SHADYSIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Sunday Adventures in Music
Now in its 18^th year, Sunday Adventures in Music (SAM) is a comprehensive music training program for children. SAM gives us an opportunity to teach children the skills necessary to participate fully in the musical life of the Christian church.

We seek to help children develop their singing voices, teach them basic skills in music literacy, and introduce them to varied traditions of sacred music from around the world. We are pleased to have included a number of children from the community on our past rosters and are always eager to reach out to new friends.

Schedule

Younger Children

The Bethlehem Choir is a training choir for children in kindergarten through second grade. Their performances are generally in comfortable settings, such as church dinners and nursing homes. They also help the Nazareth Choir lead in worship on Christmas Eve, Palm Sunday, and Good Friday.

Older Children

The Nazareth Choir (grades three through eight) is the Shadyside Presbyterian Church children’s choir. The children serve as music leaders in Shadyside’s worship service four or five Sunday mornings each year, as well as Christmas Eve and Good Friday. Choristers also have the opportunity to participate in the Pittsburgh Choristers Guild Annual Children’s Choir Festival in March.

Instruments & Enhancement Activities

In addition to vocal and choral training, the children often accompany themselves using drums, xylophones, glockenspiels, and other rhythm instruments.

The older children also learn the basics of choir chime and handbell ringing. The appeal of these instruments provides additional motivation for children to learn to follow the shape of a melody line and read simple rhythmic patterns.

Rehearsals

SAM incorporates rehearsals into a slightly extended Sunday morning. The Nazareth Choir will begin with singing “second hour” (approximately 11:15 a.m. to noon) and continue with choir chimes from noon to 12:40 p.m. There will be a special snack in between. The Bethlehem Choir will rehearse from noon to 12:40 p.m. Rehearsals will not be held on Communion Sundays (generally the first Sunday of the month), so that older children may remain in worship. Each semester, children will receive a CD of their repertoire to take home.

Sunday School Music

Opening Music at 9:45 a.m. Four-year olds through sixth graders gather in Class Room A (next to the gym) to share Sunday school favorites and at least one of our morning hymns. Sunday school songs are available on an audio tape - please ask for a copy.