You are wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing. I teach a small children’s choir and I’ve been pondering over what makes primary choristers so interesting/successful. This was so helpful. ❤️
This was so incredibly helpful, thank you! I can tell that you care about this responsibility we have to teach the gospel to our children. Thanks for your thoughts! 💜
Thanks Camille - as always you are an inspiration. I have enjoyed your tips over the years, and I too have found that when I tried too hard to prepare props and activities, the Lord would often change my plans. It was exhausting initially but it taught me to trust in what the Lord inspires me to do, and to ensure I am regularly seeking His inspiration through my own daily walk with Him. I have learned that I need to prepare two versions of each song - 1 for the Juniors and 1 for the Seniors. Like you said, the seniors need that intellectual stimulus more than the sensory lessons that engage the younger primary. But what works for the Juniors can also be effective with the seniors, depending upon maybe the attention getter. This is the critical part I am trying to work on - that and the "have fun" part. At times I feel very jaded in my calling - not because the children don't inspire me, but because I constantly battle the inner negative mindset of being overly critical of my teaching ability. So it can strip me of the fun aspect of teaching. A work in progress! Have made some goals this year and that alone seems to have helped bring me out of the struggle street mindset.
Thank you so much for your time and effort, this was very helpful! I am the Primary President in my Branch, and we are struggling because we do not have a Chorister, we have two kind volunteers sisters, who have other callings, that are helping, they are very good with music, and I'd like to keep both of them, but it is to much for them! Now with this training I learned that our Chorister does not have to have a "Masters Degree in Music"! Loved this training!
I just got the calling and I have no idea how to teach them and to top it off I get stage freight so I’m looking for a way to get them involved it’s bin years Iv bin in primary this helped me a lot thank you
This is so helpful! Thanks so much for sharing. I’ve been a primary chorister for 5 months now and I absolutely love it! 💛 I’m desperately looking for more advise and ideas, though. This is great 👍🏼
Hi, Camille. Thank you so much for your suggestions. I am new to Singing Time online. For me, it is challenging. How do you make Singing Time online more meaningful since you have to deal with delays and boredom? Also, when you teach a new song is that the only song you do for that day seeing we only have 20 minutes?
Hi Cheryl! Honestly, that's why our ward never did online singing time. I sent weekly emails for kids to watch sing along videos in conjunction with an activity that they could do at home on their own time. But I know other wards have been able to make it successful. That's a hard one! Here's a post I put together for virtual singing time if it helps: camillesprimaryideas.com/2020/10/virtual-singing-time-ideas.html Then when I teach a new song, I usually do 5 minutes of wiggle songs from my Music Bag or Wiggle Worm Jar. Here are the links to those if you are interested: camillesprimaryideas.com/2011/01/wiggle-worm-jar.html camillesprimaryideas.com/2010/07/singing-time-in-nursery.html Next year I'm going to start teaching "5 minute songs" where I teach one of the 2 suggested songs (that we aren't learning for the program) on the 2 weeks that we learn the 3rd song for the program. I'll have more to come next year! But hopefully that helps some! ~Camille
Hey Camille! Thank you so much for all your lesson plans online and for this video! You mentioned timing on this - a 15to 20 minute lesson. My ward just started having me do 30 minute lessons, rotating senior & junior primary every other week. Do you think it would be a good idea to learn 2 songs repeating this format twice, would you just add opening and closing songs and wiggle worm songs? Would you review precious songs they'd learned?
Hi Courtney! If it were me, I would probably just add more opening, closing, wiggle worm and review previous songs. I would suggest to sing the sing through the 2 other suggested songs each month (maybe one as an opening and the other as a closing), posting the words then maybe just asking how the songs relate to any of the scriptures they have studied in Come Follow Me at home or in their primary classes. And thank you for your kind comment!! Good luck! ~Camille
You are wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing. I teach a small children’s choir and I’ve been pondering over what makes primary choristers so interesting/successful. This was so helpful. ❤️
You bet!
This was so incredibly helpful, thank you! I can tell that you care about this responsibility we have to teach the gospel to our children. Thanks for your thoughts! 💜
Thank you for letting me know you found this helpful! Good luck with your calling!!
