I can't sing, carry a tune, read music or play an instrument, so for many years I avoided the use of music in my classes. Then I was put in charge of an inservice meeting on music. I invited the music leader to teach the class, and she spent an hour proving that you don't need any musical skill at all to have a musical classroom. Since then, I have enjoyed playing with music.
Recorded music allows teachers who don't know the songs or who aren't comfortable singing to help children sing in class. Put on the music and let the children sing along. Children also enjoy taking turns leading the music. It doesn't really matter if they know how or not-most of the children can't follow a music leader anyway. The leader enjoys waving her hands around and the other children have someone to follow, more or less.
Singing can bring a peaceful spirit to an excited class. It also creates a sense of unity. My friend Laura used this technique to bring her family together when she felt they were fragmented. She had them all sing together. As they were focused on the same thing, she felt them becoming a group. Singing can bring your class back into focus, reminding them to be a group instead of a
collection of individuals.
Music is also an effective way to teach children to feel the spirit. Have them sing or listen to one of the wiggle songs. Ask them how the song makes them feel. Then listen or sing a quiet song and ask them again. Help them to see how the music affects them, but also to learn to feel the spirit during spiritual songs. After enjoying music, tell the children that the music made you feel calm and spiritual. As children learn to recognize the spiritual power of music, you will be able to use it to calm your class or to set a mood.
Try letting your children use simple instruments in your class. Learn to make a song on water-filled glasses, for example. Let the children try it out-it might even be something you can do for a class presentation if you tie it to a gospel topic, such as the importance of teamwork.
If a song used in the lesson matches the outline of the lesson, consider using it as the framework. Put each line or group of lines on separate cards. Tape them to the wall with the words hidden. Have children come up throughout the lesson to turn over the cards and use the line of the song as the outline for the entire lesson. Then sing the song together. This helps the children create a gospel framework for the song and come to a deeper understanding of the meaning. Remember to cover the material from the manual if you do this.
Because we attend Sharing Time with our class, we have a wonderful opportunity to watch the music leader. Notice the ways she uses music to teach gospel principles and watch how she teaches the songs. She will explain words and meanings, put the songs into a gospel context and use a wide variety of methods to teach the songs. We can use these methods in our own classroom. I have generally found that music leaders are among the most creative and interactive
teachers in the church.
Don't be afraid to use music in your classroom. As you prayerfully study your lessons, you will find many places where a song is appropriate.
We Shall Make Music: Stories of the Primary Songs
