Your Opinion on SonRock Kids Camp Music

[Josh1]

I know that the SonRock Kids Music hasn't been fully released yet but I was wondering what everyone thought about it.
God Bless,
Josh:rolleyes:

[tstewart113]

I gotta say that I really like it better than the last two years. It seems simpler...hopefully less motions.

[ahaberman]

Hi! I hope there are less hand motions this year as well, but I have to say that I didn't think the songs were very exciting. The kids loved SonWorld songs. We just took out about 1/3 of the hand motions to make it easier for the younger groups.

[Colemarie]

I keep listening to the music samples on the website. I really like the music, but more importantly I think kids of all ages will love the songs, especially Son Rock and In the Name of Jesus! Also,the music seems to fit the camp theme really well! I can even see many of these songs used during worship in "big church." Now that's exciting!! :-)

[kidsmatter]

It sounds like they'll be better than SonWorld songs. I'm really disappointed with this year's songs. They're too long & wordy and - something I've never had happen before - kids are complaining / groaning when it's time to sing! Usually they enjoy the songs.

My first impression of SonRock songs is that they're better. I really like "You Will Be Saved". I love it when scripture gets put to music. The songs are usually simple & catchy, and they help us hide God's Word in the kids' hearts. Bible stories to music are a different story - they usually end up being too long and the kids don't really get into them. "Peter Was A Fisherman" will likely not get a lot of use at my VBS's. (Though I'll wait to see what the whole song sounds like.)

"I'm Keeping My Eyes on Jesus" sounds like a great song that I'll probably end up using a lot.

[kidstime805]

Peter Was a Fishermqn sounds like a good song for my preschoolers. Our church always has this age group sing their own special song for the closing program. And I imagine that motions for "fisherman" and "fish" would be easy for the kids to remember.

[Michelle Ellis]

Josh,
I see that you are researching VBS's already like me!! We did not go with Gospel Light this year, however last year (2007) we did SonForce Kids and it was AWESOME! The best VBS I have ever seen. If you are looking for a good one, that one is it! I can give you some tips! This year we did Beach Party and it was great also. We just had to tweak a little when it came to a "meditation" time. That didn't quite settle well with our church. Good Luck!

[poulon3140]

My first impression is OK... nothing great... I've done GL VBS for the last 3 years. So far, SonForce has had the best music. I didn't like the SonWorld music when I first heard it... but it grew on me...

I've read a lot of comments about "too many hand motions" for SonWorld. It seems like that's the case every year. I just make it my own and go with it... no problem... I just look at the GL stuff as a guide for ideas...

Another thought... I don't know why they put in all the dance moves... especially the spins, dancing with partners and what not. I always take out all that stuff... Have you every tried to get a 70-80 kids on a stage trying to spin, find a partner and dance all at once. It's not pretty. It looks great on the video but there is only 6-8 kids... Enough rambling... that always seemed funny to me. If there is someone out there that actually does it I would love to hear how you pull it off.

[poulon3140]

hey that's a great idea... and so simple... I've always had special parts for the preschoolers in the songs... but never an entire song just for them... that idea is going to make it onto my "ways to improve" list for next year's VBS.

[flutist14_99]

Well, we do do all the spins and partner dances (I've actually been sad that their wasn't one this year.). And this is how we do it.
Music is a class in their rotation, just like crafts and games, etc. The kids hear all of the songs (the powerpoints helped tremendously this year) and have been exposed to the motions of maybe the chorus of each, but each group is assigned two songs to perform on the closing program (except pre-k and kinder they only get one) and then everyone learns a song they can all do together (this year's was "All the Way).
By using this model, I can keep everybody's intrest because they are focusing on just a couple of songs and I can appropriately challenge some groups by beefing up the choreography a little (for our 3rd and 4th grade class this year we decided to add extra sign launguage to "I Believe in Ever After", because everyone sang the solo and the kids were bored just standing there) or I can occasionaly take out an unneccasary motion to give an age-group the ability to perform the song with more confidance. It also gives them plenty of time to talk about the lyrics to the songs, so that I know they really understand the meaning of the words (even adults will catch on a tune and never realize really what they are saying.)
This turned out to be really long. Hope I didn't bore you to sleepdom. :D

[Josh1]

I've never heard of anyone doing their Music Center like that before. It sounds like a great idea though. Thanks for sharing that.
God Bless,
Josh:rolleyes:

[ana]

Well, we do do all the spins and partner dances (I've actually been sad that their wasn't one this year.). And this is how we do it.
Music is a class in their rotation, just like crafts and games, etc. The kids hear all of the songs (the powerpoints helped tremendously this year) and have been exposed to the motions of maybe the chorus of each, but each group is assigned two songs to perform on the closing program (except pre-k and kinder they only get one) and then everyone learns a song they can all do together (this year's was "All the Way).
By using this model, I can keep everybody's intrest because they are focusing on just a couple of songs and I can appropriately challenge some groups by beefing up the choreography a little (for our 3rd and 4th grade class this year we decided to add extra sign launguage to "I Believe in Ever After", because everyone sang the solo and the kids were bored just standing there) or I can occasionaly take out an unneccasary motion to give an age-group the ability to perform the song with more confidance. It also gives them plenty of time to talk about the lyrics to the songs, so that I know they really understand the meaning of the words (even adults will catch on a tune and never realize really what they are saying.)
This turned out to be really long. Hope I didn't bore you to sleepdom. :D

This is the same way we have always done music as well and it has worked wonderfully for years now

[TrinityJen]

Music is a class in their rotation, just like crafts and games, etc. The kids hear all of the songs (the powerpoints helped tremendously this year) and have been exposed to the motions of maybe the chorus of each, but each group is assigned two songs to perform on the closing program (except pre-k and kinder they only get one) and then everyone learns a song they can all do together (this year's was "All the Way).



