Who's In Charge?

[spontoneous]

I've been really struggling. I was just put in at the beginning of this year. I had a meeting with the presidency and I came all prepared with things highlighted and research and ideas and was promplty told what songs I would sing and when. I was so frustrated. I thought that I was responsible for that.
Well, I took it in stride and decided to focus on the songs we would want to sing for the program. A few days ago I got a call from the presidency to come and meet with them. When I got there they had already picked the songs for the program and were making CDs to give to the kids. Am I wrong in thinking that that was my job? I feel like all they called me to do is stand up and wave my hand around. One of the councilors said that she was over music and that's why she had picked the songs.
What is my responsibility!?! I feel like if they just wanted someone to wave their hand they shouldn't have picked me. I don't see how I can magnify a calling that's already been done for me. Please help me figure out what to do!

[avsfan]

I am sorry that you are struggling. It is so hard to have distressing feelings in your calling. My first thought is to pray; pray, pray, pray. Pray for you, and pray for them. Pray to love them. If you do decide to talk to your president about it, if you go with a feeling of love it will be conveyed.

And also, try to be patient with them. The hardest calling I ever had was 5 months of YW president...and it wasn't because of the YW. It is so hard to be a leader when people won't follow you. I'm not saying you need to bow to her every wish, but when/if you talk to her, express understanding that you do want to support her.

I won't even presume to tell you what to do, because I don't know you, them, or the situation. But the Lord does. Ask Him, then make the best decision you can. (and realize that even then things don't get better at once.) Keep up your spirit!

[sisterchique]

Did your Primary Presidency give you a copy of the "2009 Outline for Sharing Time and the Children’s Sacrament Meeting Presentation"? It is a booklet put out by the Church each year that maps out the topics and songs to be taught throughout the year. You can find it online here: www.lds.org/pa/primary/pdf/English%20PR_2009_ChildrenSacramentMeetingProgram_02396_000.pdf

This booklet even specifies what month the children are to learn each song. So...no, it's not up to the chorister to decide what songs will be in the program each year. The General Primary Presidency does that. You do have some latitude in teaching other songs throughout the year, but you should teach the song specified in the outline each month.

The first time I was called as the Primary Chorister, I didn't know anything about this outline. I hope this helps!

[calgarymomto3]

Well, if I were you, I would be upset. There are 2 months in this years program that are months for you choose. Of course, you would then get approval from the PP, but still. We just had a new chorister called last Sunday (I'm the pianist), and the old chorister had the songs picked out, but the PP is my VT, so I asked her what she had planned, and she said that she's leaving it up to the new chorister to pick new songs and bring them to her, PP, if she doesn't like the songs that the old chorister picked out.

Now, that said, my SIL is the 1st counselor in her Primary, and the beginning of the yr, her Primary Presidency sat down and they picked out all the songs that were going to be taught to their primary till 2010. I asked her why, and she said they were calling a new chorister and didn't want to leave the decisions up to her/him. I was astounded, and I told her it was not fair, and if it was me, I would have words with the Primary Pres and the Bishop. What has happened with their new chorister, I do not know, but I do not know any chorister who would be happy with that. Maybe you are her chorister. :0 Sorry if you are .

Good luck with this,

Sheri.

[pach]

I know it can be frustrating for that to happen, but maybe they were just trying to make it easier for you as you were just called. I was called about three months before last years primary program and they hadn't done the program at all yet (they were all a new primary presidency also) so I looked through all the songs saw how good they were at each song and planned what I thought would be good for small groups singing etc. A few weeks later I'm told exactly how each song was going to be sung etc. I know thay were doing it to try and releive some of the pressure off me, but it still annoyed me. I just let it go since it wasn't that important and made sure I looked up stuff for this year ASAP. Around Nov they gave me the new CSMP pamplet and I mentioned the fact that there were some songs that needed to be picked and asked if they would like me to give suggestions. Since I asked like that they knew that I wanted to do this and that I didn't feel it a big burden. Anyways just based on my experience they were probably trying to make it easier for you (even if it does make it harder) I would try talking to them so that they understand your feelings in this matter buit accept that they might not agree with you. It worked better for me when I talked about it rather then when I just ignored it like I did for last years program.

[marenras]

I'm sorry you're having a hard time with your PP. It can be frustrating when they micromanage. However, one of the counselors IS technically in charge of music. In my ward she really just is my contact to the presidency and a resource for me if I need help.

However, even though the decision of what to sing and when to sing it has been taken away from you, do not think that your only job is to just "wave your arm around". The manner in which you present the songs and the teaching techniques you use are SO IMPORTANT! Your arm waving and teaching will determine how well the kids learn the songs, how much they enjoy singing time, and how well they learn the gospel from the songs. Those facets cannot be minimized. You still have PLENTY to work on, to prepare, and to pray about.

Good luck!

[prsd4tim2]

I really liked what Bruce said on the Yahoo group format - that we are teachers only we use the Children's songbook instead of a manual. If you were teaching a class, the lesson plan would be in front of you, all typed out by someone in the Church Education Department in charge of Curriculum, but it would still be up to you to present the material in a way that was meaningful to the children, that invited the Spirit, and that strengthened the children's testimonies.

If your PP has picked the CSMP songs for you, fine. You still have at least 15 minutes to fill every Sunday, and you're not going to spend the whole time doing one song per month. There are tons of wonderful songs in the CS to teach that will reinforce the monthly message, that teach Gospel principles or concepts, or that are just plain fun! And if you are enthusiastic and having fun, all of your goals will be accomplished (doctrine, testimonies, and feeling the Spirit). The children will remember the feeling they got when they came to Primary and sang this music, and it will provide them with a spiritual feast.

So talk to your PP if you can - I am certain that they want to achieve the same things you do with these children. Express your concerns. Pray, as has been suggested. But when you get in front of those children, don't just wave your arm - teach, invite the Spirit, and have fun. That is what the children will remember. And for me, that's what makes it the best calling in the church.

[shelle]

I know this is kind of a late reply to this thread, but I just had to put in my 2 cents. The chorister is a teacher, just like any other primary teacher. And just like any other primary teacher, we don't get to choose what we teach the kids. We have a manual that tells us what to teach. The chorister's manual is is the outline given to us by the first presidency that tells us what songs to teach and when. Sometimes you have a choice between a couple songs, and whether you get to choose or the presidency is up to the presidency. Ultimately, they have the last say. That's what they are there for. To say you are just there to wave your hand around just because you don't get to choose the songs is just silly. The chorister has one of the hardest jobs in primary whether they get to choose songs or not. If your just there waving your hand around you are doing something seriously wrong.

Also just as another view point, even if you don't use the outline (which doesn't make sense to me) the primary presidency has to write the whole primary program, so it would make sense that they would have a say in what songs get sung, since the majority of the songs the kids learn during the year are for the program.

So there ya go. My 2 cents. The End.