Reading Session Picks for Children's Choir

Children's Choir

Jul 19

Music publishers often present reading sessions at conferences, clinics, and professional development workshops. Clinicians sometimes curate their own reading sessions with some of their favorite works, too. If you’re a director, this is a good way to learn about new repertoire and choose music for the year ahead.

When choosing anthems for your children’s choir, look for well-crafted music and accessible, meaningful text. Look for pieces that will inspire your singers and challenge them musically.

In this post, you’ll find a list of reading session picks I’ve curated through the years for elementary (K-6) choirs. Some feature opportunities to introduce part-singing and include other instruments: organ, flute, handbells or handchimes, and rhythm instruments. This is a great way to develop musical independence in your singers and help foster their listening skills.

Incorporating instruments is a good way to involve more people and incorporate another dimension of music-making into your rehearsals. Even if the anthem doesn't call for it, this is a creative way to tailor a piece to your group and resources. Here’s how to do it:

Identify parts of the piano accompaniment (the bass line or notes that fall on downbeats in the melody line) and add bells or chimes. Create a simple rhythmic ostinato pattern to accompany one of the verses, or give a few singers triangles or finger cymbals to play during an interlude.

I hope you find something you love for your choir this year!

Reading Sessions Picks for Elementary (K-6) Choirs

*Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Flexible voicing

What Child Is This? (arr. Melissa Malvar-Keylock and Jill Friedersdorf)
Unison, 2-Part, or 3-Part Choir with Piano

A simple, beautiful setting of this classic Christmas carol.

Bethlehem Night (Terry Taylor)
Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. 6 Handbells or Handchimes

This simple, singable piece tells the story of the Nativity and is easy to teach by rote. If you don’t have handbells or handchimes available, substitute with glockenspiel or xylophone.

As a Little Child (Joseph M. Martin)
2-Part or SATB Choir with Piano

A gentle invitation incorporating a quote from “Jesus Loves Me” as a partner song. This would make a great combined choir piece, with children's choir and women’s choir or using both the 2-Part and SATB versions.

The First Noel (arr. Trevor Manor)
Unison/2-Part or SATB Choir with Piano + Opt. Violin and Chime Tree

A lovely setting of this traditional carol, with flexible voicing options (good for a combined choir) and great instrumental parts.

Four Sacred Rounds (Timothy G. Bushong)
Unison, 2-Part, or 3-Part Choir, a cappella

Each round in this collection includes three standalone (unison) parts for use as introits, hymn introductions, or prayer responses. The parts may also be sung in 2- or 3-part canon as an anthem or offertory piece. Hymn pairing recommendations are included.

Unison

Bethlehem Night (Terry Taylor)
Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. 6 Handbells or Handchimes

A simple, singable piece that tells the story of the Nativity in three verses. The final chorus reads: “What a wonder, what a story, what a joyful sight! Love is come, our God is with us, on this Bethlehem night.”

I Give Thanks (Toni Sullivan)
Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. Rhythm Sticks

Part of the Rote-to-Note series, this simple Thanksgiving piece is based on a recurring rhythm pattern and features lots of melodic repetition. The Discovery Page at the beginning of the score includes several helpful teaching ideas.

How Far Is It to Bethlehem? (arr. David Music)
Unison Choir with Piano

Beautiful setting of this lovely tune, interwoven with "Away in a Manger."

I’m Gonna Sing (arr. Audrey Snyder)
Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. Descant

A fun, accessible setting of this African-American Spiritual, incorporating a jazzy piano accompaniment, handclaps, spoken elements, and an optional descant on the last verse.

Love Is In the Manger (Camilla Pruitt)
Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. Oboe, Harp, and String Quartet

This piece features a thoughtful text with tangible images that are great for young singers: “Do you see the manger? Can you find the manger? Do you really know what you’re looking for?” Incorporates “Silent Night” and provides a few opportunities for soloists or small groups and instrumentalists.

Surrounded By Love (Mark Patterson)
Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. Descant

A lyrical treble piece with a strong message: “We are surrounded by love!” Singable melodic lines and supportive accompaniment throughout.

Come, Be the Light (Mark Patterson)
Unison Choir with Piano

Joyful, sparkling, and inspiring, this piece has an accessible, memorable melody and bright accompaniment. Great text!

