The new Primary Music Leader opened the Zoom meeting by greeting the children and their families. Then she told them they would be learning a new song. She had made various screens of the words and visual aids. Then she proceeded to teach the song. Unfortunately, she had no musical training and did not understand how to follow music notation. For example, she did not know about this little thing called the FIRST AND SECOND ENDING.
In short, she got the words wrong. Some of the older kids pointed out her mistake, and she proceeded to inform them that they were wrong and she was right. She insisted that the last line was "these are the things that I'm taught." Tempers flared and the Music Leader had to quickly switch to another activity.
Sometimes we find ourselves in positions that are unfamiliar and uncomfortable. We may be thrust into a situation where we don't feel prepared or we feel out of our comfort zones. Or we may be asked to function in an assignment that doesn't match our talents or training. In any case, there will be times in life when we get to choose whether to be childlike or childish. In other words, will we be teachable or stubborn?
Nothing is worse than finding yourself in the position of acting on information that you think is right, then finding out that it isn't. Do you stubbornly continue on that outdated or simply wrong tangent, or allow yourself to stumble then pick yourself up and change directions? For most of us, life is a series of stumbles and changing paths.
During this Covid pandemic, Church Musicians have had to be very creative to find ways to fulfill their callings. In the best of times, new Music Leaders rarely get any training, and with all of the shut downs, in-person training from Church Authorities has simply been non-existent. Many creative people have figured out interesting ways to use the internet to provide Music Time for their Primary families. They have even offered help for other leaders who may need a leg up. However, when the person called has absolutely no previous experience, that new music leader may also need a crash course in piano or singing lessons!
In the end, though, the responsibility is still on the individual. Each person must choose whether to be childlike and willing to learn, or to be childish and refuse help.
Nothing is worse than finding yourself in the position of acting on information that you think is right, then finding out that it isn't. Do you stubbornly continue on that outdated or simply wrong tangent, or allow yourself to stumble then pick yourself up and change directions? For most of us, life is a series of stumbles and changing paths.
During this Covid pandemic, Church Musicians have had to be very creative to find ways to fulfill their callings. In the best of times, new Music Leaders rarely get any training, and with all of the shut downs, in-person training from Church Authorities has simply been non-existent. Many creative people have figured out interesting ways to use the internet to provide Music Time for their Primary families. They have even offered help for other leaders who may need a leg up. However, when the person called has absolutely no previous experience, that new music leader may also need a crash course in piano or singing lessons!
In the end, though, the responsibility is still on the individual. Each person must choose whether to be childlike and willing to learn, or to be childish and refuse help.
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