Kids With Cats: This Song is For You


Writing a song about dogs came quite naturally to me, since I’m a dog owner and have always considered myself to be a “dog person”.  But I have nothing against cats (that’s my mom’s cat, Izzy, in the picture) and since many of you let me know that you’d like a feline version of the song, I was happy to oblige!

C – A – T, my C – A – T,
My cat’s a part of my family.
She has such soft and pretty fur,
I love to hear her meow and purr.
C – A – T, my C – A – T,
My cat’s a part of my family.

People ask me questions, like
“What’s your cat’s name?”
And this is what I say: __________
They also want to know,
“What kind of cat do you have?”
So I answer in this way: __________

C – A – T, my C – A – T,
My cat’s a part of my family.
I give her water, food, and toys,
Luckily, she doesn’t make much noise.
C – A – T, my C – A – T,
My cat’s a part of my family.

People ask me questions, like
“How old is your cat?”
And this is what I say: __________
They also want to know,
“Can I pet your cat?”
So I answer in this way: __________

C – A – T, my C – A – T,
My cat’s a part of my family.
She likes to chase her toy mouse,
‘Round and ‘round and ‘round the house.
C – A – T, my C – A – T,
My cat’s a part of my family.

I used Izzy as an example in this version, but just as was offered when I posted “My D-O-G”, I’ll record a special version for your family’s cat if this is a song your child might enjoy.  All you have to do is send me an email, and be sure to include your answers to the questions asked in the song!

Sunday Singalong: You Are My Sunshine

Happy Sunday! Singing this song (in any one of its many forms) always puts a smile on my face. Good thing, because I sing the calendar version in almost every music therapy session, both at school and in my private practice. People always ask me if I get tired of singing the same songs over and over, and while the answer is sometimes yes, this song does not fall into that category.

It does, however, fall into the category of the ever-popular “piggyback” song, which involves taking a familiar song and changing the lyrics, but keeping the melody the same. It’s a common practice among music therapists and educators, and although I enjoy composing my own melodies, piggybacking does come in handy from time to time.

If you search the Listen & Learn archives, you’ll actually find quite a few. What are your favorite songs to piggyback on? Please share them in the comments!

Friday Fave: A New Officemate

Last Tuesday was a sad day in the Music Therapy Connections office/studio.  It was the day I laid to rest a sturdy old workhorse, my HP DeskJet 940c printer.  I’ve had this printer since my first day of college (all the way back in 2001), and it has sat on 4 different desks in 4 different cities since then.  Not bad, considering I’ve been through 4 laptops in that time!

I owe my deceased DeskJet for all of my PECS cards, homemade visual aides, printed sheet music, and so much more.  It worked hard right up until judgment day, when despite trying several new ink cartridges, it spewed out blank paper.  Could it have been resuscitated? Probably.  But I knew it was time to let go.

The HP OfficeJet Pro Wireless 8000 and I got off to a rocky start.  But thanks to the intervention of a very sweet HP technical support person, our relationship was mended and now we’re working in harmony.  Its wireless capabilities, 2-sided printing (save the rainforest!), and high quality printing have all but made up for the loss of old DeskJet.

But this isn’t the only new officemate around here.  Last month, I added a couple that I still haven’t gotten around to posting.  I will do that soon.  In the meantime, have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend.  See you back here in a couple of days for my new “Sunday Singalong” video!

A Sweet Singable Story

Goodnight Sweet Butterflies Children's Book

Last month’s inaugural Singable Story garnered quite a few comments and requests for more singable story ideas, so I’m excited to be back with another one today.  Good Night, Sweet Butterflies, written by Dawn Bentley, combines sensory input through touch (the butterflies on each page are 3-D and glittery, no less), sight (bright colors spill off of every page) and sound (well, assuming it is read or sung out loud).

I recorded this singable story for one of my music therapy groups yesterday, and rather than pre-compose the melody, I improvised the entire thing.  I love that the music is calm and soothing, just like the story itself.

I purchased quite a few new children’s books earlier this summer, all of which lend themselves nicely to being sung. Slowly but surely, I’ll be sharing more of those (plus some oldies but goodies). For now, enjoy this sweet, lullaby-like story and have fun making it your own!

Sunday Singalong: Little Fishes

It’s true, I am wearing my swimsuit underneath my clothes and not one stitch of makeup, but I had a window of opportunity (read: absent puppy and hubby) in which to record this video, and I took advantage of it!

If you haven’t checked out the music of Genevieve Jereb, you really should.  I just love her Australian accent, and the songs are so much fun – not to mention, purposeful.  I use “Little Fishes” all the time, and this song can go on for literally 10 minutes in a big group.

As I mentioned, using pictures to stimulate participation is a great way for kids who need a little extra help.  You could either hold them up yourself and have the students name the creature that is pictured, or have each child hold a picture, and name the creature (or point to the student) so that he or she holds up the picture when it’s his or her turn.  You could even use this as an art project opportunity, and have the students create the pictures themselves.