Trust in God (Terry Taylor)
Unison Choir with Piano

A musical retelling of the stories of Jonah, Paul and Silas, Daniel, and Esther, and a great opportunity to feature several soloists. Part of the Rote-to-Note Choral Series.

Morning Stars Singing Together (Helen Kemp)
Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. Organ and Handbells

A lyrical piece about gratitude. Helen Kemp’s final commissioned work, this piece features a simple, supportive accompaniment and long, lyrical lines. The addition of handbells adds sparkle throughout.

God Is Always There (Toni Sullivan)
Unison Choir with Piano

Part of the Rote-to-Note series and very accessible for younger elementary choirs.

Shine Your Light (Terry Taylor)
Unison Choir with Piano

A great collection of three unison pieces (perfect for younger elementary choirs) all focused on a different Scripture verse related to light: "I Am the Light,” "Shine Your Light,” and "Walk As Children of Light.” Beautiful melodies, nice piano accompaniments, and thoughtful texts.

Feel more capable and prepared to lead your children’s choir—every single week.

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Unison/2-part

Be Strong! (Sandy Wilkinson)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

The text of this piece is based on Isaiah 41:10, 13 + Joshua 1:9. Also, it’s in minor—a wonderful opportunity to introduce a new tonality to your choir. The 2-part writing on the chorus features independent melodies, which are easier to sing and teach. This could be a great option for a combined group—have your older elementary group sing the whole piece and younger elementary join them for the chorus.

Guide Us, Lord (Mark Patterson)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Viola

The text for this anthem is the well-known Prayer of St. Richard of Chichester. Wonderful, reflective piece—it would be great for Lent.

Your Servant I Will Be (Mark Patterson)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

A beautiful melody with gentle syncopation and strong text: “Your grace is alive in me that the world may know your love.”

Sing for Joy, Sing Together (Mark Patterson)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Flute and Finger Cymbals

Fun! A great piece for young singers any time of the year.

Christ Was Born on Christmas Day (Pat Messick)
Unison/2-Part with Piano + Opt. Rhythm Instruments

This is a sweet piece for young voices that tells the whole story of Christmas, with each verse featuring a different character (shepherds, angels, wise men). Includes optional rhythm instruments (drum, triangle, finger cymbals, flute, and recorder).

Amazing Day (Rebecca Thompson)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Handbells

A Thanksgiving anthem with singable lines and accessible text, expressing gratitude for the simple and everyday things of life: work and play, friends and family, and animals, too.

The Light of God’s Love (Mark Burrows)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Percussion

An upbeat, accessible anthem about God’s light, incorporating “This Little Light of Mine."

Treasures in Heaven (Pat Messick)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

With text from Matthew 6:19, this lyrical anthem is a gentle reminder that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be, too."

The Fruit of the Spirit (Becki Slagle Mayo)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Flute

A lilting, lyrical new setting of this traditional text. This piece features a lovely countermelody near the end that’s doubled by the flute; a great way to introduce part-singing to your choir.

Thank You, God, for Loving Me (arr. Brad Nix)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Flute

A prayer of thankfulness with beautiful text and a simple, lyrical melody comprised mostly of stepwise motion.

Prepare Ye the Way (Mark Burrows)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Hand Drum

A lilting piece for Advent, featuring an imitative section at the beginning and a quote from the chorus of “O Come, All Ye Faithful” with the traditional Latin text.

Light of Hope (Mark Patterson)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + 4-5 Handbells or Handchimes

A suite of short anthems for the first three seasons of the church year: Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. Each one features a few handbells or handchimes, and the third in the set includes an opportunity to sing in canon.

P salm 150 (Terre Johnson)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

A grand and regal opening, followed by long, flowing lines and clear text-setting. Featuring a simple (optional) canon, this piece would be an excellent way to introduce and reinforce part-singing within your choir.

Thankful (Mark Burrows)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

A lovely Thanksgiving piece for young singers, incorporating a quote from “For the Beauty of the Earth” and naming gifts we can and can’t see.

Joshua! (arr. Joe Milton & Wally Minko)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

A fun, upbeat retelling of the story of Joshua, featuring a rhythmic speech section in the middle and an optional three-part split for the final chorus.

I See You, God (Mark Burrows)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

Great text and lovely melody—"Who says you're invisible? I see you all around..." Perfect for young, inquisitive singers.

