A Jr. High Choir That Doesn't Sing

If you ask junior highers to sing what happens? Some kids whisper that they have laryngitis while others sneak for the door. Kids feel self-conscious about changing voices that squeak like unoiled doors one minute and crackle like thunder the next. Many kids would rather do anything but sing. So instead of forcing them try something new. Get junior highers involved in a choir that skips the music avoids the singing and provides lots of fun. In other words, form a speaking choir.

A Creative Alternative
A speaking choir is similar to a singing choir except that kids read the words instead of singing them. It's a balanced group of voices speaking rhythmic literature together. The power of many voices speaking together can be moving and dramatic. Therefore choose poetry that has strong rhythm and obvious emotion. Scriptures such as 1 Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:22-26; or any of the Psalms work well.

Speaking-Choir Tips
When you find a scripture or poem to perform follow these tips:

• Divide kids by voice ranges. A speaking choir needs kids who speak at different pitches. To find out where kids fit have each one read the first line of a Psalm while other kids decide whether the voice range is high middle or low. Then have each voice group stand together. Tell kids its normal for guys to have high-pitched voices and for girls to have low-pitched voices. Also assure them that voice changes are normal. Re-evaluate kids' voice ranges often and shuffle kids from group to group. Then kids will see that others' voices are changing too.


• Experiment. Ask kids for ideas on how to read the poem or scripture. Try solos small groups or everybody speaking in unison. If you read Psalm 24:8 for example the high and low voices could ask "Who is the King of Glory?" and the middle voices could answer "The Lord strong and mighty the Lord mighty in battle!"
  
  One group of kids I worked with used Psalm 24 as the call to worship for a youth service. The middle-range voice group stood in front of the congregation while the high and low groups walked down the center aisle repeating their lines. When all groups met at the front they said the final verses in unison.


• Watch the details. Consider details such as voice quality, accented words, loudness and softness. Analyze which passages should be rushed slowed or smoothly spoken. Vary all the details to keep your audience interested.


• Be creative. Always be on the lookout for new pieces to perform. For a Christmas program one speaking choir did "Away in a Manger." It sounded so different from the singing version that many people appreciated the words for the first time.

Bundles of Benefits
Not only will kids learn about scripture and performance; they'll receive other benefits as well. Since some young teenagers don't know how to talk about their feelings a speaking choir can show them appropriate ways to express themselves. For example one guy learned to say "this makes me mad" instead of decking the person next to him. You'll notice members of your church taking interest. A speaking choir lets them hear scripture in a new way. It's a ministry they'll start talking about.