Recently my almost-three-year-old nephew and I were sitting together in the backseat of the car. I had my iPhone out, and he asked if we could play Angry Birds. So I opened the app and handed the phone over to him, at which point he asked me (ok, ordered me) to “turn on the music!”.
Then just last week, I was treated to stories of Angry Bird conquests by not one, but FOUR students during their lesson time. Angry Birds fever has taken over the world…and the Music Therapy Connections studio is no exception.
So when my friend showed me this video a few days ago, I knew I had to share it with you here at Listen & Learn. And since I didn’t already have a “Sunday Singalong” video of my own planned yet, today is the day:
I know, I know; there’s not a whole lot of “singing”, per se. But at least the “lyrics” are easy, right?! I am always so entertained by Pamplemoose’s videos, and musically, they’re always extremely cool.
So that’s my not-so-original edition of Sunday Singalong for you this week. If you really need a fix of the usual fare, you can find all 70 of my past videos here. Enjoy this beautiful Sunday, and see you back here tomorrow!
This drum has been a fixture in my studio for a couple of years now, but lately I’ve been incorporating it into music therapy sessions more than ever.
Here are the three things that I like best about this tubano drum by Remo:
Sound. It can be played loudly, but does not cause problems for my kids with noise sensitivity. And of course, it also sounds great when played softly or somewhere in between. Anyone can play it and make it sound good!
Size. This drum seems pretty big to my smaller students, and they like that it can be played while standing up. At the same time, though, it is not so cumbersome that it can’t be easily moved. It has a strap for this purpose, too.
Appearance. This month I’m rocking a jungle theme, and this drum fits in perfectly. I follow up the singable story Rumble in the Jungle with the tubano drum, and identifying the jungle animals on the side of the drum is the perfect segue.
Added bonus: the drum makes a perfect mini side table when not in use. I keep it next to my piano, and my caddy for pens/pencils/antibacterial gel/other small items sits on top.
I’ll have to write another post about the specific songs, activities, and interventions I’ve come up with just for the tubano drum. And as always, feel free to share your own uses for it!
I’ve noticed a common theme among the songs that I’ve been choosing for both my students and myself lately. While there have been a few exceptions, most have been songs that just make me feel really good, whether I’m singing them or just listening. Judging by my students’ feedback and performance, I think the songs have the same effect on them!
Summer is all about having fun and enjoying life, in my opinion, so here are the top 10 songs (in no particular order) that are helping me do just that at the moment.
“King of Anything” by Sara Bareilles
“Better Together” by Jack Johnson
“The Best Day” by Taylor Swift
“Sing” from Sesame Street
“Blackbird” by the Beatles
“Any Dream Will Do” from Joseph
“Change the World” by Eric Clapton
“Don’t Rain on My Parade” from Funny Girl
“Be OK” by Ingrid Michaelson
“Shower the People” by James Taylor
The more I brainstormed, the longer my list grew…but I’ll stop there and leave the question open to YOU. What are your favorite feel-good songs at the moment?
My professional roles of music therapist, teacher, and performer can be quite draining. After a long day of sessions, lessons, and a long rehearsal, I feel as though I’ve just run a marathon.
So when I have one of those days in front of me, I find myself wondering: what is the best thing to put into my body in order to provide the energy I need?
I’m a creature of habit, so when I discover something that works, I stick with it — up until this point, my breakfast (cereal, banana, and yogurt) and lunch (sandwich or salad with protein, some kind of fruit or vegetable). But my workdays are much more intense now than they used to be, and I usually need to refuel in between meals.
So I’m asking you, my esteemed colleagues…what is your fuel of choice to carry you through a long day of singing, playing, and working with children or adult clients?
With summer in full swing, I thought it would be fun to round up all the songs I’ve written about my favorite season. I’ve been singing them almost nonstop since June, and will be sad to retire them at the end of August. But there’s still plenty of time before that unfortunate day comes, so let’s get to it:
This is the original summer song, written over three years ago! But it still gets plenty of mileage, and I even featured it in a recent Sunday Singalong video.
A song dedicated entirely to the current month. There are still a good couple of weeks left to celebrate July, even though the most exciting day of the month (the 4th, of course) has already passed us by.
This should be our theme song here in central Illinois. It’s been hotter this summer than any other I can remember, but honestly, I’m not complaining too much. I’ll take a heat advisory over a February blizzard any day of the week!
My favorite hangout during the summer months is my parents’ backyard pool (conveniently located just two blocks from my house). And judging from the suntans and damp hair my students often sport when they arrive at my studio, I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who enjoys a day at the pool. And that’s exactly why I wrote this song.
Let’s not forget about all the food that just tastes better in the summertime. I could eat watermelon for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and my husband could do the same with ice cream. Singing “Yummy Summer” is a great way to get my students talking about their favorite summer treats.
One last summer tune, which will take us into the 8th month of the year. Even though August signals the start of the school year, it is also full of good things…I personally can’t wait for two weeks of pure vacation following the end of my summer session :)
I’m hoping to squeeze in a few more songs about summer in the upcoming weeks, but these should keep you busy until then. What are your summertime faves?
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.
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