Ut Vitam Habeant (That They May Have Life) (Ruth Elaine Schram)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. C Instrument

A wonderful way to introduce Latin to your elementary singers. Imitative two-part writing in the middle section makes this fairly accessible for choirs just learning to sing in parts. Text is based on John 10:10.

Give Praise to God (Timothy Shaw)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

Based on Psalm 150, this jubilant but lyrical anthem in 6/8 time would be a good "challenge piece" for an older elementary choir.

Joyful, Joyful (arr. Craig Curry)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

A fun, creative setting of the traditional hymn tune and text. The choral parts are the same as you’d find in the hymnal, but the accompaniment makes it sound like a whole new piece!

2-part

Sing Hallelujah (Jesus Lives Today) (Mark Burrows)
2-Part Choir with Piano

Based on melodic echo patterns, this joyful anthem would be great for combined choirs, with singers of different ages.

Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel (arr. Roger Emerson)
2-Part Choir with Piano

An accessible setting of this African-American Spiritual written for younger voices. Accessible two-part writing and a driving rock piano accompaniment make this a crowd favorite.

God Is Here Today (Tom Trenney)
2-Part Choir + Piano

Dedicated to Mr. Rogers, this arrangement features an easy-to-teach partner melody and an opportunity for congregational singing (it includes a reproducible page).

Come, Let Us Worship God (arr. Katie Houts)
2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Congregation

A joyful piece with beautiful, welcoming text. The call-and-response structure makes it easy to learn.

3-part

Make a Joyful Noise (Jeremy Russell)
3-Part Treble Choir with Piano + Opt. Rhythm Instruments, Boomwhackers, and Body Percussion

This joyful piece features three independent melodies that fit together into a 3-part texture in the final section. The addition of rhythm instruments, Boomwhackers, and body percussion makes this a fun and celebratory anthem. Great for combined choirs!

I’d love to hear from you:

Which piece is your favorite? What would you add to this list?

Three Models for Organizing a Combined Choir

Choir is a meaningful way to build community, promote unity, and bring people together.

Whether you direct a community choir, a church choir, or work with a professional choir, combining with other groups can be a memorable, enriching musical experience for all involved. It's also a practical way to expand what's possible on a concert program: more voices, more opportunities for divisi, and a bigger sound than one group could create on their own.

How to Teach Solfege in Elementary Music or Choir

If you're like me, you first learned solfege from Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music. This 1965 classic is still beloved today—it's a favorite among my elementary piano students!

Solfege is a useful tool for developing sight-singing and music-reading skills. It’s beneficial for teaching ear-training, harmonic function, and tonal relationships. It also promotes good vowels when singing, as each solfege syllable is a pure vowel sound.

40 Call & Response Songs and Games for Elementary Music

Call and response is a form of musical dialogue: Someone sings or plays a musical phrase, and someone else (or a group of people) responds, either echoing the phrase back or providing a musical answer.

Call and response stems from a variety of musical traditions, including African, Cuban, folk, and early church music (think cantor and congregation). (source)

Call and response can be a useful teaching tool, as it gives young children an opportunity to listen, imitate, explore the voice, and gain confidence in their singing.

Five Ways to Celebrate the End of the School Year

From August or September until May or June, choir and ensemble members of all ages gather in communities across the country week after week. They sing, they smile, they learn, but most of all, they give their time to be part of something bigger than themselves.

It’s a commitment, and often one that includes the whole family. This alone is something worth acknowledging and celebrating.

But then there’s the wonderful work that you do together throughout the year—the music you learn, the songs you sing, the services and programs and concerts you present, the community you build.

Here are five ways to celebrate the end of another wonderful year and show your appreciation for your choir and ensemble members this spring.

Ways to Praise: Words that Inspire, Encourage, and Motivate in Music Teaching

Have you ever thought about how you give praise and offer encouraging words in your teaching? Is there a way to do this that promotes learning?

How can you use your words to foster the development of intrinsic motivation and a positive self-image in your students?

36 Ways to Use Rhythm Pattern Cards in Your Teaching

Rhythm pattern cards are a great way to teach new rhythmic concepts, reinforce familiar patterns, and build that all-important music vocabulary (the ability to understand and create your own musical patterns and sequences).

There are lots of different types of rhythm pattern cards out there - some you can buy, some you can download and print for free (like the set I'm sharing below!), and ideas for making some of your own.

They don’t have to be fancy! The ones I'm sharing today can be printed at home on white cardstock and cut into quarters (postcard-size).

