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You are asked to lead the VBS music at your local church’s Vacation Bible School.
You are freaking out. What do you do? What songs should you sing? How will you lead during daily Mass or service? What if you can’t do it right?
I know because these questions went through my head when I was asked to help with my home parishes’ VBS. It can seem like scary stuff. But it doesn’t have to be.
Whether you are already a music minister, music teacher, choir member or cantor, or just someone who can sing and play guitar well, this post is for you! Easy tips and resources to help make your ‘directing’ a breeze.
A few things to note before I get started. In our VBS schedule, we put music for 20-25 minutes right before Mass started. Mass was placed right before lunch. That seemed to work the best for our situation.
10 Awesome Tips for the VBS Music Director
#1: Be Organized(ish)
I know that as musicians with creative minds, this can be hard. I had a hard time myself, putting off TRULY planning until a few weeks before the VBS was held. For those of you who excel at both music and planning, you’re golden!
At the very least, keep a three-ring binder or folder with loose-leaf music to use while playing/teaching the kids. To be even more organized, put protective sleeves over the music so it flips nicely and is protected. (Not that being around kids ever resulted in messed-up and dirty papers!)
The most organized you need to be is for the Mass music, what you are doing, what order, etc. And announce it during Mass so everyone knows!
#2: Keep Your Selections Limited
Only pick about 10 songs. Seriously, no matter what urge you have, don’t select any more than that.
Don’t go too overboard, it’s hard for kids to learn too many songs WELL (especially in a few days). So just focus on giving them a few songs they can do really well, and go from there!
You can always have a few backup songs to pull out when the kids have already learned all of them and need something new!
#3: Add Motions or Actions to the VBS Music (on some songs)
It may seem unnecessary, but trust me, they are going to love it.
There is a crazy high statistic of people (and especially boys!) (source) who learn by movement, aka kinesthetically and tactilely (I’m sorry I can’t remember the exact number, I heard it at a music conference once). So when kids move while singing, they are actually learning the song that much faster. Cool, huh?
Plus, by engaging their bodies with motions BEFORE Mass starts, you can hopefully help the ones who need to expend a little energy get it out of their systems.
Songs I used motions/extras in: Let the River Flow, Lord, I Lift Your Name on High, and Awesome God.
#4: Make It Fun!
Have more than just praise and worship songs for them to sing for the purpose of Mass. They need a few songs just for fun that are kid-friendly, too.
I used “Lean on Me”, “Pharoah, Pharoah”, and “The Banana Song”. You can always find a few more if they get tired of them.
Also, laugh with the kids, let them get a little crazy (but not too crazy!) I personally like a well-run ‘classroom’, but others can handle the rambunctiousness.
#5: Let The Kids Be Involved!
When you are finished rehearsing/singing the songs you have planned for that day, let one lucky kid pick to do their favorite song again.
An easy way to have help with Mass music: have volunteers or a sign-up sheet for your daily Masses. It worked best for me to go by grades, that way everyone isn’t wanting to do it every day. Example: the 6th graders helped me sing one day, the 5th graders the next, and so on.
Give them a limit of only singing at one Mass, unless no one else is volunteering, then they may do it again.
As a cantor for my church, I find it invaluable to encourage young kids to be involved in the Mass music. That way we have someone to take our places when we get too old and our warbly voices can’t take it anymore!
#6: Get the Right Key!
Pick songs that are easy for you to play! You do not want to be fretting over that Bm or Eb while trying to teach a song. Change the key if you have to for easy chord changes and fingerings for you.
Whether you use a keyboard/piano, or guitar, keep it easy for you to play while teaching. I kept it simple with mostly G, C, Em, and D chords, with a few Am thrown in there.
Note: the kids usually don’t even care if you are not that good at guitar. I wasn’t and all they said was, “Wow, you’ve got a good voice!”.
If you want to compensate for the other not being as good, pick one. Voice or instrument. I believe most students respond better to voice since the instrument doesn’t usually give them the melody.
#7: Help Out With Other Things
If students know you’re just the music person, they might not ask you for help in other things.
You are in the know. And if you aren’t, get in the know!
Guide students in other activities, especially in those first few days when everyone is just getting settled into the routine.
You never know what 1st grader might get lost or that 4th grader who is visiting who doesn’t know anybody else there.
Be there to help and encourage, and not just to play music.
#8: Teach Them Appropriate Techniques and Styles for Mass
Obviously, it isn’t good to shout the lyrics, nor should they sing really quietly. But do they know that? I bet no one has ever told them in regards to music at Mass.
You can also give them a few pointers on posture, or how to sing with maturity (they love this because then they can sound like a grown-up singer!).
Let them know when they sound good and when they are doing appropriate things. All it takes is one joker to throw everyone off, so try to prep them ahead of time.
9: Avoid Embarrassment (of yourself or any other kids)
You don’t want to call a kid out, but you also don’t want to look like a fool in front of the kids with no control.
This is pretty typical: I had a few boys in my group that thought they were really funny. To the point of completely disrupting our music time. I just told them that if they did not settle down, they would not participate in music or recess the rest of the week. That usually did the trick.
Hopefully, other team members will be around if you have to remove someone for being excessively disruptive. Most of the time, you won’t have to deal with it if you get the other kids on your side.
#10: Avoid Warm-ups
While you and I both know that this is important in a classroom setting, you do not have time to warm up the kids at VBS.
If you do any type or warm-up, get them out of their seat to move a little by singing “If Your Happy and You know It” or the “Banana Song“, or even just do the tapping number exercise on this video I created!
Besides, the kids will probably be warmed up from talking and such!
VBS Music Resources
So, I used mostly Ultimate Guitar to find the guitar chords I was looking for. I have included the full list of songs I used, plus some videos on how I did I sang them, and a few versions of chords I created that I couldn’t find online.
I also included what capo I use on the guitar to make it easier for me to play, and for the kids to sing. You may adjust the capos as necessary or as you like them.
As I mentioned before, I am not a proficient guitar player, so I mostly relied on my voice to lead the kids on learning these VBS songs.
List of Songs I Used:
Awesome God (will post a video soon!) This in one of the VBS music favorites where I’m from!
Light the Fire (use the Key of G version, will post a video soon!)
Celtic Alleluia (for Mass purposes)
Fun Songs I Used:
Pharoah, Pharoah (we just did the actions and rapped the verses)
The Banana Song (my version)
The Breakfast Song (by the Newsboys: I just like the refrain. I didn’t end up using it but it would be fun to teach the kids the refrain)
Fun Physical Actions I Used:
Double Double This This
Alright, Ok Saying
Here is an audio file of how I use the saying during my music session time. I learned this from going to Totus Tuus growing up.
VBS Music Alright, Okay Thoughts
I also included actions in each of my videos of the other songs. Most of them are easy to teach, and again, the kids love them!
Next time you are asked to lead VBS music or another kid event, you can say “yes!” with gusto knowing that you have some resources and tips to make it fun for everyone!
Yay for VBS music! Keep spreading the love and joy, comrades!
