by Rachel | Listen & Learn Music
Between singing about them with my clients, admiring them with my two-year-old, and seeing them everywhere, it sort of feels like pumpkins have taken over my life…and I’m okay with that.
It’s fall, after all, and pumpkins are the orange ambassadors of this season. I’ve written many a song about them, and this one is the latest. I’ve been using it in my early childhood classes as well as music therapy sessions to work on counting, 1:1 correspondence, and attending skills.
I cut out and laminated five orange pumpkins so that my students would have a visual representation, and as we sing each verse, we take one away and count the remaining pumpkins. It would also be fun to grab some mini pumpkins for a more tactile experience.
What other pumpkin songs are you singing this fall? Here are a few more (along with some additional Halloween-themed tunes) on my Listen & Learn list.
Members of Listen & Learn Plus! have access to all of these songs (along with tons more) right inside the Dropbox folder I share with them — come over and join us!
by Rachel | Guitars & Granola Bars
I was feeling pretty good about myself when I went back to teaching early childhood music classes this summer, a mere 5 weeks after my daughter was born. And then I had my mind blown by this week’s podcast guest; suddenly my “quick” return didn’t feel quite as impressive.
It’s no secret that business owners are highly motivated when it comes to their work, but Morgan Sparks takes that term to the next level.
Morgan talks about her unconventional path to music therapy, teaching Kindermusik classes just 6 days postpartum, and the give-and-take that comes with raising a young child and owning a business Episode 39 of the Guitars & Granola Bars podcast.
Be sure to check out the show notes page for more information about Morgan, along with links to the resources she mentions in the episode.
This episode is sponsored by Music Teacher’s Helper, which is software for music teachers and therapists that helps manage your private music lesson studio and/or music therapy practice. I’ve used Music Teacher’s Helper every single day since 2011, and it is one of the best tools I have to keep my private practice running smoothly.
Sign up here for a 30-day no risk trial. If you choose to sign up after the trial using my link, you’ll save 20% off your first month!
Click here to subscribe on iTunes, or search “Guitars & Granola Bars” in the podcast app on your Apple device.
Click here to listen and subscribe on Stitcher, or download and search the app on your mobile device.
by Rachel | Business Ownership
Last week, I shared Part 2 of this series, in which I’m giving you the full scoop on how I went from having a full-time day job and a small private practice on the side (headquartered in my car) to now co-owning a thriving business with a facility of our own and a team of 7.
In Part 2, I detailed the evolution from “side hustle” to “two full-time jobs” — including my thoughts on home-based private practice, preparing to quit my day job, and making changes to become a full-fledged business owner.
Part 3 picks up in June 2011, when I began working for myself full-time. In the full post, I talk about experiencing burnout, bringing on an independent contractor, and adding a baby to the mix.
You can read parts 1, 2, and 3 of my story, along with key takeaways and action items, over on Listen & Learn Plus, where you’ll also find a vast collection of over 200 songs (mp3, lead sheet, and instrumental track), videos, tutorials, and visual aides, plus ALL new releases from Listen & Learn Music.
by Rachel | Business Ownership
Music Therapy Connections has been in business for over 8 years now, but never have I felt more official than the moment my partner Katey and I cut a red ribbon in front of our building with giant scissors.
We recently joined the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, and one of the perks of membership is a ribbon-cutting ceremony, which we held this past Friday. We invited members of the Chamber, our staff, friends and family to join in the ceremony, and then held an open house for families in the community.
Our facility has come a long way since we opened the doors at the end of August, but we’re not done. We are continuing to raise money for our recording studio and constantly coming up with ways of enhancing our space. The feedback we receive from everyone who comes in has been overwhelmingly positive — the BEST thing to hear is how cheerful and inviting it is. That’s exactly what we were going for :)
If you live in the Springfield area and haven’t been by for a visit, please feel free by do so. Also, we still have a few openings for new voice, piano and guitar students as well as our next session of classes for children of all ages. All of the information is available on our website.
by Rachel | Guitars & Granola Bars
I’ve interviewed quite a few moms with young babies since starting this podcast, but Ashley Lundquist takes the cake for having THE youngest baby to date. She gave birth to her son Phoenix less than a month ago, yet still took time out to talk with me.
I loved getting the perspective of a brand-new mom, and Ashley was kind enough to share all the interesting details related to her journey so far. It reminded me just how unique of an experience it is having your first child, and how it felt so different for me the second time around.
Ashley talks about how losing her voice affected her music therapy career, the way she incorporated music during her labor and delivery, and how she is settling into her role as a first-time mom just a few weeks postpartum in Episode 38 of the Guitars & Granola Bars podcast.
Be sure to check out the show notes page for more information about Ashley, along with links to the resources she mentions in the episode.
This episode is sponsored by Music Teacher’s Helper, which is software for music teachers and therapists that helps manage your private music lesson studio and/or music therapy practice. I’ve used Music Teacher’s Helper every single day since 2011, and it is one of the best tools I have to keep my private practice running smoothly.
Sign up here for a 30-day no risk trial. If you choose to sign up after the trial using my link, you’ll save 20% off your first month!
Click here to subscribe on iTunes, or search “Guitars & Granola Bars” in the podcast app on your Apple device.
Click here to listen and subscribe on Stitcher, or download and search the app on your mobile device.
