It’s Primary program time and your Primary needs to prepare! But what is the best way to practice? Use these Primary program ideas to ensure your Primary is prepared! All while keeping the kids engaged!
I’ve led the music for the Primary program for over 10 years! These suggestions are what I use because they are simple and they work! You won’t need to spend hours at a Primary program rehearsal if you follow these tips…

Simple Tools to Prepare for Your Primary Program
1. Chapel Review Primary Program Idea
The Primary’s favorite (who am I kidding … and mine!) is this guy! I use this helium balloon to help the Primary project volume when practicing in the chapel.

NOTE: Try to not emphasize “loud” as that connotes yelling. Rather try, “never sing louder than lovely”.
More Visuals to Create Volume
If your Primary needs more visuals for singing out, check out my post Practice Volume and Breathing When Singing.

2. Post the Words

- Part-time Primary children typically show up to the program who don’t know the words
- I get all reading eyes on me
- What the children see is also what I see
- They know what’s coming next
1. Part-Time Primary Children
2. Reading Eyes on Me
Posting the words also gives children something to direct their attention to! Thus putting all eyes on me and the words. It’s a fun little trick!
3. See What the Children See
TIP: Use the songbook as a weight to hold the binder from falling over the back or just in case something goes terribly wrong!

TIP: On your copy on the corner, write the time signature to the song for quick reference.
4. Know What's Coming Next
How to Order the Songs
- Place the first song to sing as the last song in the binder. Place any verses in front of it. Basically it’s all backwards if you looked at it like a regular book).
- All your pages to flip are right in front of you and as you go to the next verse or next song
- Then take the page you are reading and flip it over the music stand.
3. Know Where to Stand

Stand where you can be best seen by your pianist and by the children all while not blocking the audience’s view. Every family wants to be able to see their child sing.
- I stand right in front of the first center pew but off to the side by the piano.
- Stand on the chapel’s riser that’s big enough to fit my music stand and myself.
- When it’s time to lead the song, I stand on the riser
- Then I raise the music stand so it’s just above the privacy wall for the Primary to see.
- When we’re finished, I lower the stand then sit back down on the first row.
Pretty simple!
After the Program Practice
Once your Primary program practice is over, take a deep breath! Remember, don’t sweat the small stuff.
There will most likely be a few hiccups and the congregation will smile at whatever the random Primary child does on the stand.
But remember, that’s okay! This is not a production! This is simply the Primary showing what they learned in Primary and singing time from the year.
Singing Time After the Program

6 thoughts on “How to Prepare for the Primary Program Ideas”
I followed your idea of posting the words to the songs during our practice and program. It worked wonderfully. The kids were all looking at me, and I noticed they sang louder. Also, I didn't realize how much this format helped me. With the words so big in front of me, I never lost my place 🙂
I forgot to tell you thanks for the great ideas on your blog!!
I have been planning something very similar. ( This is my first time). How big do you print the words? I worry they can't see them.
Hi kim larsen,
I just print the words I have listed under my "Posting Words" tab. I've never had a complaint that the kids couldn't read them. It does help that most of them know almost all the words.
~Camille
Hi Camille! The description of the balloon you posted says it is 18". The Dollar Store in our area has 12" smileys – do you think that is too small? Did you choose this one for it's size also, or only availability?
Thanks,
Jen
Hi Jen,
I think a 12" inch will be fine – I always say the bigger the better but really, any size will work.
~Camille