How important is your practice hymn time in Relief Society? Are you learning any new hymns? Are you learning the histories of these hymns and their composers? How about a spiritual thought from the references attached to each hymn? What about having musical numbers? Are you hearing enough from all the talented sisters in your Relief Society; even bringing in those women serving in the Young Women and Primary occasionally. Those younger people they serve might be invited for a special number even. How about organizing a Singing Mothers group and using Relief Society’s practice time as a practice time. Or even creating an Instant Choir each time you practice together (that merely means the director leads the group as a choir, not a congregation-this requires just a little more prep work from the director, and better attention from the sisters). Are the pianist and music leader callings taken seriously, or does the presidency constantly fill in at the last minute? I think we all recognize that music is important and we miss it when it’s not there.
Additional note:
The 2010 Handbook has left out practice hymn singing in Relief Society. But please don’t let that stop the music from being in your meetings!
Read everything on www.lds.org, under Relief Society, with the idea of bringing music to the meeting. The Spirit will give you ideas of what you can do, as you read. We all know the fastest way to bring the spirit is through music. As a presidency, be sensitive to the best ways to bring music into your meetings. As a music director, don’t just wave your arm to the music, do all in your power, through suggestion and willingness, to bring the spirit through music. As a teacher, bring music into your lesson.
Think outside the box. Offer to teach a six week (or whatever) course on music skills, or music appreciation. Start a Singing Sisters choir and sing for Relief Society, Sacrament Meeting, or ward parties. Have musical numbers to set the mood for lessons.
Whatever your ward chooses to do, just don’t stop the music!!!
I agree, I agree, I agree. Big surprise but RS Music is a calling I’ve had for a while, and I delight in throwing my RS sisters another “new” hymn. We know barely 1/3 of the hymns in our hymn book! I love becoming familiar with new ones, as long as I sing loudly and confidently, it works pretty well to learn new ones together. I also enjoy picking the women’s choir hymns in the back, and I have been pleasantly surprised to hear all three parts harmonizing beautifully in the room. Sometimes I’ll go through each part individually to become familiar with it, other times we dive right in with all three at once and we still create a beautiful sound.
At another time we used two months of practice hymn time to prepare a musical number with the YW to sing in Sacrament Meeting. Every fourth sunday the RS and YW are all together, so we would practice together on those sundays. The musical number turned out beautifully and it was wonderful to see all the Women of God in our Ward combine together in Sacrament Meeting to sing beautiful music. Music is powerful and great, and carries such a strong spirit. We must use the hymn book to teach and touch each other with gospel truths.
I have just been called in our ward as the Music Director and I am so pleased to find information on how I can better fulfill my calling. I am NOT a singer and so find myself a little out of my depth however, I know this calling from my Heavenly Father and will be taking in account all the great advice that I have read. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all that has been shared 🙂
I am interested in knowing the requirements of how the church has changed its policy on music direction and its path towards establishing new songs throughout the churches anthology. I was very moved by the song “I am a child of God,” which sisters Nelson and Borland helped me understand more fully in song and in verse. Its songs like these that make the LDS church great.
Do we or do we not have singing practice time in RS anymore? It takes up another 8-10 minutes away from lesson time
Singing practice time in RS has been eliminated due to a desire to emphasize lesson time. (This post was written before the change was made.) However, I still think a creative music leader can bring in some music when appropriate. For example, instead of singing an opening hymn, a musical number might be performed. Same with a closing hymn. Also, part of the lesson could break for a pre-arranged musical number.
I personally think it’s a shame to ignore the spirit music can bring into a group who is ready to share gospel insights with one another.
Does RS need a chorister now
Sadly, no.
But, I can share something we do in the temple. Before preparation meeting starts, and as sisters are gathering in the room, we have a chorister lead us in several hymns sung one right after another until the meeting is ready to start. It’s a beautiful way to bring the spirit to our meeting. At the very least, someone can be playing prelude music as sisters gather. But yes, music needs have changed in our Relief Society meetings.