The Start of an Over-The-Top Song Leader

 Months ago, I happened to "mention" to the Nursery Leader that my dream calling would be to be the Nursery Song Leader in our ward. I soon found that the Angels were listening and my request was granted! So I quickly got to work as my calling would begin with the start of January 2013.

Now I soon realized that I appear to have a different philosophy about teaching music to these kids than most bloggers I have found. And that's okay. I just honestly believe that my "role" is to 1) teach the kids to love music, 2) to encourage their budding testimonies, and 3) to give them an early foundation of both preschool and church songs (majority from the Children's Songbook of course). 

I have not been disappointed - this is my favorite calling I have ever had!

First thing I did was to compile a huge list of songs that I wanted to use throughout the year. I have adult ADD (not really, but I get bored really fast), so I couldn't grasp the concept of working the same 5 songs all year long. 52 weeks of the same 5 songs? Oh. My. Word. I would hate it. While I understand the importance of reiterating songs to really teach the lyrics, I also understand that variety helps the kids stay engaged. So each month I focus on a set of 8 songs: 4 motion songs and 4 prop songs, with an additional 2 rotating songs each week. Therefore, I prepare my music bucket each week for 10 songs (and have a few backups just in case). At the beginning of May, I will start the sets again...so we will go through each set three times. Impressed by my math skills? :) The kids get variety AND lots of practice with each song. 

This is my master list of songs - Motion Song Index and Prop Song Index. I have it on a clipboard along with Hymn Numbers and listed associated props (where appropriate). It is a great go-to reference for me and help for any substitutes that I might need. I also have the lyrics for every single song (preschool and Church related) just in case I have a brain-freeze moment.

Motion Song Index:

• Daddy's Homecoming (Hymn 210)
• Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes (Hymn 275)
• Hello Song (Hymn 260)
• Hinges (Hymn 277)
• If You're Happy And You Know It (Hymn 166)
• Itsy Bitsy Spider
• Kindness Begins With Me (Hymn 145)
• Listen, Listen (Hymn 107)
• My Hands (Hymn 273)
• Once There Was a Snowman (Hymn 249)
• Popcorn Popping (Hymn 242)
• Shake Your Sillies Out 
• The Wise Man and The Foolish Man (Hymn 281)
• Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear (sometimes I actually bring enough small teddy bears for each child to hold one)
• Twinkle Twinkle
• Wheels on the Bus

Prop Song Index:

• A Happy Helper (Hymn 197) - music (ribbon) shakers
• Do As I'm Doing (Hymn 276) - spinner or ribbon shakers
• Five Little Ducks - magnetic ducks to use with "story"
• Five Little Speckled Frogs - magnetic frogs and log to use with "story"
• Follow the Prophet chorus (Hymn 110) - march behind person holding the picture of the Prophet
• Fun to Do (Hymn 253) - "singing a song" is fun to do with instruments: tambourines, handbell wristbands, maracas, or rhythm sticks
• Hello, Friends (Hymn 254) - egg shakers
• I am a Child of God (Hymn 2) - mirror and crowns
• I am Like a Star (Hymn 163) - star prop on popsicle stick
• I Want to Be a Missionary Now (Hymn 168) - hand drums to imitate footfall
• In the Leafy Treetops (Hymn 240) - birds and flowers
• Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam (Hymn 60) - sing wearing sunbeam crown/mask with jumping actions
• Jesus Said Love Everyone (Hymn 61) - picture of Jesus and heart handouts
• Quickly I'll Obey (Hymn 197) - two sided poster board of mom/dad
• Smiles (Hymn 267) - happy/frowny "grandpas" handout
• Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear - enough small teddy bears from home so that each child helps their bears do the movements
• The Chapel Doors (Hymn 156) - large picture of church with doors that open to a picture of Jesus

 Next, I made an index card for each song with a picture on one side and the song name/hymn number on the back.

We live in a really young area, so I have 4 nursery classes: 2 senior classes and 2 junior classes. At 20+ minutes each, I get quite the workout each Sunday. And I love every minute of it. :) Each class is made up of such unique little personalities and so there HAS to be praying and planning involved. Otherwise, utter chaos!

My kiddos in my two senior nursery classes get to take turns choosing from the weekly song list and they love this. They really get into it. I can't do this with my younger kiddos though, they just don't "get it" yet. So with the two junior classes, I pre-organize the song list for them to mix things up and keep them engaged. And just follow the list. It takes a little bit of planning prior to Church, but it flows pretty well now.