SINGING SUPERSTARS—PROGRAM REVIEW

OH MY GOODNESS!!! 

Where has this month gone?

The days have been spinning by awfully quickly.

WILL SOMEONE PLEASE SLOW THE WORLD DOWN

SO I CAN CATCH UP WITH LIFE?????

There have been several posts I've wanted to do this month, including what I was planning on doing for my program review this year
(which I'll have to post later or maybe next year),
<SIGH>

but as you can see, I haven't been able to squeeze out some extra time.

Here is the post I started at the first of the month but life happened

and I haven't been able to get back to it until now. 

With all those POPULAR singing reality-type shows out there these days like American Idol, The X Factor, The Voice, America's Got Talent, etc., you can't help but try and figure out a way to incorporate a similar theme into singing time. I personally haven't watched these but I do hear about them from friends, family and co-workers. Well, with that in mind, here is another way to use the Singing Superstars poster from my last post found here. Sorry again that I'm finally getting around to posting the other use for the poster I promised at the first of the month. Life keeps happening. What can I say?????

Anyway, this is pretty simple to do. I can't say I'm following a particular singing reality show's concept because I really don't know the exact specifics of each show since the bits and pieces of each are just mishmashed info in my little noggin'. This is just my take on the shows and I'm sure many others have done similar singing times like this. BUT, if I had to pick one show from the mishmash of info I know, I guess I would say it is probably closest to The X Factor since I use "X's"  (Ummm, hey there, I don't think they actually use "X's" in the show) and supposedly, the "X" refers to that something eXtra one has that makes them STAR quality. So, yeah, let's go with that.

PREP

• Singing Superstars poster with the songs listed on it & small stars—optional (a printable poster is in the previous post here):

• Basically, I just use the poster as a meter or score board so they have a visual reminder on how well they are doing as we work on each song. 
• Print, cut and post on your poster the three pictures that represent the categories that the children are to be judged on (or write the categories on the poster with a wet erase marker.) If I had known when I first made this poster that I would use it for something else, I wouldn't have laminated the first set of category headers onto the poster. I would have made it removable so I could switch out with other headers. This singing time only has three categories as compared to the four from the last post so you will only use three columns:
• Musicality (note): Sound, volume, clarity on the words, know the words, singing harmoniously together, everyone singing, etc.
• Physicality (reverent children): Eyes on me, standing or sitting reverently, stand up and sit down together, happy face, etc.
• Spirituality (Jesus): Are they singing with feeling and the spirit of the song so others can feel the message of the gospel the song has? I like this because I just don't want the children to sing the song like a robot— just spitting out the words. I want them to learn to pay more attention in what they are singing and experience not only the impact they can have on those that are listening to them, but also in how it can make them feel as well. This hopefully also helps them in understanding how important music is in sharing the gospel. This judge could even close his/her eyes while they sing so he/she can FEEL the music better.
• You may want to print out the above category info for a reference sheet for the judges.
• Ask three people to be your judges. These can be other members in your ward, the Primary Presidency or teachers. I don't like to use teachers for this one since I want them to help participate since they will be in the program with the children.
• Make sure you explain to your judges ahead of time what their responsibilities are in judging and mentoring the Primary.
• Print the three sets of the the stars and "Xs", cut them out, laminate (optional) and adhere to tongue depressor sticks. If you don't feel like cutting them out, just use as a full page. In the file there is also a blank set if you prefer to print out on colored card stock instead and another set without the pictures on them. You could even print sets of the blank ones then cover the shapes with glitter. Now that would give some bling! You could even print and cut out the pictures then adhere them on top of the glittered shapes. Just pick and print your style. 

HOW

1. Have the judges sit up front facing the Primary and give each a set of the star and "X" judging paddles.
2. Explain to the children what you are doing and what each judge will be judging them on.
• Each judge will judge in their category whether the children sang the song program perfect or near program perfect depending on your expectations. After singing, the judges will either raise a star or "X" for their category. 
• A star means that they are star quality in that category.
• An "X" means that they did not sing program perfect for the judge's category and have not achieved star quality yet.
3. Put a small star on the poster for each category they earned for that song to track their progress.
4. Each judge will also act as a mentor for their category.
• After the judging, have the judges mentor the children for their category by telling them what they did well in and what they need to do to improve.
5. Practice the song 2 or more times as needed if they did not get all three stars.
6. When they think they are ready to be judged again, sing the song again for the judges to see if they get all three stars.
7. Continue the process for each song you are wanting to work on.
8. This will take 2-3 weeks to get through all the songs depending on how much practice you need.
9. Have a Grand Prize treat or token for them when they have earned all their stars (optional).

This is pretty easy to do while also giving the children some feedback from others, besides you, on how well they are doing and what they can do to improve in their singing. And besides, children like and seem to do better when they know they are performing for an audience.

HAPPY PROGRAM PRACTICE!!!

Singing Superstars Viz—Nalani