older elementary

How to Start a Successful Children's Choir at Your Church: A Step-by-Step Guide (Part 1)

How to Start a Successful Children's Choir at Your Church: A Step-by-Step Guide (Part 1)
Creating a children's choir at your church can be a rewarding and enriching experience for both the young participants and the entire congregation. Not only does it provide an opportunity for young voices to be heard, but it also fosters a sense of community, teaches valuable musical skills, and enhances the worship experience for all ages. If you're considering starting a children's choir, here's a step by step guide to help you get started on this exciting journey. For 1-1 customized support from someone who has successfully built choirs like this, check out my music leadership coaching.

1. Define Your Vision

Purpose of the Choir

Before diving into the practical aspects, it's crucial to clarify the purpose of your children's choir. Take some time to reflect on and discuss these questions with your team:
  • Will the choir perform during regular Sunday services, special events, or both?
  • What age group(s) will you include? Will you focus on elementary school children, preschool children, and/or will you extend the range to include middle schoolers?
  • What style of music will you focus on? Will you stick to traditional hymns, incorporate contemporary Christian music, focus on choral sacred music, or aim for a blend of styles?
Having a clear purpose will guide your decisions moving forward and help you communicate your vision to others.

Goals

Set specific, achievable goals for your choir. These could include:
  • Musical development: Improving pitch, rhythm, and harmony skills.
  • Spiritual growth: Deepening understanding of worship and worship leading through music.
  • Community building: Fostering teamwork and friendships among choir members.
  • Church involvement: Increasing children's participation in church.
Having clear goals will help you measure progress and keep everyone motivated.

2. Gather Support

Church Leadership

Engaging with your church leadership (pastors & elders) is a crucial step in establishing your children's choir. Present your vision and explain how it aligns with the church's mission and values. Their support can be invaluable in securing resources, promoting the choir, and integrating it into church life. Schedule a meeting with your pastor or elder board to discuss:
  • The benefits of a children's choir for the church community.
  • Resource requirements (space, budget, equipment).
  • How the choir can enhance worship services and special events.

Volunteers & Staff

A successful children's choir requires dedicated volunteers and sometimes staff. Recruit individuals who are not only passionate about music but also enjoy working with children. Potential volunteers/staff might include:
  • Music teachers from your congregation or community.
  • Parents with musical backgrounds or experience.
  • Older youth who can serve as mentors to younger children.
  • A pianist in the congregation.
Consider creating specific roles, such as:
  • Choir director.
  • Assistant director.
  • Accompanist/Collaborative pianist.
  • Music librarian.
  • Parent coordinator/communication liaison.

3. Logistics and Planning

Age Groups

Deciding on the age range for participants is an important consideration. You might choose to have:
  • A single choir for all children (e.g., ages 8-14).
  • Multiple choirs based on age groups (e.g., 7-10 and 11-14).
  • Choirs based on skill level rather than age.
Consider the number of interested children, available resources, and your conductor/instructor's capabilities when making this decision.

Rehearsal Schedule

Establishing a regular rehearsal schedule is crucial for consistency and progress. When planning your schedule:
  • Choose a day and time that works for most families (e.g., Sunday afternoons or Wednesday evenings).
  • Determine the duration of rehearsals (30-60 minutes is usually ideal for children, no longer depending on age).
  • Decide on the frequency (weekly rehearsals are common, but bi-weekly might work better for some churches -- consider how long a semester is as well as how a child gains missed info if they miss a rehearsal when deciding this).
  • Plan for additional rehearsals/run-throughs before major performances.

Location

Secure a suitable space for rehearsals that is conducive to singing and learning. This could be:
  • A church classroom with good acoustics.
  • The main sanctuary (if available and appropriate).
  • A fellowship hall or multi-purpose room.
Ensure the space has adequate lighting, ventilation, piano/sound system, and seating for all choir members.

