Preschool & Children’s Choirs’ Handbook

2011-2012

Children’s Music Ministry Riverland Hills Baptist Church

201 Lake Murray Blvd. Irmo, S.C. 29063 803-772-3227

www.riverlandhills.org

I just returned from visiting my in-laws in New Jersey. David and I always take a trip into New York City when we go. We love a lot of things about the city, especially the multitude of concerts, shows, and recitals one can attend. From the design of Central Park to the architecture of the skyline, the creative genius that God gave to humans is evident everywhere in the city. So it is with great enthusiasm that I tell you that our choir theme this year is The Big Picture, which is a follow up to the 2011 VBS theme of The Big Adventure. Of all of God’s creatures, human beings are the only ones with the capacity to create art because we were made in God’s image. Our heavenly Father is the master designer. He is so pleased when we create a song of praise to Him or re-create what someone else has written. Each week, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, your child’s choir teachers will present lessons they have designed to help your children connect to the One who made them. They will learn much scripture and many truths that will draw them closer to the Lord. Hopefully then, your child will be led to serve others, and to go tell those who don’t know about our wonderful Creator. Another aspect about NYC that David and I love is the multitude of languages that we hear as soon as we step foot into the city. However, as we hear that variety of languages, we have a burden for those people to hear the gospel in their language, so that they too can know and love the Lord. With the cost of living and the tough daily commuting, it’s a hard city in which to live. There is so much need there. I hope that your children have a great choir year. I would hope and pray that you would make this a priority in their lives. This is the activity where they will learn the most about worshipping God and how they were created with the capacity to be artists themselves. Please feel free to call me at the church or email me at slee@lexrich5.org. With joyful praise, Suzanne Lee Director of Children’s Choirs’ Ministries

Mission Statement

The mission of the Children's Choirs’ Ministry is to provide and teach developmentally appropriate songs

and activities which will lead each child to a better understanding of who God is, and the child's

relationship to her/his Creator.

“Love the Lord Your

God with all your heart,

with all your soul, and with all

your strength.”

(Deuteronomy 6:5)

MUSICAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR CHILD AT

Riverland Hills Baptist Church

Besides participating in choir every Wednesday night, your children have other musical opportunities at RHBC. We have an excellent Handbell program for grades 4-6 that meets every Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. until 5:15 p.m. No experience is necessary, and you may enroll your child during the month of September. This group will perform during the year, so faithful attendance and commitment is vital if this ensemble is to grow musically. Tone Chimes Choir for grades 2-3 will be offered also on Wednesdays from 4:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. directed by Brian Weseman. RHBC Children’s Music Camp Can you imagine producing a musical in one week? With lots of fun and creativity, that’s exactly what we do at Music Camp. We spend our days practicing songs, choreography, and drama--plus building sets and more. We also have some neat special interest groups and, of course, some snacks. Space is limited, so watch for signup and get in early! This year’s camp is June 25-29, 2012; 9-12:30 daily. For Grades 1-6

During the summer, your child can continue to enjoy music through other camps offered by the South Carolina Baptist Convention. These camps are held at White Oak Conference Center. We are fortunate in South Carolina to have such excellent camps. The cost of the camp at White Oak is the responsibility of the parents of the children who decide to attend music camp. Young Musicians’ Camp is for children who have completed grades 3-5 and is scheduled for Monday – Friday. Music Mini-Camp is for children who have completed grades 1-2 and is a two night, three day camp at White Oak. Contact your choir director or the Music Dept. of SCBC at www.scbaptist.org/worship.

GUIDELINES FOR ENROLLMENT

IN CHOIRS

1. Children enrolled in choir should be the respective age BY SEPTEMBER 1st OF THE CHOIR YEAR. For example, a child enrolling in Music Time for Threes this year, must be three on or before September 1st.

2. Children enrolling in Music Time for Threes must be potty-trained. No Pull-Ups, please.

3. A child may enroll in choir any time during the year.

4. Attendance is taken at all rehearsals except during choir parties. 5. Please have your child in choir on time! There is much to cover in only 40 minutes.

6. Attendance is taken when a choir leads in the worship services that are listed on the

calendar. Every preschooler will be given a Super Singer Award regardless of attendance.

7. Children are expected to behave in choir and to respect the choir teachers and their peers.

8. **For security & health issues, we need to be able to quickly contact all parents. We request that you remain on the church campus during choir time.**

9. All children ages birth through 5th grade are required to wear security tags each week.

Attendance Awards

We feel that choir is such a valuable activity for children. Singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs is a very important part of the Christian walk. Also, children are taught theology through music, and will remember those truths better when they are set to music.

Realizing that there are so many activities for children to choose from, we are again using attendance awards as an incentive for children to not only stay in choir, but to have better attendance all year long. The awards apply to children in grades 1-6. Preschool children will all get a special recognition.

Attendance policies are as follows:

All children enrolled in choir may participate All children enrolled in choir will get a choir pin

Children who miss three (3) or less rehearsals/performances will receive a trophy at the end of the year.

The purpose of these awards is to give the children an incentive to be faithful. Within the choir rehearsals, there are opportunities for the children to be recognized for paying attention, doing their best, etc. Every choir director strives to build community in the choir so that the children all work together which is important in

building a good sound.

