by Rachel | Uncategorized
Say goodbye to summer…it’s day two of fall and that gives us lots to sing about! I had no trouble coming up with this song, since there are so many great things about fall.
Today I asked my students to share their favorite aspects of fall, and these were the most popular answers: jumping in piles of leaves, cool weather, and of course, Halloween. While my fall song doesn’t mention this spooky day (there are plenty of others dedicated to it), it does cover most other bases. So take a listen!
Fall into fall,
the most colorful season of all.
Orange and gold, red, yellow, and brown,
Leaves are swirling all around.
September, October, November, fall is here.
At the end of December, we know that winter’s near.
Fall into fall,
the most colorful season of all.
Orange and gold, red, yellow, and brown,
Leaves are swirling all around.
Football, and pumpkins, and hayrack rides abound.
Most of the leaves that were once on trees, are now upon the ground.
Fall into fall,
the most colorful season of all.
Orange and gold, red, yellow, and brown,
Leaves are swirling all around.
The air is getting colder, the wind is getting strong.
The days are getting shorter, but we keep on singing this song.
Fall into fall,
the most colorful season of all.
Orange and gold, red, yellow, and brown,
Leaves are swirling all around.
by Rachel | Uncategorized
It’s so hard to believe that September is here, and that the school year is in full swing. Over the past twelve months, I have written a song for each one of them which wraps up all the highlights of those thirty-something days into a neat little package. The first I’ll share with you is September:
September, September, today it is September.
Month number nine for thirty days,
Fall weather cools the sun’s hot rays.
We’ll see the leaves turn from green to brown,
And pretty soon they’ll all fall down.
September, September, today it is September.
The air is turning nice and cool,
And we spend all our days in school,
It’s a wonderful time of the year!
September, September, today it is September.
Month number nine for thirty days,
Fall weather cools the sun’s hot rays.
We’ll see the leaves turn from green to brown,
And pretty soon they’ll all fall down.
September, September, today it is September.
We’ll celebrate on Labor Day,
Home from school is where we’ll stay,
It’s a wonderful time of the year!
September, September, today it is September.
Month number nine for thirty days,
Fall weather cools the sun’s hot rays.
We’ll see the leaves turn from green to brown,
And pretty soon they’ll all fall down.
September, September, today it is September.
We’ll go outside, roll up our sleeves,
Make a bed of crunchy leaves,
It’s a wonderful time of the year!
September, September, today it is September.
Month number nine for thirty days,
Fall weather cools the sun’s hot rays.
We’ll see the leaves turn from green to brown,
And pretty soon they’ll all fall down.
Be sure to check back in on the first of each month (and of course, all the days in between!) for a new song. See you again soon!
by Rachel | Uncategorized
Well hi there. I’m Rachel, and I can’t tell you how excited I am about this blog. It’s actually an extension of my website, Music Therapy Connections, which is how many of you may have gotten here. If that is the case, you can just go ahead and skip over the next few paragraphs!
As a board-certified music therapist, I work with children of all age levels in both mainstream and special education settings. I use music to address nonmusical skills, including social, cognitive, emotional, and physical. Though levels of skill and functioning varies widely from child to child, a strong love and positive response to music is characteristic of most, if not all of them.
When I began my work as a music therapist, I realized how scarce great resources truly are in this field. I wanted materials that I could use across a wide spectrum, not just those geared towards children with severe disabilities or gifted children. I wanted materials that would appeal to all age groups – materials that teachers, parents, and adult caregivers would enjoy utilizing as well.
When I couldn’t find anything that truly met my needs, I began to create my own. I wrote and recorded song after song and over time amassed a collection that I was able to use in every single setting. The children with whom I work know and love these songs, which is apparent by the big smiles on their faces and the sound of their voices singing along.
But what is most important is that while they are singing and having a good time, these children are learning. They are learning to count, they are learning the correct way to brush their teeth, and they are learning to use manners. The reason why my songs do the job they are meant to do is that listening to them doesn’t feel like work. They truly make learning fun.
And that is why I started this blog…all this time, I have been selfishly keeping these wonderful tools to myself! So now, hopefully your child or student can benefit from my songs as mine have; and if they do, tell your friends. Tell your child’s teacher. And keep coming back to visit me!
