Sunday Singalong: Rusty’s Turn!

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Every Tuesday evening, Rusty and I spend 30 minutes playing, writing, recording, and expressing ourselves through music. He is very interested in technology, so recently we’ve been using Garageband, iTunes, and iMovie to bring his musical creations to life. He continues to impress me with his good nature, musical talent, and creativity!

I love the fact that so many of my students want to incorporate technology into our work together, whether it’s music therapy or voice/piano/guitar lessons. Just today, I used the Flip Ultra HD Camcorder to record a student singing a new song, and we critiqued the video afterwards in order to improve her stage presence and facial expressions.  I use the “voice memos” app on my iPhone to record vocal exercises, piano accompaniment, and even entire lessons, which I can email to my students (or their parents) right then and there.

If you want to see more of Rusty, check out this YouTube video, which was filmed by and for our local newspaper, The State Journal-Register.  He is very proud of his status as a YouTube star!

Friday Fave: Model Me Going Places

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Last summer I had the privilege of writing and recording songs to narrate the Model Me Kids video, Model Me Faces and Emotions (read my post about it here).  It was a tremendously fun project; in fact, I was a little sad when all the work was done and the songs were completed.  So you can imagine my how thrilled I was to be invited to narrate yet another new video.

I spent a good part of January and February working on new songs for Model Me Going Places, a video in which children model appropriate behavior in a variety of community locations.  I am so happy with the finished product, which I received in the mail earlier this week!

Included is the DVD, CD-ROM, and the lyrics for all 12 songs.  There is even a free iPhone/iPod Touch app that goes along with it, for which I provided piano melodies.  My one and a half-year-old nephew loves it, and he’s too young to be biased!

Here are both DVDs (front and back), which are wonderful additions to my collection of resources.  Many of my students were already familiar with Model Me Kids before they even knew about my involvement; one little boy came to his piano lesson shortly after the first DVD came out and said, “Miss Rachel, I listened to you on TV.  You’re famous!”  Hey, if I’m famous in the eyes of my students, then I’ve reached the top :)

You can order any of the Model Me Kids DVDs (there are 9 altogether) from their website, and be sure to go download the free iPhone/iPod Touch app!

Happy Face, Happy Voice

by | Listen & Learn Music, Uncategorized

Whining. We all do it from time to time, whether you’re a child, mature adult, or my dog at 4 in the morning.  For kids, whining comes naturally in unfavorable situations, or even just when they’re tired and cranky.  How many times have the words “stop whining!” come out of your mouth?  Probably quite a few if you’re a parent, teacher, or anyone else who spends time with children on a regular basis.

But that phrase may fall upon deaf ears after awhile, so how about a new way to help nip this bad habit in the bud?  That was the strategy for one of my consult clients, who requested a custom-written song about using a “happy face and happy voice” instead of whining.

When you are unhappy and feeling blue,
There are just a few things that you need to do.
Just listen up, and you’ll be fine,
As long as you don’t whine.

First you need to find your happy face,
Then you need to find your happy voice.
When you talk without a whine,
And smile, you shine.
You’re making the right choice!

Simple and to the point. It’s amazing how such basic songs can be so effective, as long as the message is clear. What other bad habits might be addressed through a song like this?

SONGBOOK SALE!

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It’s regional music therapy conference time, and we (myself and songbook publisher Michelle Erfurt) are celebrating by offering a limited-time-only sale on my songbook, Listen & Learn: Songs for School, Home and Play.

From March 15 – April 16, when you purchase a songbook for $25, we will also include the supplemental CD (usually sold separately for $10) and free shipping. Also, a portion of all Listen & Learn songbook sales will be donated to the music therapy clubs of Colorado State University and Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (you choose which university you’d like to support when you make your purchase).

Listen and Learn: Educational songs for School, Home, and Play contains 24 of my most popular songs. It includes the melody line and chords for songs that address goal areas such as counting, daily care, directions, transitions, friendships, and more, along with activity suggestions for each one. It was developed for other music therapists, educators, parents, or anyone who works with children. I made a video in which I talk more about the book and sing a song from it; you can watch here.

Even the Penguins are Maraca Rockin’

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Seriously, how cute is this?  Illustrator and graphic designer Naomi Robinson sent me an email last week, asking for my permission to use part of the lyrics from my song “Maraca Rock” in this adorable picture, and of course, I said yes.  We’re already talking about more ways in which we can collaborate! To see more of Naomi’s artistic creations, visit her flickr stream.