Creative Ideas for Church Music and Music Education | Ashley Danyew

hymns

Introducing Doxology Press!

Introducing Doxology Press!

Dear friends,

Earlier this summer, I started working on a fun new business venture. I am so excited to finally introduce to you, Doxology Press! This shop is a little piece of my heart - it combines my love of hymns and hymn texts with my love of paper and calligraphy. I designed these prints so that the sweet words of these beautiful old hymns can live on in our hearts and homes.

Teaching Hymns to Children - Part II

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hymns, hymnody, teaching, children, singing, church music, worship, church service, choir, choir rehearsal, tradition, children's choir Now that we've talked about some considerations for teaching hymns to children, here are a few ideas for hymn selection and ways to incorporate them into worship:

HYMN SELECTION

Range considerations • Choose hymns that fall in a comfortable singing range for children (typically, no lower than D above Middle C and no higher than Treble D)

Repetition and variety • Find opportunities in hymns to teach the children about musical form: AABA, ABA, verse/chorus

Good text • Connect the hymns you choose to an overall theme, Scripture reference, or season of the church year • Give children an opportunity to sing in another language: German, Latin, Spanish, Zulu, Cherokee, etc.

SUGGESTIONS

1. Have children process into the service during the opening hymn 2. Plan a joint choir anthem with adult choir, children's choir, and handbells for a special service (ex. We Gather Together) 3. Create a special music slot for a children's choir anthem before the children's message 4. Plan a hymn festival to celebrate the church's legacy of hymn-singing

How have you used hymns with your children's choir? Have any other suggestions not mentioned here? Please leave a comment below!

Image Credit: personal

Previously: Teaching Hymns to Children - Part I

Teaching Hymns to Children - Part I

Is there value in teaching hymns to children? Are they effective teaching tools? How do you incorporate them into rehearsals? Here are a few thoughts:

Why teach hymns to children?

Church heritage

  • Connect the children to the church's history and invite them to be a part of the legacy
  • Help develop their identity as a choir. How is a church children's choir different than an elementary school or community choir?

Spiritual formation

  • Connect the hymn texts to Scripture verses
  • Discuss the meaning of the text and communicate its relevance for today

Music education

  • Use hymns to teach children about singing: unison, 2-part, canon, vowels, consonants, shaping
  • Identify elements of tonality and rhythm once the hymn is learned: recognition of patterns, phrase structure, meter, melodic lines
  • Introduce the children to the various genres of music represented in the hymnal: spirituals, folk melodies, etc.

Considerations

Hymns in rehearsals

  • Choose a hymn to use as a gathering or welcome song
  • Select a hymn of the month (I tend to use only the first verse)
  • Connect hymns to anthems and other special music with a common theme or musical element

Hymns in worship

  • Use hymn arrangements as anthems
  • Have the children lead the opening hymn for the congregation (from the front or while processing in)
  • Give children an opportunity to be active participants in the service

Role in worship

  • Children in leadership
  • Emphasis on purpose over performance

Check back on Wednesday for Part II of this discussion - hymn selection and suggestions for worship!