Books You Can Sing & Chant with Your Elementary Music Students

Are you looking for books you can sing or chant in your elementary music classes, group classes in your studio, or children’s choir rehearsals?

You know the ones: books that either have lyrics to a familiar children’s song or hymn, or stories with text that can be sung to a familiar tune, like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”

Reading Session Picks for Children's Choir

American Sign Language for Children's Choirs

Singing is a full-body activity (source). And we know that movement is a valuable tool for helping children understand and engage with music.

This is why so many children’s choir directors and elementary music teachers teach songs and anthems with hand, arm, or body movement of some kind.

Sign language is a natural choice.

Songs of the Season: A Celebration of Winter Holidays

Fall is here, which means the return of Georgia football (Go Dawgs!), puffer vests, and apple everything (sorry, PSL).

It also means lots of repertoire planning and rehearsing for Christmas programs, musicals, and holiday concerts.

I recognize that some of you are in positions where you may be programming a holiday concert or program, whether that's a school or community setting or an interfaith musical celebration with area churches. If you're looking for choral music that touches on various Winter holidays and celebrations, I hope the list of anthems below is helpful to you.

Six New Anthems for Your Children's Choir

Each year, I spend some time looking through the new choral releases: studying the scores and listening to recordings. Then, I curate my favorites for you here on the blog.

Today, I’m sharing six new anthem releases for unison/opt. 2-part choirs—several with optional instrumental parts, which creates opportunities to include other musicians, perhaps from your congregation. I’ll also tell you about a brand-new graded curriculum option for Fall 2022 (for those of you looking for a comprehensive, all-in-one resource) with a theme that really resonates in our world today.

I hope you find something you love for your children’s choir this year!

How to Teach Your Children's Choir to Sing in Parts

Part-singing is one of the great joys of choral singing.

The challenge of singing an independent line and that satisfying feeling of creating harmony and musical interest is both fun and motivating for singers (of all ages!).

But how do you teach that?

6 Singable Collections for Preschool Choirs

Do you teach a preschool choir?

If so, you know that preschoolers are musical explorers. They love to sing, dance, play, move, and experience music with their whole selves.

Summer Professional Development for Church Musicians

It’s normal to feel a little burnt out after the year we’ve just had. It’s normal to feel tired or frustrated or lost. But what have you learned? What strategies will you keep? How have the events of the last year changed us as teachers, as musicians? What will we do differently going forward?

7 Engaging Games for Elementary Music

Games and musical activities are a fun and engaging way to introduce and reinforce new musical concepts and develop musical skills like listening, singing, expression, coordination, and internalizing a sense of steady beat.

Today, I'm sharing a few of my favorite musical games and activities for elementary music classes, children's choirs, and elementary group classes.

36 Children’s Choir Anthems by Women Composers

Today, I’m sharing a collection of children’s choir anthems composed by women.

After all, March is Women’s History Month and over the years, it’s also become a time to celebrate women in music.

If you’re looking for some inspiration for your planning this year and seeking ways to include more diversity in the voices you share and represent, here are 36 children’s choir anthems written by women composers to help you get started.

A New Virtual Children's Music Curriculum for Advent

Advent looks a little different this year, doesn’t it?

In the midst of a global pandemic, we know what it feels like to be a people walking in darkness, waiting for the light. We know what it feels like to hope for something and long for peace in the world.

This year, Advent takes on new meaning for us. But that doesn’t mean we have less to celebrate.

Whether you're gathering via Zoom or in person (6' apart), here's a fresh, creative resource you can use with your children's choir this season.

50 (More!) Favorite Anthems for Children's Choir

Several years ago, I put together a list of my Top 50 Favorite Anthems for Children’s Choir.

But there are so many wonderful anthems out there for children’s voices, who can stop at 50?!

You know I can’t.

So today, I’m sharing the sequel you’ve all been waiting for: 50 more favorite anthems for children’s choir.

This list includes mostly unison and two-part music, with a few 3-part pieces for those of you with older elementary choirs and/or larger groups.

Digital Resources for Virtual Children's Choir Rehearsals

This year has brought some unprecedented challenges and the global pandemic has changed the way choirs and musical ensembles gather and make music together. Many choirs moved to online rehearsals this spring, using Zoom or Facebook Live to stay connected and try to continue making music the best they could. But with the technology we have available to us and unpredictable internet speeds at home, we’ve all learned that it’s really not possible to sing or play together in real-time.

