December 2008

Goodbye, 2008!

December 31, 2008

For those of you who have been checking in throughout the last week and a half, I have two words for you: I’m sorry :( I said I’d be blogging as usual, but I did not uphold that promise…it has just been a blur of activity and time spent with family and friends. Unfortunately, Listen [...]

Ten Twinking Trees

December 22, 2008

Good morning everybody. It’s Monday, and we’re only a few days away from Christmas! It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? Today is my last day of school before a two-week break, but don’t worry, I’ll still be updating my blog as usual. I have a full day of classes, a dentist appointment, and a graduation [...]

Friday Fave: James Taylor at Christmas

December 19, 2008

Today is Friday! For many of you who work or teach in a school, this is probably your last day before the holiday break. If that’s you, hooray! My school has one more day in session (Monday) before a two-week break, and as much as I love it here, I have to say that the [...]

If You Could Give a Gift This Christmas

December 18, 2008

As we inch closer and closer to Christmas break, everyone (including staff!) is getting antsy. It seems that all my students want to talk about are the holidays, which is fine with me. It gives me a perfect excuse to utilize all the great songs I’ve come across and/or written. The kids love to tell [...]

The Other Eight Reindeer

December 17, 2008

Good Wednesday morning! I hope you’re all surviving the elements out there…mine include ice, snow, and more ice, not to mention freezing cold temperatures. ‘Tis the season for snow days, shoveling, and lots and lots of lesson cancellations :( Today’s topic is reindeer. We all know and love Rudolph, because after all, he is the [...]

A Big Dose of Holiday Spirit

December 15, 2008

You can’t help but feel just a little bit happier and full of Christmas cheer after watching this video. These kids are talented! Hope everyone had a nice weekend. I’ve been fighting a nasty cold and tough case of laryngitis since Friday, so I haven’t been able to record the new Christmas songs I’m planning [...]

Friday Fave: White Christmas

December 12, 2008

It’s Friday, and you know what that means! But first I’m going to share an unprecedented Friday Worst: Laryngitis. This is perhaps the most frustrating predicament for any music therapist, teacher, or anyone who needs a voice to do his/her job. And I must be a glutton for punishment, because I get a pretty severe [...]

Clap, Stomp, and Spread Christmas Cheer

December 11, 2008

There’s no doubt that the Christmas spirit is alive and well at the Hope Institute, at least during music therapy. One of the songs I’ve included in my December activities is a play on “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”, which I found at the great site Preschool Education. It incorporates movement, following directions, and [...]

Do You Hear the Reindeer on the Roof?

December 10, 2008

I wrote this song specifically as a rhythm sticks activity, but it’s so darn catchy that it works perfectly fine all on its own. This is the first of two reindeer songs that I’ve written this month, so stay tuned for the other one in the next couple of weeks. Do you hear the reindeer [...]

Ten Little Candy Canes

December 9, 2008

It’s counting time again! You probably have lots of these peppermint treats around the house or in your classroom, so go ahead and use them as a teaching tool while you sing this counting song with your students. Counting time, it’s counting time,So let’s all sing this simple rhyme.Ten little candy canes in a row,Now [...]

Friday Fave: The Carpenters at Christmas

December 5, 2008

The Carpenters may have been before my time, but I have fully embraced their music thanks to my dad, a big fan himself. As I mentioned last week, one of my holiday traditions is listening to the album A Christmas Portrait, which the Carpenters released in 1978. I first heard the album as a freshman [...]

The Colors of the Season

December 4, 2008

I love this time of year. Everyone is in a good mood, and there’s a sense of excitement and anticipation in the air, which makes even the extremely cold temperatures tolerable. When I was younger, my family used to drive around different neighborhoods and admire the Christmas lights and decorations, and I still enjoy doing [...]

Jingle All The Way

December 3, 2008

There really is no sweeter sound than that of a room full of kids shaking their bells like crazy and singing “Jingle Bells.” Is it just me, or are Christmas songs the equivalent of jumbo pixie sticks? If that is true, then I am guilty of some serious sugar overloading.

The Year is 2008

December 2, 2008

Good morning! Today I have a song for you that will expire in less than a month…it’s all about 2008, which will be over before we know it. But have no fear, I will be sharing a brand-new 2009 song with you in early January. So there are still a few weeks left to get [...]

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