When I first found these canary sticks, I wasn’t sure exactly how I’d use them — I just knew I had to have them. They are easy to “play” and the bird chirping sound they make is pretty realistic.
They sat unused for a few months, but I finally decided to try them out with my students. But before I did that, I asked my Twitter friends for songs about birds. I received about 15 or so great suggestions, but ended up going with two pretty well-known songs. I combined them into one, and it turned out like this:
He rocks in the treetop, all day long,
Hoppin’ and a boppin’ and a singin’ its song.
All the little birdies on jaybird street
Love to hear the robin go tweet, tweet, tweet.
Rockin’ robin! (Tweet, tweet, tweet.)
Rockin’ robin! (Tweet, tweet, tweet.)
Go rockin’ robin ’cause you’re
Really gonna rock tonight.
All the little swallows, all the chickadees,
All the little birds in the tall oak trees.
The wise old owl, the big black crow,
Flappin’ their wings, singin’ “go bird, go!”
Rockin’ robin! (Tweet, tweet, tweet.)
Rockin’ robin! (Tweet, tweet, tweet.)
Go rockin’ robin ’cause you’re
Really gonna rock tonight.
Don’t worry about a thing,
Because every little thing
Is gonna be alright.
Rise up this morning,
Smile with the rising sun.
Three little birds perch on my doorstep.
Singin’ sweet songs,
Of melodies pure and true,
Singin’ “this is my message to you.”
Don’t worry about a thing,
Because every little thing
Is gonna be alright.
One of those birds,
Its name was _______
And it made a pretty tweeting sound.
Singin’ sweet songs,
Of melodies pure and true,
Singin’ “this is my message to you.”
Don’t worry about a thing,
Because every little thing
Is gonna be alright.
In the second verse of “Three Little Birds” I leave a space for the child’s name. I repeat this verse for each child in my group, giving them each a chance to be the birdie star. The little ones like that part, and their parents dig the fact that they know both songs and can sing along.
Have you ever used these sweet little instruments? I’m thinking another great use for them might be a singable story with designated places for bird chirps…another project to add to the hopper (along with too many others to count).
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!
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?!
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.
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 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 :)
Welcome! I’m Rachel Rambach, board-certified music therapist and creator of Listen & Learn Music — educational songs and musical materials for children. I love sharing my work with you, along with my behind-the-scenes creative process, adventures in business ownership, and life as a mom of two little ones.
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