Either you thought it was a great idea, or somebody tossed it your way, but you now see yourself tasked with preparing a choir for Christmas. Don’t panic. It’s going to be great! And I’ll help you get started.
Step One:
Decide who, when, where, why. (We’ll get to what later.)
Who’s leading it? You? The adult choir director, kidmin leader, worship team member, church organist, parent? Choose this first! Also, who will take part? Preschoolers (my favorite place to start! Read why in this article.) K-6? PreK-8? The size of your congregation and children’s ministry department will help determine this.
When will they sing? Beginning of Advent? Christmas Eve? Special event? Coordinate with the appropriate people. Make certain everyone is on the same page.
Where and when will they rehearse? During class? Midweek? In the sanctuary? In a classroom? Check with facilities and get this nailed down. *Kids need about 6 weeks to learn a song well without getting tired of it.
Why are they singing? A fun way to start a service? During a sacred moment? This will determine song choice and possibly what they wear.
Step Two:
Get the word out! Christmas and music go hand in hand. And parents love to see their kids up on stage. So, you will likely have a good turnout. But make sure the information gets out early, often, and clearly. Studies show that many church attendees only show up about once per month, so the information needs to be readily available. (Did you know that involvement in choir greatly increases the regularity of attendees? Just saying. More choir benefits are found here.)
Step Three:
Choose your music. My full guide on choosing beginning choir music is in this article, but here are the basics.
Choose music in their vocal range. Start simple. For beginners, sing in unison.
Determine the type of song that will be appropriate for the situation. Don’t choose Jingle Bells for the Nativity scene!
Step Four:
Rehearse. There are multiple ways to do this. As a curriculum writer, my preferred method is to teach the song as well as the truths behind the song. I do this through Bible lessons and crafts that inform and remind kids about what they’re singing so they can sing with understanding. Check out Little JAM Sessions for more on that. This method takes about an hour. If you’re doing a separate rehearsal, this is perfect. If you’re tagging a rehearsal onto a Sunday School class, provide at least 15 minutes for working on the song.
Step Five:
Communicate. Keep staff informed. Keep parents informed. If there is a dress code, let the parents know early. Make sure parents know when and where to have the children on the date of presentation. Communicate to the kids about lining up, standing on stage, where to have their hands.
If you do these five steps, you’ll have an organized, rehearsed kids’ choir so you can smile and watch them with a full heart!
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