Happy New Year, dear Music Friends!

Here are some materials for the Primary 2014 music curriculum from my annual workshop (see below).  My intent is to save you some time and share ideas for teaching.

First, I have made a monthly outline of all the songs needed for each month, in singing time or sharing time.  You could schedule them as opening songs so that they are ready when needed in a sharing time activity.  The outline is made from the “short list” of songs that are available worldwide—so that is why some obvious songs that would support a message, like Honesty, are not in the official outline.  I have listed them with a ? for you to consider.

Second, my workshop outline is the same every year but I use scheduled songs to try and demonstrate the principles I teach.

Third, a lesson plan for every song in the songbook is already prepared in “A Children’s Songbook Companion.” As I have explained before, this book was part of our assignment when preparing the Children’s Songbook.  The manual was approved through Correlation, but just before press date, a decision was made to not publish Church materials that could not be translated and used worldwide.  So, after sitting on our “gold-mine” of plans (written by presenters at the BYU Church Music Workshop over many years, plus additions by our committee), we published it ourselves, minus the Primary stewardship section.  The book has a new cover, so it is no longer “The Green Bible.”  The content is exactly the same, but has an updated feel to draw attention on store shelves.

Fourth, I have prepared suggested lesson plans for “The Family is of God” and the two hymns, “I Stand All Amazed” and “Let the Holy Spirit Guide.”  They are, of course, based on the same method we outlined on page 300 of the Children’s Songbook:  State what the message of the song is, plan an attention-getter to start the song, and ask questions that can be answered by listening to the singing.  Repeat the song many times using a variety of reasons (actions, movement, stop/go, words/hum, dynamics always emphasizing understanding).

Fifth, I wrote a verse to “Follow the Prophet” some years ago about President Monson.  I have drawn four simple pictures that can fold into a little booklet.  It is nice to help children learn words while coloring, and then they have a way to teach it to their family for FHE.  This year, “The Christmas Train” was published by Deseret Book, which is the story I was referencing. Children may be familiar with that book and it’s beautiful pictures.In May, the children are to make a verse to “Follow the Prophet” during sharing time, so this could be an example.  Also see my “Lehi” verse, which goes to the tune of “Book of Mormon Stories.”

Good luck as you help teach children the gospel through music this year.  You have a wonderful opportunity to help strengthen our future leaders.

Love, Pat



MONTHLY OUTLINE                                                         

WORKSHOP OUTLINE

NEW COVER

"A Children’s Songbook Companion”

3 LESSON PLANS

The Family Is of God

Hymns: "I Stand All Amazed"

and "Let the Holy Spirit Guide"

PRES. MONSON BOOKLET

LEHI VERSE