nine Values each family should be practicing in their homes is to the tune of Book of Mormon Stories. Here goes ---


Nine Values for a Happy Family
The Proclamation to the World teaches us to have,
Nine strong values in our lives for happiness at home.
First there's faith, then prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect and love --
Compassion, work and activities.
Just wanting to share.
Thanks Margie Richards for this great idea! 

Signs: Hum, Louder, Softer, Slower, Faster

Singing signs1.pdf

Singing sings2.pdf

This is the same one's as above, just smaller Singing signs3.pdf
Singing signs with pictures.pdf

Sample picture's in this file!

Thanks to Brenda for the following ideas!


I have been in Primary as long as I can remember doing music and I have just realized that everywhere we move I end up over music. I have now finally started saving some files that I have done.
Here are a couple. I hope this helps! I have sent a some files dealing with music. 
Choosing Jar, you just take these slips of paper cut them up and put them in a jar. 
Emergency music time and I keep a copy for me and pianist. 
I am do a folder with music and a cd, you will find a letter that I use and just redraft every year along with a cd cover that I attach in the case. 
There are also two other music times that have directions with them. I hope this adds even more to your site that I visit so much and get so much out of. I just wanted to give something back to all those that inspire me.
If you have any questions you can email Brenda: Click here

CHOOSING JAR SONGS


I AM A CHILD OF GOD-- CS 2
HE SENT HIS SON-- CS 34
JESUS WANTS ME FOR A SUNBEAM*CS 60
I FEEL MY SAVIOR*S LOVE*CS 74
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST*CS 77
FOLLOW THE PROPHET*CS 110
BOOK OF MORMON STORIES*CS 118
NEPHI*S COURAGE*CS 120
LATTER-DAY PROPHETS*CS 134
CHOOSE THE RIGHT WAY*CS 160
A HAPPY FAMILY CS*198
JESUS ONCE WAS A LITTLE CHILD*55
I LOVE TO SEE THE TEMPLE*CS 95

Letter to parents

Dear Parents,
In the children's sacrament presentation later this year, the children will share what they have learned from the theme *My Family Can Be Forever.* This folder contains the musical selections that the children will sing in the sacrament presentation. It is our hope, that you will fill your home with the spirit of music and help your children learn these songs. Please add these songs in your family home evenings, riding in the car, or just simply sing along with your children. What a blessing and honor it is to have the opportunity to hear the children sing. *Our Father in Heaven loves us and has given us the great plan of happiness. The family is central to Heavenly Father*s plan for His children. Families teach us, guide us, and help us return to Him. We testify that *happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ* (The Family: A Proclamation to the World, paragraph 7). It is our hope and prayer that we will serve each child, in helping to teach the children about the Savior and His gospel so they can strengthen their own families now and prepare to build eternal families in the future. We welcome you into our primary and encourage you to support your child in learning about and preparing now for eternal blessings.
Sincerely,
The Primary Presidency

 

Choosing Jar Songs.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letter to parents about CD.pdf

 

Musical Easter Egg Hunt

Directions: Scatter and hide the Easter eggs throughout the room. The eggs have numbers on the back of them; that tell which song should be sung. Choose the most reverent children to find the eggs. Below is a list of songs numbered with page numbers to give to the pianist and for the chorister to refer to as well. Have fun!


I'm Trying to be Like Jesus*.78
Families can be Together Forever*.188
Faith***96
He Sent His Son**.34
I Know My Father Lives*..5
Love is Spoken Here**.190-191
Popcorn Popping **.242
A Happy Family **..198
Choose the Right Way**.160
Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam**60

 

 

Musical Easter Egg Hunt.pdf

Easter Eggs music clip art.pdf

WHAT SONG AM I?

This music time is meant to challenge the children. Cut out the large color coded musical notes. Place them on the floor. The children will then take a small stuffed animal or beanbag and toss it on a note. Whatever note they land on they get a clue to see if they can guess the song. The pianist plays the first few notes of the song and all the children work as a team to guess the song. When the song is guessed everyone sings. Set this up as a game show theme if you like and welcome the children to the *What song am I?* game show. Entertain and musically educate the children through the gospel. Have Fun!
Color Coded Songs:
PINK:
A HAPPY FAMILY**198
GREEN: 
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST*..77
ORANGE: 
HEAD SHOULDERS KNEES AND TOES*.275
PURPLE: 
I OFTEN GO WALKING*.202
BURGUNDY: 
LOVE IS SPOKEN HERE*.190
YELLOW: 
OUR PRIMARY COLORS*.258

 

 