Today, I’m sharing some helpful digital tools and resources that can be used in online choir rehearsals (synchronous or asynchronous) or in-person, if and when you’re able to return to that. You’ll find digital tools, game ideas, teaching strategies, and curriculum resources that were designed especially for distance-learning situations.

Music by Black Composers: 34 Sacred Choral Anthems (2- and 3-Part)

Last week, I shared the first post in a new series I’m putting together this summer: Music by Black Composers: 105 Sacred Works for Organ.

As I mentioned in that post, I believe it’s important to listen and learn from the African-American and Black community during this time, to ask ourselves: Are we honoring all the voices that have contributed to our field? Are we celebrating the diversity of composers in addition to diversity in styles?

If you work with a children’s choir or youth choir or are looking for a few simple pieces by Black composers to introduce to your adult choir in the future, here’s a list of anthems to get you started.

19 Ways to Connect (and Sing!) with Your Choir Virtually

These are strange times we’re living in.

Who would have thought that we’d find ourselves worshipping through a screen — together, but apart, that congregations would scatter, events would be canceled, and choirs would not be able to sing?

And yet, for the safety of our friends and neighbors and community members, here we are. Each in our own homes, flattening the COVID-19 curve, but missing the connection, the fellowship, the joy that comes with making music together.

I’ve been thinking about creative ways you can connect (and sing!) with your choir virtually and today, I’m sharing a round-up of 19 ideas (for adult choirs and children’s choirs) that you can start using right away.

How to Use Color to Teach Music Literacy

If you walk into an elementary classroom, you might notice that everything is color-coded: signs and charts on the wall to labels on bins to pieces of tape marking certain spots on the floor.

This is because colors are easy for most young children to recognize and differentiate between.

But in music, our baseline is black and white, the colors of standard notation. When first introducing music-reading, it can be challenging for young students to recognize patterns and organize the content visually when everything is black and white.

For this reason, color can be a helpful tool when teaching music literacy and developing music-reading skills. “When we use color in a systematic way it can help students retain information better than just using black and white.” (source)

15 More Singing Games for Children's Choir

In the book, How We Learn: The Surprising Truth About When, Where, and How It Happens, Benedict Carey stated, “Games are the best learning tool.”

It’s true, isn’t it? Games often have a way of teaching us something new without us realizing we are learning. We’re concentrating on the rules, listening, observing, interacting, and in the end, playing.

Learning is simply embedded in the process.

17 Cumulative Songs for Children's Choir

Do you remember those songs we used to sing as kids that went on and on and on? That had what felt like a hundred verses, each one longer and sillier than the one before it?

This is the joy of a cumulative song.

From music class to road trips, playgrounds to choir rehearsal, cumulative songs are fun to sing, engaging for children of all ages, and an effective teaching tool.

For those of you who may not know what I’m talking about, a cumulative song is a song that adds a new phrase of text with each repetition.

Usually, the lyrics are a list of some kind, getting progressively longer as the song goes on.

The Back-to-Choir Guide for Church Musicians

It’s the most wonderful time of the year - back-to-school season, that is!

Even though I’m not a student anymore, as a teacher, I love the fresh-start feeling that comes with a new academic year (including new school supplies!).

And the same is true in church settings when choir and ensembles start back up.

But getting back into that weekly rehearsal routine after a long summer hiatus can be challenging, and making sure you’re prepared and ready for that first week back can be a daunting task, particularly if you procrastinated on some of those things on your summer to-do list:

Planning the Choir Year: 4 Creative Theme Ideas for Your Children's Choir

How do you plan your choir year?

Maybe you spend some time over the summer mapping out what dates your choir will sing, what hymns you’d like to teach them, listening to new releases from the publishers to get ideas for anthems, and searching Pinterest for games and other creative ideas.

Maybe you plan the first few weeks of rehearsals and then get burnt out and start winging it.

Maybe you’re somewhere in between.

As Winston Churchill once said, “Plans are of little importance, but planning is essential.”

We need to plan ahead in order to teach effectively. We need to think about the musical growth and learning we’d like to see and make a plan for how to get there.

How to Use Vocal Exploration in Your Choir Rehearsals: 19 Practical Ideas

Vocal exploration, or time spent exploring what the voice can do is a vital part of early childhood and elementary music-making. Invite your singers to experience what their voice can do and experiment with different types of sounds.

