How important is music to your ministry? And I’m not talking exclusively about worship music, although that plays a huge role. Do you incorporate music throughout your time with your ministry’s children?
When looking at Dr. Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, you’ll see that by integrating music into your lessons, along with other styles of learning, you can really make a deep connection with kids.
Recently, a new study of 4-year-olds showed that singing and playing music can help improve a child’s cooperation and problem-solving skills. The kids studied were 30 times more likely to be helpful after they had sung and played a percussion instrument compared to children who hadn’t.
And in the Bible, we see the importance of music. In Matthew 26:30 we see how Jesus and his disciples sang hymns.
Let me encourage you to integrate music into your ministry. Here are some quick and simple tips to help you hit all the right notes:
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1. Use music to set a mood. From a high-energy welcome song to a soft, instrumental piece, give your ministry a soundtrack. Kids are extremely sensitive to music. The right background music can help pump kids up or calm them down.
2. Play musical instruments. Music isn’t all about singing. Kids love making music, even if it’s just keeping the beat with a homemade maraca.
3. Learn Bible verses with raps, chants, or cheers. In this month’s childrensministry.com poll, we asked if children’s ministries should require scripture memory. At the time of this writing, 77 percent of you said “yes.” Setting Bible verses to song or giving verses a rhythm can help kids remember them better. And remember to help your kids really understand what the verse means along with knowing the words.
4. Let kids write songs. Let older kids make a remix. Tell them to come up with a song using a tune they already know with new words. For example, write a short song about how God wants us to treat others using the tune from “Old MacDonald.”
5. Learn Bible truths through songs. Plan your lesson and find a song that fits the theme. Or, make a remix yourself and tell what happened to Jonah in a song or rhyme.
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If you’re looking for curriculum that does a great job of incorporating music, you’ve got to check out Group’s Sunday School materials. Each line of curriculum has different aspects that make it unique, but all of them incorporate music in fresh, new ways your kids will love.
How important is music to your ministry? Any tips for children’s ministers looking to start a children’s choir? Let us know using the comment section below!
