10 Tips for Virtual Primary

The pandemic has required us to be creative on so many different levels.  Church singing time with our children has been no different.  I have been impressed by the amount of creativity in providing singing time experiences for primary children.  In fact, if you’ve made a singing time video public on YouTube, chances are my wife and I have played it for the kids to watch for our own family church.  Our own ward did a virtual primary program as well, with pre-recorded videos that we enjoyed watching.  As much as we have been creative, we have also encountered a lot of challenges.  Our ward for example, had resumed meeting in person for sacrament meeting with larger numbers not too long ago before being cut back again just this last month with the most recent outbreak.  As I’ve continued to observe efforts in providing spiritual experiences at a ward level for children, I’ve thought it might be helpful to lend some of my experience providing music experiences via video conferencing platforms.  Below are some tips that I think will promote these spiritual experiences.  Disclaimer: Currently, I don’t actually hold a calling as a singing-time teacher.  These tips come from my experience working full time as a board certified music therapist through telehealth. 

1. Give videoconferencing tips.  You would think that after 9 months of quarantine and online schooling we would have Zoom figured out.  Don’t assume that.  Technology savviness bears some repetition even if we do have it figured out.  These videoconferencing tips can include these next few below.
2. Use gallery view.  At the top right corner of the Zoom window, there is a button to switch between gallery view and speaker view.  Zoom automatically goes to speaker view wherein only the prominent speaker will show up on a large screen for viewers.  For presenters and singing time leaders, I would recommend gallery view, allowing you to see ALL of the children attending at once.  This is information you can use to gage their attention level, and do whatever you need on your end to hone their attention spans to the important messages you’ve prepared. 
3. Have viewers pin your screen.  For those who elect not to use gallery view, and want you on the big screen, I would recommend a feature wherein you can “pin” the main speaker or singing time leader.  That way, when others are not choosing to mute their screens, kids won’t get confused when their main screen switches to others besides you as presenter.  It reduces a lot of confusion on your end.  Simply click on the three dots in the corner of the screen containing the person you want to pin, and the option should present itself. 
4. Have everyone mute themselves.  Easier said than done, I know.  But I would recommend that even when singing together, that all participants mute themselves.  Otherwise, the feedback for all participants can be chaotic, patchy, and confusing when people get on different lines of the verse at different times… if you manage to stay on the same verse.  Any amount of confusion would make it difficult for a spiritual experience to occur.  Also…
5. Be brave.  This means that they will only hear you as a singer.  It will be important for you, as a leader, to provide a consistent line of singing for everyone to follow.  Don’t slow down or speed up if internet connections get sticky.  That only causes more confusion.  Just be consistent with the song selection until you get to the end.  You can regroup at that point.  You may consider having someone play piano behind you to provide that consistency if you don’t think you can through singing.  If a piano isn’t an option, you might try guitar.  (Guitar would likely be easier actually, and something different the kids would enjoy). 
6. For Junior Primary, use action songs to maintain attention.  Particularly at the beginning of the meeting.  Action songs are a great way to draw attention to you as a presenter and adapt very well to video conferencing.  There’s plenty in the children’s songbook.  Some without spiritual messages like “Head Shoulders, Knees and Toes” but some with spiritual messages such as “Book of Mormon Stories” and “Love One Another”. If you’re really feeling brave, learn the ASL signs for a relevant song for the month.  Action songs provide a very concrete way for young children to participate.  Approach your spiritual messages towards the end of the meeting. 
7. Less talk, more Song.  Also, for the sake of keeping the attention of your junior primary, stick to the music.  The moment you speak for more than 30 seconds you’ve lost the attention of most your junior primary (not too much fault on them, that cognitive capacity to attend longer comes with age).  Speaking as a music therapist, music draws and sustains our attention in very natural ways.  Take advantage of it!    
8. Keep most nonmusical, discussion-based experiences for senior primary.  These kids will be more effective at staying in their seats without heavy supervision. 
9. Take advantage of screensharing.  It seems one of the most common singing time techniques is holding up pictures to represent the words that are to be sung.  These are fantastic and can be backed up by research too.  Rather than holding it in hand though, consider uploading a Powerpoint presentation of the exact same materials.  These are much easier to view and even allows you as presenter to control the screen they see more easily.
10. Keep it short and routine.  Particularly for junior primary.  If 10 minutes is all you can reliably keep their attention for, that's ok.  Over time, as you build experience and the kids start to understand the routine, you can start stretching for longer periods of time.  I've done 30 minute one-on-one sessions with children as young as 5, as well of groups across the age span.  It is possible.  

In the end, mix and match.  Every person is different.  Every ward is different.  Some of these tips may not actually work for you or your ward.  If anything has been evident with the pandemic, it is the need for trying new things, experimenting, and being patient as others do the same.  Also, if you haven’t yet dared a virtual primary experience, give it a try!  You will be surprised at how well the kids in your primary group are willing to participate and attend.  I know because I already have been, and music has never been more important in our day to day life.  

P.S.  Please comment through social media or below this post on your struggles with virtual primary.  If I can't find a solution, others might.  Let's reach out and connect!