Books in the Book of Mormon

This week, I taught the Books in the Book of Mormon Song.  I made up cards, one for each book (except for Jarom and Omni - totally off the subject I knew a Jarom, if you know one it's probably the same one).  The big flaw about the cards was that the song moves too fast to be flipping cards after each "book".  The kids picked it up super fast and they really loved singing it, but by the time they really got the song I was tossing the cards on the floor just to keep up with the kids.  Whew.  My recommendation is, if you make up cards for the song, put more than one book on each page.

If I Listen With My Heart Sign Language

I have a really good friend in the ward who uses ASL at home and professionally.  She very kindly came over and went through the song with me.  She wrote down all the signs for me and then I turned on the music, aimed the camera at myself and did this.  It's the most awful video I have made (and I look pretty terrible too).  We've had someone sick in the house for the last few weeks, eventually I'll replace this with something not so hard on the eyes.  I'm not singing here, my throat was way too sore on the day I did this.  We only did the first verse, as I am going to use a soloist for the 2nd and 3rd verses.  The last two signs I repeated a few times, I hadn't gotten the timing right and I was practicing them.  You only have to do each sign once.

The signs in order go like this:

If I had been a little child when Jesus lived on earth
earth - Jesus - lived - if - I - became - child
I Would have liked to walk with Him and listen to His words
what do - walk with him - Jesus - gospel - me - listen
But as I search the scriptures I can hear His words of peace
scriptures - learn - Jesus - peace - I - understand
If I listen with my heart I hear the Savior's voice.
Pay attention - feel - spirit - inspiration

Review Day for If I Listen With My Heart

I have been teaching "If I Listen With My Heart" with sign language.  I'm not doing it as detailed as last year, but it's still a lot of work for the kids.  There are some new teachers and kids in the primary and so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to use one of my favorite activities - snipping ties off of unsuspecting men in the ward.  I asked the missionaries a few days prior if they would please wear ties I provided and then use them in the activity.  I get old ties, or pick them up at the thrift store.  (These came from D.I., my favorite place).  I pulled them out of my bag and my husband asked where I had gotten these awful ties.  The uglier the better.
The missionaries put the ties on and graciously joined us about halfway through singing time.  I let them decide how well the kids sang the song, and then cut their companions tie.  They each cut about halfway and then we sang again.  One of the little boys sang so well I let him cut a missionaries tie.  He was so proud that he had out sung the older boys.  It was a lot of fun, and a great way to review the song by singing over and over.

At the end I had the missionaries pick a song to sing and we sang with them.  I had the missionaries conduct too.

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

We sing Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes a lot.  An awful lot.  We sing it fast and slow.  Loud and soft. We sing it backwards (toes, knees, shoulders, head).  We sing it in Spanish and German.  We sing it opera style, and like pirates.
Then two weeks ago I had a new request - could we sing it like Bach.  I went to my Dad and asked if he could write me an arrangement for the song like Bach would have written.  He scowled a little bit and said he would have to think about it.  Two days later he said he had written an arrangement like Mozart would have written.
He brought me to the piano and I sat down to play.  It's a little like a tongue twister, but not too bad.  Once I got the hang of it I was so excited to give it to my pianist.
This Sunday for our activity song we can sing HSKT in a whole new way!
I did ask for permission to publish this - and so here it is!  If you have Finale I can email the music file, or just print this out. Yes, I am a proud daughter!

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Arranged by Lynn R. Carson