4. Choose Repertoire

Selecting Music

Choosing the right songs is crucial for engaging children and creating meaningful performances, and quite possibly the most challenging part when starting out. When selecting music:
  • Choose age-appropriate songs that challenge but don't overwhelm your choir. Go for quick success at the beginning with unison works!
  • Include a mix of traditional hymns and contemporary songs to appeal to both children and the congregation.
  • Consider the themes of upcoming services or events to align your repertoire.
  • Look for songs with educational value (e.g., teaching biblical stories or concepts).
  • Appropriate Range for Children's Voices: Ensure that selected pieces fall within an appropriate vocal range for children. Typically, this means avoiding low notes that may strain their voices while focusing on melodies that allow them to sing comfortably in their natural range.

    If you need assistance with this step, don't hesitate to reach out! I love helping new directors program repertoire for their choirs!

Teaching Methods

Incorporate various teaching methods to cater to different learning styles:
  • Use call-and-response techniques, especially for younger children.
  • Provide visual aids like sheet music or lyric sheets for those who can read.
  • Incorporate movement or hand motions to make learning more engaging and memorable.
  • Use recordings or videos to help children practice at home.
This concludes part 1! Stay tuned for part 2 of this comprehensive guide.

Top 5 Advent Resources for Young Families: Celebrating Christmas with Meaning

Top 5 Advent Resources for Young Families: Celebrating Christmas with Meaning
As the holiday season approaches, many young families are searching for ways to make Advent more meaningful and Christ-centered. If you're looking to create lasting memories and instill the true spirit of Christmas in your little ones, you’ve come to the right place! Here are five (plus a bonus!) fantastic resources that can help young families engage in fun activities and heartfelt discussions throughout the Advent season.

1. A Jesus Christmas by Barbara Rainey

Kickstart your family's Advent journey with "A Jesus Christmas" by Barbara Rainey. This family-friendly devotional is a treasure trove of daily readings centered on the life and teachings of Jesus. Each entry includes:
  • A relatable scripture passage
  • Thought-provoking questions to spark family discussions
  • Space for journaling or drawing, making it interactive for kids of all ages
What sets this resource apart is its ability to break down complex ideas into bite-sized, age-appropriate concepts. It's an excellent tool for parents who want to dive deeper into the significance of Christ's birth with their children.

2. Wonders of His Love: Finding Jesus in Isaiah Family Advent Devotional by Champ Thornton

Next on our list is the beautifully illustrated "Wonders of His Love" by Champ Thornton. This four-week devotional takes families on a journey through the book of Isaiah, exploring themes such as:
  • Light
  • Branch
  • Shepherd
  • Savior
Each week is packed with engaging activities, including fun family-friendly recipes and conversation starters that deepen your discussions. This resource strikes the perfect balance between education and engagement, making it a hit with both parents and kids alike.

3. Christ-Centered Advent Activities

For families who love hands-on learning, Christ-Centered Advent Activities is a must-have resource. This versatile collection offers a wide array of activities that can easily be incorporated into your daily routine. Highlights include:
  • Creative crafts that bring Bible stories to life
  • Daily scripture readings to keep your family grounded in God's Word
  • Family games or activities that create lasting memories
These activities are designed to help families stay focused on Jesus amidst the holiday hustle and bustle, making them great for busy households.

4. Daily Grace Co Advent Studies

Daily Grace Co has earned a reputation for creating beautiful, accessible Advent studies that appeal to all ages. We love their board books at our house, and their Advent materials are just as high quality! They offer:
  • Thoughtfully designed journals or guides
  • Daily scripture readings and reflections
  • Practical applications for real-life situations
This Advent Family bundle, the ultimate Advent family bundle, or even just this board book! are all a great to check out. What makes these studies stand out is their flexibility. Whether you have five minutes or an hour, you can easily adapt these materials to fit your family's schedule and needs.

5. Gentle + Classical Advent Curriculum

Rounding out our top five is the Gentle + Classical Advent Curriculum. This comprehensive resource combines literature, art, and scripture into a rich learning experience for all ages. While it’s especially great for homeschooling families, anyone can adapt it to fit their needs. The thematic lessons encourage creativity and critical thinking while focusing on the biblical narrative of Christmas. Use this link for $5 off $20 or more for new customers!