As you plan your choir rehearsals, look for new and creative ways for children to explore what their voices can do.

Spend a few minutes each week reviewing the four voices: speaking, singing, whispering, shouting. Then, take some time to create vocal sound effects that span the entire vocal range. This helps them build coordination and develop control of their voice, learn about their voice and what it means to sing, and build personal confidence.

11 Prayers for Children's Choir

Prayer is an important part of any church choir rehearsal, but maybe especially for children’s choirs.

Spiritual growth goes hand-in-hand with music education in this setting, and taking time to pray together is an important part of cultivating faith, learning how to trust, and developing a personal understanding of who God is.

Praying a short, simple prayer on the spot is always an option, but if you’re looking for something different, here are a few other ideas for prayers you can use in your children’s choir rehearsals:

How to Add Instrumental Parts to Your Choir Anthems

Opportunities to play and hear different instruments has numerous benefits for your choir members. Here are three notable ones:

Benefits of Including Instruments

1. It helps singers be actively and creatively involved in the music-making process.

We learn by doing, by moving, by experimenting. For children, music is a form of play, and interacting with it by singing, moving, clapping, and playing instruments only deepens their experience.

2. It gives singers an opportunity to connect and engage with music in new ways.

The chance to experiment and try new things is a crucial part of the music-learning process, for learners of all ages. For children, clapping and playing instruments gives them an opportunity to improvise and even compose their own rhythm patterns and short melodies.

Go-To Choral Warm-Up Resources for Busy Directors

Warm-ups for choirs are like stretches for athletes: they help prepare the muscles and engage the mind for focused, active work.

But more than simply warming up the voice and preparing to sing, choral warm-ups are a practical way to prepare and introduce new musical skills and concepts before singing them in the context of a piece of music.

This not only saves you time in rehearsal, but it also creates a more cohesive learning experience for your choir members.

children's choirChristmasreading session

Ashley Danyew

Reading Session Picks for Children's Choir

Reading Sessions Picks for Elementary (K-6) Choirs

What Child Is This? (arr. Melissa Malvar-Keylock and Jill Friedersdorf)Unison, 2-Part, or 3-Part Choir with Piano

Bethlehem Night (Terry Taylor)Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. 6 Handbells or Handchimes

As a Little Child (Joseph M. Martin)2-Part or SATB Choir with Piano

The First Noel (arr. Trevor Manor)Unison/2-Part or SATB Choir with Piano + Opt. Violin and Chime Tree

Four Sacred Rounds (Timothy G. Bushong)Unison, 2-Part, or 3-Part Choir, a cappella

Bethlehem Night (Terry Taylor)Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. 6 Handbells or Handchimes

I Give Thanks (Toni Sullivan)Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. Rhythm Sticks

How Far Is It to Bethlehem? (arr. David Music)Unison Choir with Piano

I’m Gonna Sing (arr. Audrey Snyder)Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. Descant

Love Is In the Manger (Camilla Pruitt)Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. Oboe, Harp, and String Quartet

Surrounded By Love (Mark Patterson)Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. Descant

Come, Be the Light (Mark Patterson)Unison Choir with Piano

Trust in God (Terry Taylor)Unison Choir with Piano

Morning Stars Singing Together (Helen Kemp)Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. Organ and Handbells

God Is Always There (Toni Sullivan)Unison Choir with Piano

Shine Your Light (Terry Taylor)Unison Choir with Piano

Feel more capable and prepared to lead your children’s choir—every single week.

Be Strong! (Sandy Wilkinson)Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

Guide Us, Lord (Mark Patterson)Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Viola

Your Servant I Will Be (Mark Patterson)Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

Sing for Joy, Sing Together (Mark Patterson)Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Flute and Finger Cymbals

Christ Was Born on Christmas Day (Pat Messick)Unison/2-Part with Piano + Opt. Rhythm Instruments

Amazing Day (Rebecca Thompson)Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Handbells

The Light of God’s Love (Mark Burrows)Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Percussion

Treasures in Heaven (Pat Messick)Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

The Fruit of the Spirit (Becki Slagle Mayo)Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Flute

Thank You, God, for Loving Me (arr. Brad Nix)Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Flute

Prepare Ye the Way (Mark Burrows)Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Hand Drum

Light of Hope (Mark Patterson)Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + 4-5 Handbells or Handchimes

