It always makes me sad when I see Primary programs using music time as the entertainment portion of the day. Music has extraordinary power and touches the spirit in a way a lesson cannot. It puts the gospel into a form the child can memorize and take home with him. For this reason, it’s too important to waste.

Because children have often been taught to yell as a form of singing loudly, I like to teach them that when we sing, our voices go straight to Heaven. Would we yell at Heavenly Father? Would we talk to Him in silly voices or say silly things when we were supposed to be serious? We wouldn’t, so when we sing, we must sing with beautiful, reverent voices. I’m not a singer, so I can’t teach them how to sing loudly without yelling, so I just ask them to do it.

Except for the wiggle songs, each Primary song is really a sacred hymn. It would be totally inappropriate to sit in Sacrament Meeting and instruct the congregation to sing in a silly voice or to have them throw balls at each other as they sang these sacred songs. It is equally inappropriate to do it in Primary. Wiggle songs can be done in fun ways, but the hymns should always be done in a reverent way to help children learn respect for Heavenly Father.

Sometimes music leaders try too hard. Music is already interactive, so it doesn’t need to be too dressed up. Beautiful packet pictures are enough to hold their attention. The more sacred the music, the more restrained the teaching method should be. Follow the Prophet can be taught with the traditional marching behind someone holding a prophet picture, but “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus” is a beautiful sacred song and should be taught with appropriate pictures and gentle actions. This song is a testimony set to music, and we want the children to sing it accordingly. When they sing reverently, they can feel the spirit and increase their testimonies.

I’ve noticed that when music time is reverent, all of Primary is reverent. When music is rowdy, it’s nearly impossible for me to regain the attention of the children. Music can calm, soothe, and bring the spirit to a room in powerful ways.

When teaching music, focus on the message and make sure the children know what the song means. Bear testimony of its message. Treat music time as the gospel doctrine class of the Primary program.