September 2009

The Leaves on the Trees

September 15, 2009

As I’ve mentioned, oh, just a few hundred times or so before, summer is the #1 season in my book. But there’s just something about the change in temperature, the beautiful colors, and the smell outside as fall approaches that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. The crisp air is so refreshing, and everything [...]

Tone Block Time

September 14, 2009

What a weekend! Saturday evening was the Celebrity Chef dinner at The Hope Institute, and my students did an AMAZING job singing three songs in front of an audience of over 300 people. Not only did we receive a standing ovation after the second song, but the entire audience remained standing and clapped along with [...]

Friday Fave: Celebrity Chef

September 11, 2009

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that there was a big event coming up at The Hope Institute, where I work as the music therapist. That event is our annual Celebrity Chef gala, and it is happening tomorrow night! Chicago chefs Brian Duncan and Paul Virant will be preparing an amazing meal, and there [...]

Move Your Body Along

September 10, 2009

This morning as I was going through my recent posts, I realized that I haven’t posted a new song in several days. Luckily, I spent some time recording a few last night, and the first of the latest batch is here today. The song is called “Move Your Body Along” and I wrote it as [...]

I Love You, a Bushel and a Peck

September 8, 2009

Are you already singing this song after reading the title of this post? I am! Actually, I spent several weeks singing this song in rehearsals for a local production of “Guys & Dolls” and I haven’t stopped since. While going through my children’s book collection a couple weeks ago, I came across I Love You! [...]

The Best Birthday Gift Ever

September 5, 2009

I have just one word to describe what happened today: WOW. I thought maybe I’d get a few pledges toward my Kickstarter project today in honor of Listen & Learn’s first birthday, but I had no idea that I would raise the remaining $400, as well as an additional $133 with 33 days to spare. [...]

Friday Fave: Listen & Learn Music Turns 1

September 4, 2009

I remember as if it were yesterday: sitting at this very computer, creating a blog, and writing my first post. Did I think people would read it? Maybe, maybe not. Did I think I’d still be here, one year later, writing a Top Ten list about the reasons I’m grateful for Listen & Learn Music [...]

An Inspiration, Indeed

September 4, 2009

If you haven’t already done so, be sure to watch this video. It is really amazing. At the very end, the little girl, Emily, says, “I like inspiring kids,” which inspired me to share this video with yesterday’s piano students (who all just happen to be little girls under the age of 10). All of [...]

Mozart in the Making

September 3, 2009

I came across this video as I was perusing Natalie Wickham’s Music Matters Blog, and I enjoyed it so much that I just had to repost it here. My favorite part is when the reporter asks, “Where does [the music] come from?” and she replies, “I don’t know…probably, my heart.”

Shakers Up High!

September 3, 2009

Two songs for shakers in a row? Yep! We do a lot of shaking at the Hope Institute and in the Music Therapy Connections studio, which accounts for the plethora of such tunes in my collection. For today’s song, I actually borrowed the melody I made up for “Flower, Stand Tall” since both focus on [...]

Shaky Fruit

September 2, 2009

These fruit shakers are the latest addition to my studio’s instrument collection, and I think I’m in love! They’re extremely realistic in appearance, so my students have been surprised to find that they are actually instruments. Once they start shaking, it’s hard to get them to stop. I wrote a little tune dedicated especially to [...]

Today at Listen & Learn Plus!

September 2, 2009

It was almost a year ago when I originally posted my song of the month for “September”. I briefly mentioned it here yesterday, and today, the lead sheet is available to download for members…learn about becoming one today! Members, click here to access this post.

Today it is September

September 1, 2009

Can you believe it? I barely had time to get used to August, and it’s already over! It has felt like September for the last few days (seriously, 40-degree temps at night), but hopefully we’ll have at least a few more summery days before fall really sets in. This is going to be one busy [...]

Next Entries →