Psalm 150 (Terre Johnson)Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

Thankful (Mark Burrows)Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

Joshua! (arr. Joe Milton & Wally Minko)Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

I See You, God (Mark Burrows)Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

Ut Vitam Habeant (That They May Have Life) (Ruth Elaine Schram)Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. C Instrument

Give Praise to God (Timothy Shaw)Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

Joyful, Joyful (arr. Craig Curry)Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

Sing Hallelujah (Jesus Lives Today) (Mark Burrows)2-Part Choir with Piano

Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel (arr. Roger Emerson)2-Part Choir with Piano

God Is Here Today (Tom Trenney)2-Part Choir + Piano

Come, Let Us Worship God (arr. Katie Houts)2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Congregation

Make a Joyful Noise (Jeremy Russell)3-Part Treble Choir with Piano + Opt. Rhythm Instruments, Boomwhackers, and Body Percussion

I’d love to hear from you:

Benefits of Including Instruments

1. It helps singers be actively and creatively involved in the music-making process.

2. It gives singers an opportunity to connect and engage with music in new ways.

Reading Session Picks for Youth Choir

It's a Lot Like Growing Tomatoes

What Child Is This? (arr. Melissa Malvar-Keylock and Jill Friedersdorf)
Unison, 2-Part, or 3-Part Choir with Piano

Bethlehem Night (Terry Taylor)
Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. 6 Handbells or Handchimes

As a Little Child (Joseph M. Martin)
2-Part or SATB Choir with Piano

The First Noel (arr. Trevor Manor)
Unison/2-Part or SATB Choir with Piano + Opt. Violin and Chime Tree

Four Sacred Rounds (Timothy G. Bushong)
Unison, 2-Part, or 3-Part Choir, a cappella

Bethlehem Night (Terry Taylor)
Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. 6 Handbells or Handchimes

I Give Thanks (Toni Sullivan)
Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. Rhythm Sticks

How Far Is It to Bethlehem? (arr. David Music)
Unison Choir with Piano

I’m Gonna Sing (arr. Audrey Snyder)
Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. Descant

Love Is In the Manger (Camilla Pruitt)
Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. Oboe, Harp, and String Quartet

Surrounded By Love (Mark Patterson)
Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. Descant

Come, Be the Light (Mark Patterson)
Unison Choir with Piano

Trust in God (Terry Taylor)
Unison Choir with Piano

Morning Stars Singing Together (Helen Kemp)
Unison Choir with Piano + Opt. Organ and Handbells

God Is Always There (Toni Sullivan)
Unison Choir with Piano

Shine Your Light (Terry Taylor)
Unison Choir with Piano

Be Strong! (Sandy Wilkinson)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

Guide Us, Lord (Mark Patterson)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Viola

Your Servant I Will Be (Mark Patterson)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

Sing for Joy, Sing Together (Mark Patterson)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Flute and Finger Cymbals

Christ Was Born on Christmas Day (Pat Messick)
Unison/2-Part with Piano + Opt. Rhythm Instruments

Amazing Day (Rebecca Thompson)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Handbells

The Light of God’s Love (Mark Burrows)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Percussion

Treasures in Heaven (Pat Messick)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

The Fruit of the Spirit (Becki Slagle Mayo)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Flute

Thank You, God, for Loving Me (arr. Brad Nix)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Flute

Prepare Ye the Way (Mark Burrows)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Hand Drum

Light of Hope (Mark Patterson)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + 4-5 Handbells or Handchimes

P salm 150 (Terre Johnson)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

Thankful (Mark Burrows)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

Joshua! (arr. Joe Milton & Wally Minko)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

I See You, God (Mark Burrows)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

Ut Vitam Habeant (That They May Have Life) (Ruth Elaine Schram)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. C Instrument

Give Praise to God (Timothy Shaw)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

Joyful, Joyful (arr. Craig Curry)
Unison/2-Part Choir with Piano

Sing Hallelujah (Jesus Lives Today) (Mark Burrows)
2-Part Choir with Piano

Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel (arr. Roger Emerson)
2-Part Choir with Piano

God Is Here Today (Tom Trenney)
2-Part Choir + Piano

Come, Let Us Worship God (arr. Katie Houts)
2-Part Choir with Piano + Opt. Congregation

Make a Joyful Noise (Jeremy Russell)
3-Part Treble Choir with Piano + Opt. Rhythm Instruments, Boomwhackers, and Body Percussion