BONUS! The Gospel Story Hymnal

The Gospel Story Hymnal is a beautiful addition to any family's Advent (and beyond!) resources. With over 150 well-known hymns woven into a thoughtful retelling of Scripture, this hymnal features:
  • Bright illustrations that engage young readers
  • Child-friendly notes on scriptural themes and theological concepts
  • A three-year plan for family or personal worship
This hymnal serves as both a musical resource and a theological guide, making it easy for families to incorporate hymns into their worship routine during Advent and beyond. I also happen to personally know how generous Word + Wonder (the company) is as well! They are wonderful people to support and have a huge heart for seeing families grow together in worship.


By incorporating these top-rated Advent resources into your family's holiday preparations, you'll create a more meaningful celebration centered around the true reason for Christmas. These tools not only enrich the Advent experience, empowering you as a parent to teach and train up your children in the faith, but also foster deeper family connections through shared traditions.

Remember, the key to a successful Advent season is consistency and intentionality. Choose the resources that best fit your family's needs and commit to making them part of your daily routine. With these engaging options, you'll be well-equipped to guide your young family through a memorable and spiritually enriching Advent season. So, which of these fantastic Advent resources will you try this year? No matter which one you choose, you're sure to create beautiful memories and strengthen your family's faith as you prepare your hearts for the arrival of Jesus!

Engaging Your 8-10 Year Old Musically: 10 Fun Activities to Foster a Love for Music

Engaging Your 8-10 Year Old Musically: 10 Fun Activities to Foster a Love for Music
Are you looking for creative ways to engage your 8-10 year old in music? Music is a powerful tool for developing creativity, improving cognitive skills, and enhancing emotional expression. Here are ten fun and interactive activities that can help nurture your child's musical interests and abilities.

1. Family Music Nights

Transform your home into a musical haven by organizing weekly family music nights. Encourage everyone to participate by singing, playing instruments, or dancing. You can even theme these nights—think disco or jazz or classical music—to expose your child to various musical styles and genres.

Not sure where to start with a family music night? I will be hosting family music nights monthly in The Classical Collective Membership so that families can come together to experience what they can look like, engage together without having to plan anything, learn about new genres, styles, and musicians, and most importantly have fun! Learn about the membership launching soon here.

2. Learning to Play a Musical Instrument

Introduce your child to accessible first instruments such as the recorder, ukulele, or xylophone/piano. These instruments are easy to learn and provide a solid foundation in music theory. Consider enrolling them in beginner lessons or classes to guide their learning journey -- if you're local to me in Rockford IL or interested in virtual lessons, check out that info here.

3. Dance Parties

Host lively dance parties at home where your child can express themselves through movement. Incorporate fun challenges, like the scarf dance (keeping a scarf on their head while dancing), to make it enjoyable.

4. Call and Response Songs

Enhance your child’s listening skills with call-and-response songs. You can sing a line, and your child can repeat it back. This activity encourages active participation and quick thinking, making it a fun way to learn music and continue to increase pitch awareness and pitch matching.

5. Storytelling with Music

Encourage your child to create stories and add musical elements using their instruments or voices. This activity enhances creativity and collaboration, allowing them to express narratives through music while developing their storytelling skills. We call this Arioso! Check out the Classical Collective group on Facebook for more ideas and examples of Arioso.

6. Karaoke Challenges

Set up a karaoke station for your child to sing their favorite songs. This not only builds confidence but also improves their vocal skills. You can even hold friendly competitions to make it more exciting!

7. Musical Exploration Space

Dedicate a corner of your home to music, filled with various instruments and music-themed decorations. Consider incorporating technology with music apps that allow your child to experiment with composing their own tunes, fostering creativity and exploration, though I encourage waiting for this until they are older and have more experience creating music on their own first.

8. Songwriting Workshops

Engage your child in songwriting workshops where they can learn about song structure, lyrics, and melody. This is a wonderful way for them to express their thoughts and feelings through music while developing their songwriting skills.

9. Informal Concerts

Host informal concerts at home where a few family members and friends can come to hear what your child is working on. This supportive atmosphere provides a chance for them to perform and gain confidence in their musical abilities, especially if they are part of a music studio that holds recitals.

10. Join a Choir or Ensemble

Encourage your child to join a choir or musical ensemble. Look for community choirs, church choirs, or homeschool choirs in your area. If you’re in Rockford, IL, check out the "local" tab on my website for more info! 

