tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733155484339450711.post1803264462362552637..comments2023-12-07T01:55:07.320-07:00Comments on The Children Sing: My Advice to a New ChoristerKathleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00670017068516575306noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733155484339450711.post-25846396479958654502011-08-23T15:42:37.534-06:002011-08-23T15:42:37.534-06:00Thank you for this, I was just called a few weeks ...Thank you for this, I was just called a few weeks ago and since the program is so soon I am definitely feeling a lot of pressure, especially since I am just learning some of these songs myself! I know you are right. If the children love singing then the program will be successful no matter what. Your blog is so helpful, thank you so much!Luke&Megzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02639239895367668156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733155484339450711.post-81546564426613033302010-12-06T10:29:29.846-07:002010-12-06T10:29:29.846-07:00Ah Becky B. You are girl after my own heart! Havin...Ah Becky B. You are girl after my own heart! Having been the president you'll have experience and insight that will be such a benefit to you now. Sometimes choristers just don't have the perspective or experience or confidence needed to rock the boat, as you say. I'm glad that you do because your primary kids will benefit.Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00670017068516575306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733155484339450711.post-74999824063966468092010-12-05T22:54:32.596-07:002010-12-05T22:54:32.596-07:00Thanks for your liberating advice. I was just rele...Thanks for your liberating advice. I was just released as Primary President and called as Chorister. The old chorister did a great job but she did focus exclusively on the monthly song, thinking up clever games to help the kids forget they were singing the same song over and over for 20 minutes. When I took over I wanted to take things a total different way. I wanted to sing lots of different songs each week. Why can't we learn 4 new songs over the course of 4 months, rather than 1 song in 1 month. But then there is that pressure to do the same thing that has always been done and not rock the boat. I'm glad to find someone that agrees with me... well, actually, it looks like lots of someones.Becky B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17323518137235559735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733155484339450711.post-59088651415877217352010-10-24T14:08:36.647-06:002010-10-24T14:08:36.647-06:00Emily, I'm so glad you have a goal to "di...Emily, I'm so glad you have a goal to "diversify!" ;o) You'll all have so much more fun, every Sunday. Although it's cute, your anecdote teaches us a very valuable lesson. Our children shouldn't have to feel that they sing only for the program. The kids do have a way of stating the obvious, don't they?Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00670017068516575306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733155484339450711.post-7316527469060769412010-10-24T13:44:31.278-06:002010-10-24T13:44:31.278-06:00This is great advice. I just finished my first pro...This is great advice. I just finished my first program as chorister (it went fine, of course) and in doing planning now, I realize there are so many songs that the kids have either forgotten or just never learned because we focus so much on 8 songs each year. I have a goal now to teach a much wider variety of music and focus on enjoying it.<br /><br />Funny anecdote dealing with this: I was reviewing a certain song one week and one child (who obviously wasn't enjoying it!) spoke up and said "Why do we have to do this? It's not a program song!" Even they feel the pressure.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03648495648381787712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733155484339450711.post-15639473698593452162010-09-24T15:09:52.903-06:002010-09-24T15:09:52.903-06:00Thank you for your timely advice. I too was feelin...Thank you for your timely advice. I too was feeling the dread of "performing" the songs that we just love to sing. I hope I can keep the right perspective and balance this month during music time.belliesuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06887804808014684959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733155484339450711.post-11655768922888926072010-09-14T10:35:47.476-06:002010-09-14T10:35:47.476-06:00Aaaaccck, Amy your comment got lost as it was publ...Aaaaccck, Amy your comment got lost as it was publishing and I can't seem to retrieve it. Please forgive me! I'm surprised really that I don't make more mistakes with the computer. I'm constantly hitting wrong buttons, or hitting them too soon, or something! I still have so much to learn and sometimes things happen and I don't know how to fix them.<br /><br />Thank you for your comment, however. I hope that, as the first counselor, you'll be able to influence and train your next chorister. Meanwhile, have fun doing the music and just breathe deeply through the next couple of weeks.Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00670017068516575306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733155484339450711.post-35378559772394149242010-09-11T19:48:42.094-06:002010-09-11T19:48:42.094-06:00Amy Marshallhttp://howtobesuperwoman.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733155484339450711.post-78157427564117226162010-09-07T17:07:43.929-06:002010-09-07T17:07:43.929-06:00Ah Sandra, I'm so sorry that you've had a ...Ah Sandra, I'm so sorry that you've had a miserable time. Can we talk? Would you e-mail me? Please imagine me giving you a big hug and patting you on the back. If I could dry the tears you might have shed, I would try.Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00670017068516575306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733155484339450711.post-53316586274130953172010-09-05T05:51:45.545-06:002010-09-05T05:51:45.545-06:00Unfortunately I'm 2 years too late on reading ...Unfortunately I'm 2 years too late on reading your advice. You are exactly right, and I wish I had known it when I was called. This has been a very miserable two years for me, and I'll be asking to be released by the new year. However, I am very, very grateful for your advice, so I can pass it along to the next chorister.Sandranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733155484339450711.post-21285833803741895562010-09-03T22:03:49.322-06:002010-09-03T22:03:49.322-06:00I love everything you said! You have so much wisdo...I love everything you said! You have so much wisdom-all of us who read your blog are lucky to have your advice from your years of experience! In my planning for September I was starting to think...how am I going to keep things interesting singing the same songs (the program songs) over and over all month? This post was absolutely inspired and just what I needed to hear. Thanks for the reminder that there is much more to Singing Time than just preparing for the program!Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705134459250941164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733155484339450711.post-34877285500672001952010-08-25T05:16:01.714-06:002010-08-25T05:16:01.714-06:00Great advice! I think something we all needed to h...Great advice! I think something we all needed to here. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16266879724801426628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733155484339450711.post-21543053702969307272010-08-24T11:48:57.875-06:002010-08-24T11:48:57.875-06:00It takes a while to learn how to let go of the emo...It takes a while to learn how to let go of the emotional responsibility for how well this program comes off. The fact is that many of us are SOOOOO relieved to get the program over with so that we can finally (for one or two measly months) have some fun and just sing with the kids. This feeling should really give us a clue that we need to find a better way of handling the program. Thanks for your comments.Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00670017068516575306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733155484339450711.post-55541979688003951482010-08-22T19:46:07.242-06:002010-08-22T19:46:07.242-06:00How did you know that is how I feel? Thank you fo...How did you know that is how I feel? Thank you for your valued insight because I sense that the kids are getting tired of review and I am feeling the "Program Pressure" now. Thank you for sharing you ideas with us choristers.Robinson Roosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16758830128965470526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733155484339450711.post-89354986533694504852010-08-21T22:25:57.231-06:002010-08-21T22:25:57.231-06:00Thank you for that! That is just what I needed to...Thank you for that! That is just what I needed to hear.andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04566011281613613900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733155484339450711.post-54629765689404132692010-08-21T21:28:59.623-06:002010-08-21T21:28:59.623-06:00THANK YOU! I was called to this calling a few mon...THANK YOU! I was called to this calling a few months ago and I immediatley felt the pressure was on. The kids didn't know or missed some months of the assigned songs prior and so it's been my opportunity then to teach them what they've missed and continue teaching the new song each month. Its been challenging and would I love to have a more natural and fun singing time with the kids rather then just focusing on the years songs. Thank you for sharing your wisdom because you are so right. I can't wait for next month to experience the Primary Program with the kids, but also to have fun learning other songs and enjoy the joy of music, just more relaxed! Thanks again!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com