Thanks Camille - as always you are an inspiration. I have enjoyed your tips over the years, and I too have found that when I tried too hard to prepare props and activities, the Lord would often change my plans. It was exhausting initially but it taught me to trust in what the Lord inspires me to do, and to ensure I am regularly seeking His inspiration through my own daily walk with Him. I have learned that I need to prepare two versions of each song - 1 for the Juniors and 1 for the Seniors. Like you said, the seniors need that intellectual stimulus more than the sensory lessons that engage the younger primary. But what works for the Juniors can also be effective with the seniors, depending upon maybe the attention getter. This is the critical part I am trying to work on - that and the "have fun" part. At times I feel very jaded in my calling - not because the children don't inspire me, but because I constantly battle the inner negative mindset of being overly critical of my teaching ability. So it can strip me of the fun aspect of teaching. A work in progress! Have made some goals this year and that alone seems to have helped bring me out of the struggle street mindset.
I really love and appreciate your comment! Thank you!!
Thank you so much for your time and effort, this was very helpful! I am the Primary President in my Branch, and we are struggling because we do not have a Chorister, we have two kind volunteers sisters, who have other callings, that are helping, they are very good with music, and I'd like to keep both of them, but it is to much for them! Now with this training I learned that our Chorister does not have to have a "Masters Degree in Music"! Loved this training!
I'm so happy you enjoyed the video! Thanks for commenting!
Thank you from this new music leader's very excited/anxious heart! I'm so grateful I found you!
Welcome to singing time! Hopefully you can find help here!
What a great overview. Thanks so much for posting this ❤
I just got the calling and I have no idea how to teach them and to top it off I get stage freight so I’m looking for a way to get them involved it’s bin years Iv bin in primary this helped me a lot thank you
This had so many wonderful tips. Thank you!
Thank you for saying so!!
Soooo helpful!!! Simple!!! Thank you!!
I'm so glad you think so! Thanks for commenting!
Thank you so much! This helped me a loooot!
Oh sister this is a great help. Where do we go to view your Attention Getters?
This is so helpful! Thanks so much for sharing. I’ve been a primary chorister for 5 months now and I absolutely love it! 💛
I’m desperately looking for more advise and ideas, though. This is great 👍🏼
I'm happy it's been helpful! Thank you!
Thank you for this. Every music leader should trained to teach this way. Thank you for being inspired!
Hi, Camille. Thank you so much for your suggestions. I am new to Singing Time online. For me, it is challenging. How do you make Singing Time online more meaningful since you have to deal with delays and boredom? Also, when you teach a new song is that the only song you do for that day seeing we only have 20 minutes?
Hi Cheryl!
Honestly, that's why our ward never did online singing time. I sent weekly emails for kids to watch sing along videos in conjunction with an activity that they could do at home on their own time. But I know other wards have been able to make it successful. That's a hard one! Here's a post I put together for virtual singing time if it helps:
camillesprimaryideas.com/2020/10/virtual-singing-time-ideas.html
Then when I teach a new song, I usually do 5 minutes of wiggle songs from my Music Bag or Wiggle Worm Jar. Here are the links to those if you are interested:
camillesprimaryideas.com/2011/01/wiggle-worm-jar.html
camillesprimaryideas.com/2010/07/singing-time-in-nursery.html
Next year I'm going to start teaching "5 minute songs" where I teach one of the 2 suggested songs (that we aren't learning for the program) on the 2 weeks that we learn the 3rd song for the program. I'll have more to come next year!
But hopefully that helps some!
~Camille
Hey Camille! Thank you so much for all your lesson plans online and for this video! You mentioned timing on this - a 15to 20 minute lesson. My ward just started having me do 30 minute lessons, rotating senior & junior primary every other week. Do you think it would be a good idea to learn 2 songs repeating this format twice, would you just add opening and closing songs and wiggle worm songs? Would you review precious songs they'd learned?
Hi Courtney! If it were me, I would probably just add more opening, closing, wiggle worm and review previous songs. I would suggest to sing the sing through the 2 other suggested songs each month (maybe one as an opening and the other as a closing), posting the words then maybe just asking how the songs relate to any of the scriptures they have studied in Come Follow Me at home or in their primary classes.
And thank you for your kind comment!! Good luck!
~Camille
You mention your website,, where do I find that?
Hi Val! The post is linked above in the comments but here it is if it helps: camillesprimaryideas.com/2014/11/how-to-teach-song.html