By incorporating these engaging activities into your routine, you can create a rich musical environment that nurtures your child's interest and skills in music. Music can be a lifelong passion, and starting early can lead to a fulfilling and enjoyable journey. Happy music-making!


This is my health story

 

I have always been sensitive. That's a word that has described me, my body in particular, my whole life. I have skin sensitivities to fabrics, bruise easily, I get cold easily, I tend to be on "alert" all of the time (no coffee needed here!), I'm a musician and very creative, and I don't even THINK about using any conventional personal care or other products that are scented... they bother my skin, and they bother my respiratory system too. I've never been able to use any scented products because of the discomfort and increased sensitivity they cause. I can't be around people who wear perfume or scented deodorant, because I can't breathe well and my head has discomfort. I can't go into a public bathroom that has been just cleaned because of the toxic chemicals they used to clean it. I can't enjoy candles or most lotions or makeup like most women I know because I'm sensitive to it.

During my first semester of college, I started to develop debilitating discomfort in my jaw, which I was later told is TMJD or temporomandibular joint dysfunction, not just the kind of little twinge when you bite down on something too hard, but long-lasting aching, along with clicking and cracking. It was exacerbated by singing, gum-chewing, caffeine, and other things, and I was easily able to cut out all of the things listed on my doctor's list except for one -- singing. I was a vocal music education major, and singing was my livelihood (or at least soon-to-be), so I couldn't just not practice! I struggled so hard for 2.5 years through long choir rehearsals, voice lessons, practice sessions, and more. By the end of the day, it would be so bad that I'd almost be in tears. My roommates and boyfriend (and his roommates!), bless their servant hearts, would bring me freezing cold ice packs to numb my face enough so that I could fall asleep at least, though I would wake up in the night unable to fall back asleep due to other sleep issues I also was dealing with.

It seemed like a vicious cycle that I needed to stop. Maybe I needed to change majors and give up my dream of making music, of teaching others to make music too. Maybe I needed to pick something that didn't require so much singing and talking. Even smiling a lot bothered me, so maybe I needed to pick a major or job with less human interaction. But THAT idea broke my heart. I didn't enjoy any of the things I could think of! My boyfriend at the time (now husband!) and I had many conversations about what I should do... singing was part of the fabric of my BEING. I am MADE to sing. If you know me, you know that hardly an hour went by without me humming or singing some little tune. But my jaw bothered me so much most of the time that I needed to change SOMETHING. But what?

And that's when change came...

I found some natural and pretty simple solutions -- though simple doesn't always mean easy! It required a LOT of discipline and self-control on my part.

I'm blessed now to have so many versatile tools in my tool box for any emotion, body system, or issue I may be experiencing. So, where am I now? Healthier than I’ve EVER been. I have NO jaw issues anymore when I keep up my self-created protocol. I sleep through the night. I feel so much better now that I'm sleeping more and deeper. I've spent 4 years now working through the emotional issues I faced in early career, and I am so happy that I can now FEEL emotions without feeling completely run-over and frozen by emotions. I’m also happy to say that I have only had little illnesses since finding solutions, not the constant strep throat and other illnesses I was getting at least once per month before! And, that’s saying a lot as I was constantly around germs while working full time with 500+ elementary students. But once I started supporting my immune system, I stopped getting sick every couple of weeks. I can clean with the most amazing smelling cleaner without coughing. I can wear my own homemade "perfume" and get compliments, and not only does it smell good, it supports my body systems. I can use amazing smelling shampoo now! I can have twice as much energy for the day without drinking any coffee or sugary drink. When I started having these successes, I was at first in disbelief, and now in awe at all that God's created, I believe, and given us for our good. Now these are my first line of defense, my go-tos, the first thing I do when something is off, which is not very often anymore (usually just when the weather changes, ah MN life).


I look forward to living a beautiful life of freedom and feeling empowered every single day, enjoying the life I was meant to live. That life includes sharing my story of overcoming and helping you also find better, safer solutions to overcome your daily struggles.

Are you ready to live empowered to be your own best advocate? Let's chat.

Contact

Copyrights © 2025 held by respective copyright holders, including Andrea Orem.