We do our music, like Flutist, as a class. We had a younger song and an older song this year. I like the different groups having there 'own' song. We had 10 groups this year, so we would combine them....but it would be fun!

[prc]

We just finished SonWorld and the kids loved the music. I agree that 3-4 of the songs had too many words for everyone to learn, so we just assigned one class to sing them. Each class had a song that was 'their' song and everyone only learned 5-6 songs all the way through.

[nana]

I'm anxious to hear all the music for SonRock. I think sometimes when you hear music that you are unfamiliar with, you think you don't like it so much, but as you learn the tune and words, it really is good. I think I'm going to add a couple silly camp songs just for fun that we can do with my guitar. Isn't that what you are supposed to do at camp???
Nana

[freedom fries]

Kids and staff get a CD of the VBS Music a month before it starts this way we all come having already learned all the songs.

[mackeymom]

I love love love the SRKC Music and so do my kids. They keep the CD going on their playroom continously! My kids favorites are Whose that Walking on the Water and Peter was a fisherman! I think all of the kids will enjoy the music this year! I find myself singing I'm Keeping My eyes on Jesus throughout the day at work, seems to help me get through! =)

[Redeemerwv]

I am wondering if there are guitar chords on the music for SonRock?

[Lisa Choi]

thought i share this info with all since you guys have been so helpful with vbs preparations. i always purchase dvd made by CDF international, it's korean chapter of CEF. anyway, they make motions for songs for group, standard, and of course gospel light. check it out. the dvd cost me $25.00 + s & h.

[CovenantUpNorth]

My one complaint this year is the videos. We use the videos to help the kids learn the motions; this year and last year was a lot harder because of the MTV style of the videos where sometimes you couldn't see the motions or we are just watching someone play a guitar. I preferred the styles with kids on a stage doing all the motions.

We usually pick 5-6 of the songs. This year we sent out CDs ahead of time for the kids to listen to.

[kidstime805]

We have used the instructional videos on the Songbook DVD to help our leaders learn the songs--and then they teach it to the kids. Our kids seem to follow along better with the leaders than by watching a video. And it also allows us to omit or add motions if we want.

[Josh1]

To add to kidstime805's post, VBS for me is a relational time where kids bond with their leaders and with other kids, not a time to stare at a screen. Kids have time to do that at home. I like when leaders teach the motions to the kids at VBS because it's a relational experience for the kids and everyone gets something out of it.
God Bless,
Josh :rolleyes:

[CovenantUpNorth]

I understand wanting to have the teachers lead but we have had trouble finding people willing to do this. Also, with the room we are in not having any sort of platform, it's difficult for many of the kids to see a leader up front.
My point was not preference of live vs. video leaders, simply to say that for our purposes the videos would work better if we could see all the motions clearly. If they are not designed for the kids to follow along, then what is the purpose in having them?

[Judy N.]

I feel for you having trouble finding people to lead, I don't really have that problem in music, but I do in the teaching area! I do have to pre-plan the music choices to fit our timetable and such, but then the music leaders take over. I am looking forward to using the video with motions, since we have all the kids grouped together for music time during opening, we have to pare back a little and find the songs that are suited to a mixed age group. We will do three of them from the video and then add in a couple of our own "classics" that the bulk of the kids already know. This works well for us, and we can always use the other songs at another time.
I found three red choir (graduation) robes today at a second-hand store that match the ones used "In the Name of Jesus", we will have some of our adults in them with sunglasses singing along to the video, I think this will add a lot!

[musicgal96]

I am one of the youth music leaders for Son Rock Kids Camp at my church and I think the music for this year is very good. The leaders for the music did not practice the songs for more than 15 minutes before the first day of VBS and the songs were so easy we learned them very quickly. Even though they were easy they were not boring and the kids loved them.

[Sherri in GA]

My boys and I have been listening to the music now for a couple of weeks in preparation for VBS, and we love it. They go through my head all day - and not in an "Oh no, I have that song stuck in my head!" kind of way. Even my two year old gets into saying "Jesus!" on the "Who's that walking on the water?" song (I know the songs, not necessarily all the titles!) Can't beat hearing that out of the mouth of my baby.

[PJBelew]

Josh, wanted you to know that I love the music and I think the kids will really enjoy all the songs. My director is going to have to give me plenty of time on "family night" because I'll want to do a lot of music. The only one I can't figure out what to do with is In The Name of Jesus. Solos just don't work for my kids, I have no soloist and will have a lot of kids from the neighbor that I won't know which also means I can't depend on them to show for family night. I can get around it with Walking On The Water because all the kids can sing the verses but not sure about In The Name. FYI - too many solos in VBS music isn't easy for small churches to pull off, had to use puppets last year for Tear The Roof Off. VBS starts tomorrow June 21.