I know it’s late on Saturday night, but I’ve been impressed to share what I did last week for PTTM. It worked so well, and it was a last-minute inspiration for me.
I was concerned that they needed to know the notes and timing before we really worried about what I call the $10 words. (We’ve been doing Word of the Week for two months now to learn them). As I was gathering last-minute things for Primary, I saw my singing wands (really, just 12” dowels, some I was given have glitter glue on the ends). I grabbed them, and the idea came… I had the kids first practice tapping out the melody, line by line, with the piano following along. To start with, I gave them all the wands, explained that they weren’t swords, and that they needed to be reverent with them. I told them to sit forward in their chairs and raise their wands. And then we started with the first verse. I had them tap lightly on the back of the chair in front of them, and the kids in the front row could tap between their knees, on the base of the chair, or turn around and use the back of their chair. They had to do each line, following the piano, and then we would move on. It actually was quite magical, pardon the pun, but they were brilliant!
Any time they got a little wiggly, all I had to say was “Wands up! Voices off!” (and hold mine up like I was ready to conduct) and they instantly obeyed. I quickly brought my wand up at the end of each line, so they could see the logical breaks.
Once they could do the whole song, we “ooohed” it at the same time. They were much more prepared to put the words in, because the melody and timing came more easily. The best part was when I’d stop them to do another line, but they’d all keep moving on, perfectly in rhythm, because they knew it so well.
If you don’t have wands, they can clap or use their hands to tap on the chairs.
I hope this helps someone!
Kristen in Bentonville, Arkansas
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