[Worship] 3rd & 4th grade males with a "coolness" problem

["gabrieli gabrieli" <gabrieli@hotmail.com>]

For anyone working with this age--

    MOST kids at this age resent singing with younger children,
especially if pre-schoolers are included! There are good reasons for
them resenting this--the age span is too great to be bridged musically, and 
you have children who are barely verbal to those who
can read adult books and converse with adults about practically
anything!
    So what normally happens is that the music and activities are
reduced to the LCD--lowest common denominator--rendering them too
"babified" for the older children.
    Having worked with this age, I know firsthand that the 3rd and
4th grade child is physically and mentally able to take on increasingly 
complex musical and worship tasks. In fact, most 4th graders can accomplish 
many worship functions successfully in the
REGULAR service--so put them to work IN THE REGULAR SERVICE. They
can rotate worship functions with other adolescents and adults in the
church--and ALL benefit in the house of God!
    Here's what children and adolescents did in my home church--


Give the call to worship
Read scripture
Lead prayer, including the Lord's Prayer
Lead responsive reading
Help collect the offering
Pray the offertory prayer
Help usher and pass out bulletins
Lead many of the worship songs and devotional service
Read the announcements
Help pass out the Holy Communion
Sing in the choir
Play in the instrumental ensemble
Play small percussion instruments during the service (tamborines,
maracas, cymbals, etc.)


This occured in a small black Pentecostal church, and we were NOT considered 
"special" in any way--ALL OF US HAD to do SOMETHING,
or contribute in some way. This approach "works" because you are
truly PART of the worship service, you understand that worship is
your FIRST priority, you look forward to church because you KNOW you are 
doing something important and meaningful in God's House, and
you develop leadership skills that are used both NOW, in your youth,
and for ADULTHOOD. Most of us started doing these things during the
Sunday morning service at the 3rd and 4th grade level, and we were
fully expected to also run the Tuesday night youth service, as well.
On several Sunday nights during the year we were expected to prepare
and preach a message/sermon. This also developed public speaking skills, and 
we knew the adults were there to back us up. Those children/youth who had 
made a profession of faith were also called
"Sister/Brother", but no distinction was made between saved or unsaved
in terms of responsibility or participation in worship functions.
It was assumed that this was the way to "train up a child", and when the 
child later was converted, s/he already had developed worship skills and a 
heigthened sense of responsibility towards God's House.
   Many children and youth were also in the youth choir, and some of
us participated in an instrumental ensemble as well. Giving children
and youth RESPONSIBILITY in worship fosters correct attitudes toward
God, and the community of faith. In addition, many youth discover
particular talents and abilities, and this carries over into other
areas of life. In many churches today, youth choirs are responsible
for leading worship services if there are multiple services during
the day. Children and youth who contribute to worship and worship leadership 
on a weekly, semi-weekly and monthly not only learn to
"love the place where His honor dwells", but also learn to work with
others toward a common goal--the praise of God--and to give God the
BEST of their time and talents.
    The youth choir sang weekly, as did the adult choir. Each choir
sang two compositions, and each choir also had its own processional
at the beginning of service.

   Your 3rd and 4th graders should be given CHALLENGING music to sing
that engages their minds and spirits and develops their vocal chords.
Get some cool stuff from the Choristers Guild--their catalogue is
available from Lorenz at 1-800-444-1144. You don't have to be a Guild member 
to purchase the sheet music, curricula, posters and all the
other goodies. They have an abundance of great unison songs, as well
as two-part and three-part music for the upper elementary child.
Start with unison pieces and let them discover the joy of singing
music other than what's on the "top 40" stations!
   Third and fourth grade children are beginning to develop their
voices, and you should explain to them that the greatest composers
of choral music wrote for the child voice, and these compositions
are STILL sung today by children in many of the world's greatest
cathedrals! Also, explain that ALL SINGERS ARE ATHLETES--they must
learn to use the WHOLE BODY to produce sound, and that good singing
is NOT work for "wimps".
   Separate this group from the younger kids, and start teaching them
vocal warm-ups, breathing exercises and hymns and anthems. If you
think your kids can't learn it or "just don't have it," guess again!
Children and youth can achieve virtually anything if challenged to
rise to the occasion, and ENCOURAGED in their BEST EFFORTS to do so.
Explain to them that the BEST Christian musician is a VERSATILE
Christian musician, and that means they should be able to learn and
sing ANY style or period of music, and that only IGNORANT folks refuse
to learn something other than "pop stuff."
   Show them pictures of prominent boys, girls and mixed treble
choirs--you can get these right off the internet, by accessing the
numberous links to Http://www.choralnet.org. Explain to them all the
work and effort that goes into getting that fabulous cathedral sound!
THEY CAN ACHIEVE THIS ALSO, BECAUSE ONLY STRONG SINGERS CAN DO IT,
AND YOU KNOW THEY ARE NOT WEENIES! Emphasize this repeatedly in
rehearsals with them, and you will see attitudes begin to change.
Get video tapes showing these choirs in rehearsal and young choristers
taking lessons with a voice teacher--again, what is seen reinforces
what you are teaching the 3rd and 4th grader--I , too, CAN DO THIS.
THESE ARE KIDS LIKE ME, AND THEY GET TO DO COMPLEX STUFF.
   Challenge them to worship based upon the fact that God WANTS TO
SEE AND HEAR FROM THEM, and that He VALUES their worship as much as
any adult's. Tell them that God can use them NOW, and they don't have
to be 25 before they're "ready" for God's use! Let them know that,
you fully expect them to give God their BEST, not their "trash", and
that what they do in worship is holy and to be done with reverence
and joy. You will discover that you not only have the basis for a
fine children's choir, but these 3rd & 4th graders will develop their
minds, spirits, voices, bodies and talents in the place they truly
belong, their own church!
   Here's the website for Choristers Guild:

http://www.choristersguild.org


   Here's a book EVERY worship leader should read:

CHILDREN'S MUSIC MINISTRY.
COnnie Fortunato. 1981.
David C. Cook ISBN 0-89191-341-6

   You will find a wealth of information in how to design your music
ministry for the young in your church. This book is out-of-print, so obtain 
it at your local public library through interlibrary loan.
Much of the material is applicable for all music ensembles in the church, 
regardless of age.

   May you be blessed in this new venture for your children and youth!

Charity Dell
gabrieli@hotmail.com
"Jubilate Deo omnis terra!" (Psalm 100:1)
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