1st Article of Faith Song

We got started with this first song.  I had the kids join me in keeping the beat while patting their laps while I sang the song to them.  Then they sang along as we repeated this.

Then we switched to clapping the rhythm of the words.  That is good because as they clap the words you can fix any errors they may have in the rhythm.

Now that they could do both of these, I had half the kids pat the beat while the other half clapped the rhythm.  I chose a child to lead the rhythm.  Just watched to see who was doing a good job and asked that child to lead.

Then we switched sides so that each side got to do both parts.

By then, the kids had the song learned well.  Everyone was doing something all the time so they were busily engaged.

Then I used the Keep the Beat and Clap the Rhythm cards and whenever I changed the cards, they had to do what the card said.  They liked that challenge.  I tried not to just change at the end of phrases which would make it pretty easy.  I wanted them to be really thinking as they sang.

Blogger is having a problem with videos right now, so if this video is not working for you, you can view it on You Tube at https://youtu.be/j_M01LZifjs

Follow the Prophet

When there is a song with this many verses (and we are just doing 6 of them) I like to spread the learning out over a few months.  So we are going to learn one verse each month leading up to May and then we'll pick up the extra verse during May.    We are adding the verse about President Monson that goes like this:

Thomas is a prophet
With a gentle heart.
Visiting the sick,
He always does his part.
Servant from his youth -
He will lead us well.
Listen to his stories,
Live by what they tell.

One of the reasons that we all like this song so much is that it is so rhythmic.  I used the rhythm pattern of the words "Follow the Prophet" to create a drum part for this song.  Once the children know one verse they are ready for drumming!

There are activities that we do in the Primary Room that will NEVER carry over into the chapel for our program.  I think it is still good to do them.  You need reasons to sing songs multiple times so that the children know the words well.  I prefer to use musical reasons to repeat songs wherever I can so I like using drumming with the children.

I always teach the rhythm of a percussion instrument with body movement before using the actual instruments.  It allows me see and identify which children are capable of playing successfully.  It gives all of the children something to do.  It challenges the children to do double thinking as we put movement together with a song.  Here is the rhythm notation for this song.  The pattern is Short Long Short Long Long.

Jr. Primary 

Step 1:  We begin by patting the pattern on our lap.  Get the teachers involved with you.  The adults are usually good at music and help keep the kids on the pattern.  Start slowly and then build up some speed as soon as you can see the children doing it.  

Step 2:  The children keep doing the beat while saying the ABCs.  Can they do 2 things at the same time?

Step 3:  Sing one verse of Follow the Prophet while patting the rhythm.

Step 4:  Children take turns playing this rhythm on drums while you sing the song.  For the younger children they can hold the drum under left arm while using soft drum mallet with right hand.  Reverse this for lefties.

Sr. Primary

Step 1:  Older children are capable of playing a drum with 2 hands so we learn this pattern by chanting the words Left Right Right Left Right while patting that pattern on our laps.  (Note the two Rights in a row.  This allows that the pattern will always be the same and that you won't be alternating which hand you start with.) Of course you are saying the left and right words to the pattern of  Short Long Short Long Long.  You will have to practice this ahead of time and know it well before you try this with the children.

Step 2:  The children keep doing the beat while saying the ABCs.  Can they do 2 things at the same time?

Step 3:  Sing one verse of Follow the Prophet while patting the rhythm.

Step 4:  Children take turns playing this rhythm on drums while you sing the song.  For two handed drumming the drum is held between the knees so that both hands are free to play.  

CODA ( THE ENDING)

Once your children have got this down, you can add an ending to the drumming.  The Coda adds a sense of completion to the music.

Here is what we do for the ending.  Play the drum pattern you already learned 2 times.   Then play Short Short Short Short Short Short Long.  And then conclude with the original drum pattern played once more only with an accent on the last beat!  

Children love adding endings to any song.  An ending is officially called the Coda.  They like knowing they are playing a Coda.  It sounds so important!  Here is the rhythm notation for this Coda.

I will do a post about making drums soon.

Keep the Beat and Clap the Rhythm

One activity that works well when teaching a new song is to sing the song while keeping a steady beat with your hands and then contrast that to clapping the rhythm of the words.  You have to be sure they understand the difference and can do each separately and then can switch back and forth as they sing the song.

Once the children can do both activities easily, you can then have half of the children keep the beat while the other half does the rhythm.

Senior Primary is capable of keeping the steady beat with their feet while clapping the rhythm with their hands.  They respond well to a challenge.  As you keep them challenged with difficult musical activities they will love singing time.

Beat:  for the younger children it is easiest to have both hands do the same thing so they can pat their lap with two hand to keep the beat.  Older children can "walk" their hands on their lap to the beat of the music, alternating right and left.

Rhythm:  for this activity we are using the pattern of short and long sounds made up by the words of the song.  Clap every syllable of every word to the exact pattern formed by the music to create the "rhythm of the words".

Here are my two signs I use with the children.  I like to go to the paint store and purchase paint stirring sticks to attach to my signs but this is certainly not necessary.