Who am I notes music.pdf

BUILD A FATHER

This music time is taken by using the poem, *MY FATHER* by: Barbara J. Porter from the Friend magazine in June 1995 page 24. You could also find pictures and laminate them and have a plain father and decorate him, as well.
Items Needed:
Suitcase
Shoes
Pants
Pillow
Gloves
Shirt
Chap stick
Ear muffs/headphones
Glasses
Scriptures
Have a child come to the front of the class and play the role of father. Not every item has a song attached for time purposes. Take turns picking out the most reverent child and letting them pick the item they think matches watch you say is needed. For example, *My father*s feet will lead me in paths I know are right.* The child will pull out the shoes from the suitcase and the father will put them on. The children will hopefully be listening so they can determine what to pull. Below is a list of songs that I used: The goal is dress the father from head to toe and realize just some of the things a father does.
Shoes: Two Happy Feet: CS: 270
Pants: Hinges: CS: 277
Pillow: No song
Gloves: My dad: CS: 211
Shirt: I Wiggle: CS: 271
Chap Stick: No Song
Ear Muffs/ Headphones: The Dearest Names: CS: 208
Glasses: Daddy*s Homecoming: CS: 210
Scriptures: Love is Spoken Here: CS: 190
Here is what I am doing for music this Sunday.

Hats off  to Mother

This music time is taken from the poem, *Hats off to Mother.* (Friend Magazine May 1983) 
You will need seven items: You can use the actual hats, items that represent the act performed or clipart. 
1.) Mother is a Nurse. (You can use the clipart of a nurse hat, nurse or an item such as a band-aid)
Song: I Feel My Savior*s Love pg. 74
2.) Mother is a Chef. (You can use the clipart of a chef hat, kitchen item such as a whisk.)
Song: Popcorn Popping pg. 242
3.) Mother is a chauffeur. (You can use clipart of a chauffeur hat or driver, or old car keys.)
Song: Do As I*m Doing pg. 276 Action of Driving a Car
4.) Mother is a detective. (You can use clipart of a detective hat or detective, or police item such as handcuffs or magnifying glass.)
Song: Search Ponder and Pray pg. 109
5.) Mother is a Gardener. (You can use clipart of a garden hat, or bring a garden tool or seeds.)
Song: I Often Go Walking pg. 202
6.) Mother is a Maid. (You can use a maid hat, maid clipart, or a feather duster.)
Song: Saturday pg. 196
7.) Mother is an Angel. ( You can use clipart for a crown, make a crown from burger king, or make crowns out of cardstock for each of the mothers.)
Song: Families Can Be Together Forever pg. 188
The purpose of the music time is to reinforce that mothers nurture their children and wear many different hats, so to speak. 

Just Fishing

 

In this singing time the primary child will be blind-folded. Children will take a wooden dowel and try to pick up the magnetic fish with songs on the back. The children have to listen carefully as to where to put the fishing pole in order to catch a fish (whispering voices behind them are encouraged to distract the fisher). 
Your Primary helper with be a fisherman. Fishing hat, sunglasses, etc. for your helper.
Items Needed:
Wooden Dowel with rope or line attached to the end with a paper clip
Laminated fish with magnetic strips on the front, songs written on the back
Blind-fold
Here is the clipart:
The point of this singing time is to try to stress the importance of listening to the right voices. When there are two many it becomes confusing and the direction becomes blurred. Good Luck!
1.A Happy FamilyCS:198
2.I Feel My Savior*s Love CS: 74
3.The Family CS: 194
4.I Know My Father Lives CS: 5
5.Head Shoulders Knees and ToesCS:275
6.If Your HappyCS:166
7.My Heavenly Father Loves Me CS: 228
8.Our Primary Colors CS: 258
9.Popcorn PoppingCS:242

 

 

 

clip art for fishing.pdf

Bouquet of Flowers

This singing time is meant to teach the children about working as a bunch. Even though each flower is beautiful as an individual; the true beauty comes from working together (as a bunch). A family is like a bunch of flowers. Each family member adds to the beauty of the bunch and they work together to create a harmony. As a family member, you can share love for one another and serve others as well as your family.
Items Needed:
Flowers that form into an arrangement
List of songs you want to sing
A vase
*You can also use laminated paper flowers cut-out and a vase and add them to a chalkboard or poster.* 
Directions: 
Spread five flowers throughout the room and let the children find them. The gardener (your primary music helper for that Sunday) will arrange the flowers in the vase. 
*You can then give the flowers in the base to the pianist or to the Primary President to show appreciation for all the things she does.* (Once again reinforcing service and love for one another.)
Example of Song List:
I Am A Child of GodCS:2
Families Can Be Together ForeverCS:188
The FamilyCS:194
I Feel My Savior*s LoveCS:74
Love One Another CS: 136

