Looking Ahead In Christian Ed
edited by MLaryaret Jacobsen, .W. i.
Associate professor of Christian Education, Biola Bible College
need. Suddenly we see the blossom ing out of a new and individualistic personality in each young person and with this change come many prob lems. Now songs must be given which establish the difference between right and wrong, which set up standards for moral values, which make them feel secure in their newly found independence. At this time, more than ever before, the junior needs a friend. What an excellent oppor tunity is offered for learning songs about the Lord Jesus, in order to gain a personal faith in Him as Saviour and friend. Their gradually maturing minds are now seeking and forming opin ions. Sing hymns which will make them think about life, its purpose and their relationship to that purpose. Sing stable church hymns of God as a mighty rock and loving father and of Christ and His way of life. Sing songs of Biblical adventure to match their excitable and adventure some spirit. Bible passages set to music will help them to know and use the Bible as a part of their living and thinking. Sing hymns that en able them to express their own faith and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray that this will not be done carelessly but in the beauty of holiness. Teen-agers are intensely aw’are of their own relationship to others. Here songs can meet a social need bv giving the boy or girl a spirit of Christian fellowship and a sense o c belonging to a group. In short, when we are looking for new music materials, let us always consider the child and his needs and select music to fill those needs. Let us also, even from the earliest nur sery age, nourish in each child an appreciation for good music which will grow as he grows, and finally produce, over a period of time, a music-conscious church with high musical standards. (T o be continued) For those living in the Los Angeles area there will be offered in the Biola Evening School two very practical courses in Christian Education looking forward to the summer. Mrs. Gordon Hooker will teach a course in Daily Vacation Bible School each Thursday night beginning Jan. 27. Miss Thelma Bain will teach a course in Christian Camps and Counseling each Tuesday night beginning Feb. 1.
MUSIC in Christian Education (Part Two) by *Janiee Wiynull
I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live.” Music should be an im portant part of every child’s life— of his work, his play, his study and his worship. As a part of the church school program it should be so mean ingful that it is carried over into the child’s personal daily life. Are the songs that we teach in our Christian Education classes good? Are they pur poseful? Are they worthwhile? As a single means of evaluation, we need only to ask ourselves, “ Do they meet the needs of the children?” The Nursery Age is often consid ered too young for music, but if they can talk they can also sing. They may be too small to understand the Bible, but they can sing songs which give a good concept of God and Ilis love. In song they can talk to God; they can learn that He makes the flowers, the birds and the animals; they can know that He sent the baby Jesus at Christmas-time. Oftentimes their little songs, made simple by repetition of melody and words, may be integrated with stories to make them meaningful. Action and motion songs are also excellent for these chil dren who find it difficult to sit still. Beginners know mostly about their own natural surroundings, principally home, family, friends and things of nature. First, we need to look, at the world through their eyes to gain a view of their interests and their thoughts; then we are better fitted to choose songs which will express their feelings toward real things in their lives, especially objects which they can see, touch and feel. The language should be simple and famil iar to suit their small vocabulary and it should be noted that they will de rive no meaning from symbolism. All of the songs should be happy ones, and many may be action songs to ac company activity. Set up several standards which each song must meet. Such a list
should include: direct appeal, beauty, short in length, simple melody, sim ple rhythms, simple harmony, repeti tion, music and words interpreting each other, approximate range— (E above middle C to E an octave high er), good words rather than jingles. Of prime importance is the spirit ual value of each song. Let us ask ourselves if that which we are teach ing can be used to glorify God in the lives of the children. The songs must teach correct and clear ideas about God and about the Lord Jesus and must teach proper attitudes toward family, community helpers, play mates, adults, people of other races, the church and the Bible. It is not too soon to begin a philosophy of life by introducing simple principles in song. The Primary Level needs a variety of song types—because they are rest less and always on the go. They are beginning to grow intellectually and are on the lookout for new in formation, so into this channel we can direct songs which will give more and more Christian teachings. We can help them grow still further by creating new interests and intro ducing new units of work through song. Now they are more interested in people as individuals; knowing this we can select songs which will make the Lord Jesus real and vital in their lives. Because of their inter est in other people, they begin to par ticipate whole-heartedly in group ac tivities, Thus group singing may be an important aid in teaching. Prima ries may be given songs for definite worship, including prayer, praise and giving. Easy hymns can be sung, and even special words may be writ ten to tunes which they hear their parents sing in church. Standards set up for beginners’ songs are also appropriate for primaries. The Juniors and Intermediates pre sent an entirely different and unique
35
J A N U A R Y , 1 9 5 5
Made with FlippingBook HTML5