SPECIAL REQUEST By the Music Ministry

Your Music Ministry makes these requests

of every choir member: 1). See that your children are in place and on time at every rehearsal, service and special program in which the choir has a part. 2). Strive for faithful attendance. Parents should feel their responsibility at this point. Children need encouragement and reminders to meet their appointments. You are teaching your child valuable traits; let faithfulness and dependability be uppermost. 3). Please notify your choir director whenever your child is ill, in the hospital, or has any other obligation which will prevent their attendance. 4). Encourage your child to make choir a priority. 5). Every child is expected to take part in any and every public presentation.

Hymn Memorization Program

The Children’s Choir Music Ministry at RHBC believes strongly in teaching children the hymns

of our faith. These hymns, when memorized, can minister to our children when they are older

and facing obstacles that may come their way. Each year, to help us in this ministry, we use

the Hymn Treasures series. This series begins with 4’s and continues through 6th grade. Over

the course of their time in children’s choirs at RHBC, they will learn 45+ hymns.

What’s wonderful is that each book comes with an accompanying CD that your child can listen

to and learn from. You may purchase each book/CD set from your choir teacher for $5.00, which is yours to keep. Singing these hymns together is a great way to reinforce the

Christian doctrine that is taught to your children at church.

Each child who memorizes a certain number of hymns

and sings them to one of their choir teachers will be

recognized as follows:

4-5 year choir---Memorize any 4 hymns from the

Hymn Treasure book and receive an age appropriate award.

Grades 1-3-- Memorize any 5 hymns from the

Hymn Treasure book and receive a beautiful hymnbook

with the chorister’s name engraved

(if this is your first time).

Grades 4-6-- Memorize any 6 hymns from the

Hymn Treasure book and receive a beautiful hymnbook with the chorister’s name engraved

(if this is your first time).

Those who are memorizing hymns for the second time receive a beautiful book about hymns.

For those who are working towards their third or fourth time, a gift card to a Christian book

store will be awarded. DEADLINE FOR HYMNS TO BE MEMORIZED IS MARCH 28, 2012 IF

YOU WISH TO RECEIVE THE AWARD.

Children’s Choir Calendar 2011-2012

August 24th --EXPO to register for all children’s ministries including music (6-7:30) August 31st —Regular rehearsals begin(6:00-6:45)

October 16th—Young Musicians’ Choir sings in all a.m. services

November 6 —Music Maker II (grades 2-3) sings in all a.m. services

December 4th—Young Musicians sing in all a.m. services

December 11th—Children’s Choirs Celebrate Christmas, featuring 4 and 5 year choirs, Music Maker I, Music Maker II, Young Musicians,Tone Chime Choir, Children’s Handbells (6:30pm-you’ll be notified what time to arrive early)

December 12th – Choir Teachers’ Christmas Dinner

December 14th, 21st , 28th—no children’s choir rehearsals

January 4th—Rehearsals resume

January 22nd —Young Musicians’ Choir sings in all a.m. services

January 29th —Music Maker II (grades 2-3) sings in all a.m. services

April 1st —Palm Sunday—Music Maker I, Music Maker II and Young Musicians sing in Palm Sunday a.m. services

April 4th - No choir rehearsals (spring break) April 22nd —Music Maker 1 (grade 1) AND 5-year olds sing in all a.m. services

April 29th —Spring Worship Celebration featuring 4 and 5 year choirs, Music Maker I, Music Maker II, Young Musicians,Tone Chime Choir, Children’s Handbells (6:30pm-you’ll be notified what time to arrive early)

May 2nd —Young Musicians sing in an area nursing home, go out for supper, and come back in time for Missions; choir parties in other groups (last week of choirs)

May 9th and May 16th —auditions for music camp dramatic parts (6:00)

June 25th-29th —Music Camp

Choir Room Assignments 6:00 – 6:45 p.m.

**The B before a room number indicates

that this is in the new building

Music Time for Three’s—Room 124

Four Year Choir—Room 119

Five Year Choir—Room 117

Music Maker I (First Grade)—208-210

Music Maker II (Second and third grades)—203-205

Young Musicians—(4th, 5th, and 6th grades)—Room B206

4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Children’s Tone Chimes (2nd and 3rd grades) —Room 201

4:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.

Children’s Handbells (4th, 5th and 6th grades) —Room 202

Directors/Teachers

3’s—Jan Mathias and Elizabeth Smith, co-directors; Leigh Ann Gandy, Gail Miller, teachers 4’s—Alice Edwards, Director; Cindy Hawkins, Theresa Hicks, Sandra Turbeville, Annette Weseman, teachers 5’s—Barbara Hilton, Director; Tracy Baker, Lori Calhoun, Debbie Gunter, Jo Ellen Reynolds, teachers Music Maker I (Grade 1) —Brian Weseman, Director; Will Capell, Accompanist; Robyn Condra, Cricket Franklin, Amanda Taylor, teachers Music Maker II (Grades 2-3) —Rita Trimble, Director; Pam Gibson, Accompanist; Nancy Corbett, Kim Patterson, Shannon Stratford, teachers Young Musicians (Grades 4-6) —Suzanne Lee, Director; Angela Lee, Accompanist; Sofia Hernandez, Jan Smith, P.J. Tompkins, teachers Children’s Tone Chimes—(Grades 2-3) Brian Weseman, Director Children’s Handbells—(Grades 4-6) Dawn Reitz, Director