Here are some great ideas for Singing Time from Amy!
Thanks


I teach singing time for a senior primary of mostly boys. I can't get them to even open their mouths unless we are playing a competition sport! So I finally figured it out! SPORTS! So*. I invented a basketball game. I created basketballs with the following words on each one: EFFORT, WORDS, NOTES, LOUD, RHYTHM, DICTION, FEELING, and BLEND. I brought these signs and a small soft basketball to church (bean bag size.) I taught the children what each of these words meant and how each is a step toward beautiful choral music. Then I placed a *basket* (garbage can) at the front of the room. I then placed each basketball sign on the floor each at a further distance from the basket. The girls & boys were divided into teams (because this automatically infuses them to try harder) and a scoreboard drawn on the board. They picked team names: Daughters of Zion & Sons of Helaman. This can be done to practice one song over an over again or by selecting a song to review. When a song is sung by the primary the referee (song leader) tells selects a team representative to try for a basket. I tell them how well they did (ie: EFFORT being the worst & BLEND being the best) and they get to take a shot from that basketball sign on the floor. The team gets 2 pts for each basket. I gave them a choice to move up one spot for only 1 pt or back a spot for 3 pts. I think next time I will allow them 2 shots per song because they miss a lot. I have NEVER heard these kids try so hard or sing so well! They LOVE IT! It also teaches them to focus on more than just being loud and takes care of the single shouter you always have in primary. I'm going to try football next. 

Magic Water
Idea from Jody Roberts
THANKS


Our Chorister in Primary is great and really comes up with some good stuff. One of the kids favorites is the magic water. She takes clear plastic cups and fills some of them with water and just a couple with vinegar. Then, next to each cup is a plastic spoon with "magic potion" (couple drops of food coloring with a spoon full of baking soda on top, except the spoons next to the vinegar have no food coloring). Then the kids get to choose a cup. The place the spoon in the liquid and stir. The cups with water will turn the color of the food coloring under the baking soda. Then you sing the song that is written with the corresponding color. The cups with vinegar will bubble and over flow (so this should be done on a cookie sheet with a lip) and the kids get to choose a favorite song to sing. The kids love it!!

Olympics

Marce Wilkin
Peachtree City ward in Georgia

I have been asked to fill in for singing time for the Junior primary and with the Olympics going on we used this as our theme for rewarding good singers.
We had just learned a new song and so I had the other Primary presidency members be the judges and pick out the three singers that were singing and looking at me and just doing a great job. They got to come up to the front where I had three different heights of footstools and they stood on them and I had some medals that I borrowed from my daughter (that she had won in Gymnastics) and I put them around their neck and said congratulations and they got to stand there while the rest of the kids sang a fun primary song to them. They got to wear the medals during the rest of singing time and sharing time and then they gave them back. They really liked this and I told the kids we would do some more next week so that more kids could wear the medals and be recognized.
Also, to learn the new song I went to an education supply store in town and bought large multi-colored smiley faces and had them laminated and then I put them on Popsicle sticks. I asked the children who had their singing voices with them and gave them a smiley face to hold. (Of course, they all had their singing voices with them after they saw the smiley faces). As we learned the song I had the kids with blue and red smiley faces stand and sing one line, and then the pink and yellow stand and sing the next line, etc. Also, we divided the room into two groups and took turns singing and the half that wasn't singing got to decide if they sang good and they would hold up their smiley faces as a thumbs up. The kids loved having something to hold and they had to pay attention to see if it was their turn to do something. 
 

Tip in finding music on church web site
Hi--I was just called as our Stake Primary Music Leader, and the question came up at our recent training meeting:  "Is there a way to go to the Church web site and find the songs that have been published in the Friend without literally searching for hours??"
 
I found the way to do just that!  If you'd like to teach a song (other than the ones in the Songbook) from the Friend, you can download the sheet music by doing the following:
 
1)go to www.lds.org
2)click "Gospel Library", select "Church Publications, HTML (text)"
3)Click "Advanced Search"
4)Three choices appear at the top portion of the page: "General Search, Curriculum, Magazines"  : click on "Magazines"
5)A page will appear with a list of prompts. Select "the Friend", then select "All issues that contain music"
6)You will have 100 songs at your fingertips, and be able to simply click on any title and the page will show up for you to print!
 
Lisa,  Lake Oswego, Oregon

The Music Measles
The Music Measles.  I bought a package of tiny red dot stickers and put them all over myself and the presidency members.  I explained to the children that music is contagious, like when we hear a catchy tune.  I also told them that music has a way of making us happy, and that happiness is also contagious.  Well, the music measles were contagious too.  They "caught" the music measles by singing.  The music measles were something they wanted to catch.  As they sang, we placed our stickers on them.  They had fun seeing who had more spots on them.

 Thanks to Angela Nelson for this great idea