Most people want to sing, and they often do. While driving down the road listening to the radio, plugged into a portable stereo, or even in the shower, people sing. Yet many of us shy away from singing in any group gathering. Today's high-tech, performance-oriented music has placed us in a state of frustrated silence. The atmosphere for a youth group to sing should be lighthearted, free from stress, and liberating, not technical and performance oriented.

Create a non-threatening atmosphere for your group that will invite those who claim to be monotone and unable to carry a tune to feel free to try. Begin by getting your group acquainted with music through various singing or musical games.

One example is the game Singing Circles. Divide your group into small clusters. The object of the game is to sing a song with the name of a color in it. (Variations to this could be to use a single word or to use a category, such as "Christmas songs.") Going around the room, each cluster decides on a song that contains the color indicated by the leader in its lyrics. When the cluster has reached a consensus they must sing the song aloud. Each group has five seconds to come up with a song. The leader will then move on to the next group. After each cluster has had a turn, the leader begins a new round, starting with a different group by calling out a new color. If a group fails to identify a song within the five-second time limit, the leader will move on to the next group. This game should move rapidly and challenge each cluster to remember a library of songs. Before your group realizes it, they are singing. No high-tech music, just plain fun.

Another great way to begin your group in singing is by using children's songs. For example, have half of your group sing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" while the other half sings "Are You Sleeping?" at the same time. Then have the groups switch songs. Another way of using "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" is to have the entire group sing through the song once at a rather fast pace. Then, each time through the song, drop off the last word. As the song progresses, there will eventually be no more song to sing!

Remember, the place to begin singing is with simplicity! In teaching songs, two rules of thumb need to be stressed. First, remember that repetition of a song never hurts: it can only help a group become more comfortable with the song. A group will sing through a song three to five times before beginning to feel familiar with it. This is especially important for song leaders, because they often become so familiar with a song they forget its newness to a group. Second, the rhythm of a song needs to be consistent. Whether the song leader is playing an instrument or not, the group needs to hear the rhythm and melody line, loudly and clearly. Fancy fingering on any instrument will only cause confusion and make it difficult for the group to learn or follow the song.

Here are some simple styles that you can use in teaching your group a new song.

Rhythm clap: Help your group keep the rhythm of a song by clapping on the beat. The rhythm clap also adds an element of excitement to the song.

Hand direction: Using your hand and an imaginary ladder in front of you, direct the pitch of the song by raising or lowering steps with your hand. The position of your hand from one note to the next will help the group move in pitch.

Line-by-line: Sing the first line of the song and ask the group to repeat it after you. Do this until an entire section (either a verse or chorus) is completed. Then ask the group to put all the lines together and sing that section as a whole. Move through the rest of the song in the same manner.

Motions: Many songs, often referred to as "action" songs, have accompanying motions. This not only involves the whole person in the fun, it also helps the group remember the words. Be creative and ask your group to make up their own motions. A variation would be to use sign language.

Composers have captured and translated a personal statement through music. As your group sings together as a community and expresses their identity and beliefs, let music be a way in which they can celebrate all of creation under God.

Here are some ideas for your group to consider as they make choices in music.

• Inclusive language is a way to support the individual value and dignity of all God's people.
• Changing "I" pronouns to "We" includes the entire community of singers and listeners.
• Using a variety of languages allow the community to reach out beyond itself to touch other cultures.
• Different styles, such as hymns, gospel, folk, popular, and country, allow diversity of expression and interpretation.
• A variety of topics challenges us to think, feel, and educate ourselves and others about a variety of faith issues.

Whether your group includes musicians or in-the-shower monotones, music can build and uplift the spirit of your group. Music can be used to set the mood of a meeting, provoke one's thoughts, and be an aid to learning or a thoughtful expression, no matter how it is said.

Music is a powerful communicator! Many youth groups have used music in their outreach to nursing homes, prisons, and other places throughout their community. As a tool for ministry, music has unlimited possibilities. Psalm 96 reads, "0 sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!" So whether it be the bang on a bongo, the strum of a guitar, the tinkling of the ivories, or the unstable gargle of one's voice. God calls us to go forth and sing!