First Time for Everything

The only time I've ever wrote a script was in my Introduction to Theater class a year ago, and that was like pulling teeth from a child.  I didn't really like writing that script because it was "required", and I've never seriously considered myself creative.  As I started this project I never envisioned myself writing a script, I actually didn't have that great of a game plan at all.  A week ago I was talking to the director of the ministry and asked if they had anything for the performance other then music, and she informed me that there was no script yet.  Knowing that I had to get more hours, and the fact that I wanted to contribute more time into this project to "own" it, I offered to write a script.  I didn't know what I was getting into at first, haha.

This being said, I sat down yesterday determined to crank out a quality script that the kids could remember within a month, and one that would also enhance the music and the theme throughout.  I honestly thought it was going to be really difficult, given my experience last year in THD101.  But with every passing minute I sat behind the computer screen, I found more enjoyment with what I was typing.  After a few hours I had a four page script that included some gestures, scripture, and the music that was placed in an order that would complement the "thankfulness" theme.

The children are on fall break this week, so I won't be able to work with them.  Starting next Sunday I will select twenty kids who want speaking parts, pull them out from "large group" into smaller groups, assign parts, and begin teaching them.

This link will show the theme of each song, the order of songs with individual times/total time, and the script.  It is originally a Word document, so hopefully it shows true to it's original.  The parts are not assigned yet, so at the moment it says "Child 1, Child 2, Child 3, etc..."  Once I assign the parts, names will be put in place of "Child", and I'll have each kid highlight their own part to make it easier for them to remember what their lines are.

I'm really looking forward to starting back up and working the script with each and every child!

Date	Time In	Time Out	Today's Hours	Cumulative Hours	Work Performed
9/4/2013	5:00	7:00	2	2	Teaching at church
9/8/2013	5:00	7:00	2	4	Teaching at church
9/15/2013	5:00	7:00	2	6	Teaching at church
9/25/2013	5:00	7:00	2	8	Teaching at church
9/26/2013	7:30	8:00	0.5	8.5	Working w/music-home
9/26/2013	1:45	2:45	1	9.5	Working w/music-home
10/2/2013	2:45	3:45	1	10.5	Working w/Kristen-motions
10/2/2013	5:00	7:00	2	12.5	Teaching at church
10/3/2013	8:00	9:00	1	13.5	Working w/music-home
10/5/2013	4:30	5:30	1	14.5	Typing lyrics/making pwpts-home
10/6/2013	4:30	6:00	1.5	16	Powerpoints-home
10/7/2013	3:30	6:00	2.5	18.5	Working on script-home

Power Points All Around

Power points, power points, power points... That is what my weekend has consisted of, making power points.  Not that I dislike doing it, I actually quite enjoyed creating them!  I didn't create the power point for Jesus Loves the Little Children, which was pictured in my last post, but I have created all of the other power points to the rest of the songs.  Here are some screen shots of just a few of the title slides.

This song talks about how God doesn't look at outward appearances, but looks at the heart.

This song is actually a Chris Tomlin Song, but the kids are doing a children's version of it.

This is one of my favorite songs, it talks about how we should be thankful for everything that God has done.

Creating these power points makes me feel like I have contributed a lot to this project, and there are still quite a few things I have to do before their performance.  The next major thing I will be working on is creating a script for the performance.  I wasn't asked to, but I insisted on trying it out.  I've never wrote a script before, so this will be interesting.  The director of the ministry is currently pregnant and I am hoping that this will help her stress level out in the long run.  The next post will probably be covering the script writing process and how I handle it.  Here is to a good week ahead!!!

Date	Time In	Time Out	Today's Hours	Cumulative Hours	Work Performed
9/4/2013	5:00	7:00	2	2	Teaching at church
9/8/2013	5:00	7:00	2	4	Teaching at church
9/15/2013	5:00	7:00	2	6	Teaching at church
9/25/2013	5:00	7:00	2	8	Teaching at church
9/26/2013	7:30	8:00	0.5	8.5	Working w/music-home
9/26/2013	1:45	2:45	1	9.5	Working w/music-home
10/2/2013	2:45	3:45	1	10.5	Working w/Kristen-motions
10/2/2013	5:00	7:00	2	12.5	Teaching at church
10/3/2013	8:00	9:00	1	13.5	Working w/music-home
10/5/2013	4:30	5:30	1	14.5	Typing lyrics/making pwpts
10/6/2013	4:30	6:00	1.5	16	Powerpoints

Starting Off

"Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.  Red and yellow, black and white, they're all precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world!"  Everyone who has ever stepped inside a church at some point in their life has heard this song.  In fact, this is one of the songs that the children of FUMC will be singing in October, a few Sunday's before their actual performance in November.  They're not only learning this song in English, but in German and Spanish as well.

The past few weeks during Wednesday and Sunday night meetings, me and Bailey (the full time children's music leader) have been working with the children, teaching them songs that coincide with the lessons they learn in Bible study, and what they will be singing for the church in November.  We've not only taught them "Jesus Loves the Little Children" in multiple different languages, but we have made up motions similar to sign language that will go with this song and the rest of the ones they're learning.  The motions are very simple and easy for the kids to learn, and also help the kids learn how the songs go.  The method of teaching we've been using is rote, where either me or Bailey stand in front of the children, leading them through the songs with motions, while the power point is up for the words.

Bailey and the 5th/6th grade group during some down time.

All of the children learn rather fast!  I've been quite surprised at how fast they pick up all of the songs and motions.  Some of the other songs they're learning are; "Thankful", "You, You, You", "Get Down", "Praise You in This Storm", and the list goes on.  There are around ten songs they will be learning over the next month in preparation of their Thanksgiving performance.  The theme of the performance isn't set in stone yet, but the main idea we're focusing on is being thankful for what God has given us.

Here is a record of hours I've worked with the kids, worked on the music, and collaborated with others so far.

Date	Time In	Time Out	Today's Hours	Cumulative Hours	Work Performed
9/4/2013	5:00	7:00	2	2	Teaching at church
9/8/2013	5:00	7:00	2	4	Teaching at church
9/15/2013	5:00	7:00	2	6	Teaching at church
9/25/2013	5:00	7:00	2	8	Teaching at church
9/26/2013	7:30	8:00	0.5	8.5	Working w/music-home
9/26/2013	1:45	2:45	1	9.5	Working w/music-home
10/2/2013	2:45	3:45	1	10.5	Working w/Kristen-motions
10/2/2013	5:00	7:00	2	12.5	Teaching at church
10/3/2013	8:00	9:00	1	13.5	Working w/music-home