Sunday Singalong: Building a Treehouse

Rhythm sticks aren’t the most exciting of instruments, but this song makes them a little more fun…don’t you think?  My little church mice would agree: they’ve been hammering, sawing, and painting in rhythm to it for the last few weeks.

Charity Kahn and the Jam Band have a pretty great collection of music that gets kids moving, and I’ve used several of their tunes over the last couple of years.  Another favorite song is “Your Body’s an Instrument” from their CD, JAM.

Oh, and if you actually do have a treehouse (because most of us do, right?!) and you’re weather is anything like mine today, you better be climbing up into it today. Or maybe you could just take your dog for a walk or do some gardening instead ;) No matter which way you spend this beautiful Sunday, enjoy!

Friday Fave: My New Blogging Gig

Studio Helper Blog

I received an email from my friend Lisa Casciola a few weeks back, telling me to apply for the open blogger position at Music Teacher’s Helper.  Talk about a dream job: write 1 blog post a month, and in return receive a free unlimited subscription (worth $49/month) to Music Teacher’s Helper (the online software that helps run the business side of my studio/private practice).

So I applied for the job. As part of the application, I had to provide a list of post ideas as well as a sample post which would serve as my inaugural one if hired.

A few days later, I received an email asking if I’d be interested in blogging for Studio Helper, which is the sister site of Music Teacher’s Helper.  The Studio Helper blog is geared more towards the management and marketing of a studio, which aligned with my ideas and sample post.

Of course I said yes — because as you know, running my studio is a favorite topic around here!  (And I still get the free unlimited subscription to Music Teacher’s Helper.)  My first post will appear on the Studio Helper blog next Tuesday, May 24, and the 24th of every month following.

My dad couldn’t believe it when I told him I’d added one more thing to my already busy schedule, but the way I see it, I’m already blogging every single day…so what’s one more blog post a month?!

Studio Renovation: Progress Update #4

It’s been a few weeks since I posted a progress update on my new studio, and here’s the reason: there hasn’t been much progress :(  Well, unless you count the fact that my waiting room couches have been delivered and are in place.

Studio Waiting Room Couches

The truth is, I’m limited in the things I can do at this point since I’m using my current studio until the end of the spring session.  But come May 27, you better believe that I will be working like a crazy woman to get everything moved, decorated, and ready for students.

Between that day and the start of my summer session on June 13, I have my best friend’s wedding, my husband’s best friend’s wedding, my birthday, an acoustic gig, and a working weekend in Florida with my podcast co-hosts. So I’m sure you can imagine the stress I feel when I start thinking about my studio to-do list, which includes:

  • have new outside door painted and replaced
  • repaint entry way
  • install entry way partition
  • move office furniture & piano
  • wash window screens and privacy blinds
  • choose, purchase and hang curtains
  • organize office supplies and instruments
  • decorate (this is the really fun part)

Not to mention, prepare for my first week of 60+ students (yes, I just might be certifiably insane).  I also need to do paperwork, send out emails and registration invoices, and update my website with info for my new families.

The more I type, the more I realize that this supposed “progress update” has become an outlet of all the stress I’m feeling right now.  So if you’re still reading at this point, THANK YOU for this makeshift therapy session!

And I promise: after the 27th, I will share some real progress updates (and many more pictures) with you, my wonderfully patient and amazing friends.

I Like the Way You Shake!

I Like the Way You ShakeI first had the idea to adapt the song “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing” for instruments a few years back.  Originally, it was a song for tambourines or bells, but I re-recorded it this spring as a shakin’ tune.

Each color has its own verse, which means that my students get their moment in the spotlight, shaking one of their colored egg shakers or maracas from my basket (pictured above).  Here’s the song:

I like the way you shake your egg, in perfect harmony
You shake it up and shake it down,
For everyone to see.

That’s the song I hear, that wonderful sound,
Shake shake shake shake shake that egg,
Round and round and round.

If you have a blue egg, shake it in the air,
Make some music, nice and loud, play without a care.

That’s the song I hear, that wonderful sound,
Shake shake shake shake shake that egg,
Round and round and round.

{Repeat, using each color}

I’ve been pumping out instrument songs lately, and I still have a couple left to share with you.  But I’m planning to write some new songs for summer as soon as I get a free minute or two…which, based on my schedule over the next few weeks, could be July before I get around to it!  Thus is the life of a happily busy music therapist/studio teacher :)

5 Movies I Watch for Inspiration

This past weekend, while my husband was out of town for yet another bachelor party, I spent both Friday and Saturday evenings parked out on the couch watching movies with my dog. (Easy A, The Back-Up Plan, 50 First Dates, and Zombieland, if you were curious.)

Lo and behold, all of that movie watching inspired me to write a blog post about the movies that inspire me!  So here they are, in no particular order:

Mr. Holland's Opus

Growing up, I owned the VHS tape of Mr. Holland’s Opus and watched it all the time.  I wanted to be just like Rowena, the ingenue who had such a beautiful voice and inspired Mr. Holland’s composition.  But now that I’m all grown up, Mr. Holland inspires me to be a better teacher, and to get my students excited about music.

Field of Dreams

Every knows the most famous line from Field of Dreams: “If you build it, he will come.”  Everyone thought Ray Kinsella was crazy for turning his farmland into a baseball field, but he did it, witnessed some pretty amazing things, and even made a living out of it by turning it into a tourist attraction.  I can sort of relate, with my journey from music major (which plenty of people thought was a crazy idea) to music therapist with a soon-to-be full time private practice.

Moulin Rouge

I first saw Moulin Rouge (five times in the theater) as a high school graduate, getting ready to move far away for college and pursue my dreams of performing.  So naturally this movie was inspiring; lots of creative, talented people pursuing their dreams of putting on a show.  It didn’t hurt that I had a huge crush on Ewan McGregor :)  The love story, the songs, and the visual effects are stunning, and I can feel my creative juices pumping every time I watch it.

The Devil Wears Prada

The Devil Wears Prada might very well be one of my favorite movies of all time.  Not only do I love the main cast (Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, and Stanley Tucci), but I think the way they portray the inner workings of a fashion magazine is so interesting.  And even though Andy (Anne Hathaway’s character) lets her job negatively affect her attitude as she climbs the ranks, she finds her way back to her true self and purpose in the end.

Julie & Julia

Duh, Julie & Julia had to be on this list! After all, it’s about a blogger who writes about her passion…sound familiar?!  And although I’m not getting movie and book deals (unless you count my songbook) I’ve had lots of cool stuff happen because of Listen & Learn.  Also, Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci are in this movie — see above.

I find inspiration in some of the strangest and most unexpected places, but I think movies are a pretty common source of it.  I would love to hear about the movies that inspire you.  Please share them in the comments!