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For Suzanne Rymer, explaining why she teamed up with Sarah Lysne to lead First United Methodist’s new three-day youth music camp is simple.

“I enjoy singing, and I enjoy working with kids,” she said. “We’re just trying to put the two together.”

And she and Lysne did just that, leading 15 to 20 children from preschool through sixth grade at First United Methodist Church’s Summer Music Mini Camp in Austin. The event ran Tuesday through Thursday and split children up into two groups: preschool through first grade and second through sixth.

Rymer said she and Sarah Lysne had sung songs together in April or May and came up with the idea for the music camp while talking. The new youth and children’s coordinator, Ali Harber, was hired at the church and asked for ideas on how to get children more involved.

“We just started moving forward with it and thought to do a smaller type camp with some of the church people,” Rymer said.

She kept the learning hands-on by giving each child an instrument: crystal bells. The bells are small, color-coded sets that range eight notes, from middle C to high C. They resemble hand bells, but are a little smaller. Rymer said the church already had them sitting around, and she wanted to make use of them.

“We thought that it’d be a good opportunity to get those out,” she said.

Rymer said the children focused on singing one of the songs, and using the crystal bells on the other. The focus of the music camp was centered on learning basic music concepts and having fun.

Each of the three days had its own theme: the first day was highs and lows, working with the difference in pitch levels; the second, loud and soft dynamics; and the third, steady beats. The children were able to do something a little different each day, Rymer said. A related story, scripture verse and game or activity accompanied each theme.

Susan Hays, a pianist at First Methodist, played as an accompanist.

“She has also helped a lot in writing the handbell pieces the kids are going to be doing,” Rymer said. The music for the songs wasn’t written out beforehand, so Hays designated what color bell the children will play to match a given note or lyric.

The music camp will culminate in a performance at the church on Sunday. Rymer said she hopes it “all gels together” with the regular parts of the service. She also hopes to incorporate the crystal bells into the church on a regular basis instead of just during the music camp.

The camp was open to members and their friends and was no charge. Rymer said the First United Methodist will probably look into making the music camp a longer, larger experience next year.