Question:  How can I help children learn a new song?

What one letter can you use to fill in all the blanks in the following sentence:

When choosing songs to use in my class, I __requently select those that are __amiliar __avorites and __un to sing.

How sad when teachers miss a Fabulous opportunity to expand their song selections. 

Perhaps you would accept the challenge to introduce a new song soon if you had IDEAS on how to help your class learn it.

First you must select the song you will teach. if you need to review guidelines for selecting songs.

Once a song is selected you will not succeed by saying to your class:

    "I heard this song and really liked it. Do any of you know it? No? I haven't learned it either so I guess we'll learn it together. Here goes!"

Learn the song first so you can present it with confidence while following five steps.

  Introduce the song to the children and Include a visual. 

• Purchase several visualized songs from CEF Press^® , if possible.
• Perhaps you have a children's chorus book

Caution: If a song is copyrighted your church needs a copyright license or you need to secure permission from the owner before you visualize it.

With permission secured, choose pictures to help children understand and retain the meaning of the song's message. This is true whether your visual is a poster, an overhead transparency or PowerPoint projected.

Consider writing words to a familiar non-copyrighted tune. For example here's a song we wrote to the tune "Jingle Bells".

Choose a way to briefly introduce the song that will capture the children's attention. Here's three different possibilities for our "Watch Your Words" song:

1. Use simple statements related to the song's message. 

        "It's a horrible feeling when you say something that makes your friend sad. It's a wonderful feeling when you say something that helps a friend feel better. This song will help you remember to watch your words."

2. Use a verse of Scripture to lead into the song's message.

        "Listen to what God says in Proverbs 15:28, 'The heart of the righteous studieth how to answer, but the mouths of the wicked poureth out evil.' God is telling us to be careful with our words. Here's a song that will help us obey Proverbs 15:28.

3. Ask questions that lead you into the song's message.

          "What might you say that would make a friend happy?" (Let children respond.)

          "What might you say that would make a friend sad?" (Let children respond.)

          "How could this song help you to be more careful with what you say to your friends?" (Do the next step before you let children respond.)

Demonstrate it!

• Sing it for them with a confident smile and an appropriate level of enthusiasm.
 
• Don't apologize for your voice. God gave it to you!
 
• Let children become active listeners by giving them something to watch for.
    "As you listen, what does this song say you should do before you speak?"
 
• Don't be surprised if children jump right in and sing, even if they have never heard the song before and the tune is not familiar. It's okay! Don't reprimand them for wanting to take part. Learning a song should be a positive experience.

• Briefly explain unfamiliar words or concepts.
• In future weeks review the meaning of the song before or after you sing it.
• Children memorize and retain musical messages quite quickly so it is essential you help them understand the words they sing.

Children in a 5-Day Club^® were taught the song "Oh, How I Love Jesus." That line is repeated three times before the chorus concludes with, "Because He first loved me."

This was a new song for these children. Even the concept of Jesus' love was new to a five-year-old who came to club and heard the Gospel for the first time ever. At the close of the club this child approached the teacher and said, "I love Jesus!"

The teacher asked, "Why do you love Him?"

The child said, "Because He loved me first!" 

Where did this young first-timer catch that Romans 5:8 concept? From a song that was taught, not simply sung.

Review the steps so far:

        I____________ the song and I__________ a visual.

        D_____________ it!

        E__________ what the song means.

The next step:

  Apply the message of the song to both saved and unsaved children, if possible.

For example, continuing with "Watch Your Words":

        It is sin when you use words to tell lies, or to hurt someone on purpose, or to tell people how great you are. God can help you use the right words if you choose to trust Him as your Savior.

         If you already have Jesus as your Savior, God will help you remember to say what is right. Tell Him you're sorry when you use words in a sinful way and ask Him to give you power to stop saying wrong things.

In future weeks continue to explain and apply the message.

  Sing the song together two or three times.

Work at learning a song correctly. Challenge the children to sing the very best they can and compliment them when they do.

Be careful of only stressing the way a song is sung. For example: "Who can sing the loudest?" or "Let's sing it faster!" Rather, stress the message. Examples: "As you sing softly think of how Jesus suffered and died for you." or "Let's sing this song faster with big smiles to show how happy we are to belong to the Lord Jesus."

 Children have a hard time thinking beyond the borders of their experience. In Good News Club^® we were using "Good News To All the World," a great theme song published by CEF Press^®  (For more information about CEF Press Click Here.)

During one club hour, reviewing previous lessons about Paul, the teacher asked, "When Paul and his friends went to different cities and people believed in Jesus, Paul organized the people into groups. What were those groups called?"

"Good News Clubs!" Gary told her. We love the concept of Paul traveling to Corinth, Philippi, Galatia, Ephesus, Colosee ... setting up Good News Clubs and starting each meeting by singing "Good News to All the World!"

Would you like to print out the five IDEAS steps to help you remember them?  Click Here

Is music an important part of your class hour? It should be!

Start selecting new songs, one at a time, and you will no longer be __ailing because you use only the __amiliar __avorites that are __un to sing.

Try a higher grade! Your kids will soon be __ttracted to new songs because you __ccepted our __dvice, __ccumulated new titles and __dopted our IDEAS on how to teach them.

Perhaps you will start by teaching "Watch Your Words!"

Where do you want to go next?

  To the index of questions

  To the place for encouragement (changed each week)