A New Way to Say Goodbye

by | Listen & Learn Music, Uncategorized

When I introduced a brand-new goodbye song in one of my classes this morning, I was met with mixed emotions…from the staff! The students seemed to respond very positively to the new tune, while several of my coworkers didn’t hide their disappointment that I strayed from the usual goodbye song. They were good sports, though, and were quick to adapt and sing along. I’m lucky to have classroom staff that are so supportive of the music therapy program :)

Like the hello song I discussed yesterday, today’s goodbye song replaces several old standbys that have passed their prime. See what you think:

It’s time for me to go, oh, oh, oh,
Music is over for today.
It’s time for me to go, oh, oh, oh,
So tell me, what do we say?

Goodbye, goodbye,
Farewell, and so long.
Goodbye, goodbye,
This is the goodbye song.

Wish I could stay, hey, hey, hey,
But I’m afraid our time is through.
Wish I could stay, hey, hey, hey,
But I have to sing goodbye to you.

Goodbye, goodbye,
Farewell, and so long.
Goodbye, goodbye,
This is the goodbye song.

And now I must say goodbye to YOU, because it is my bedtime! Now that school is back in session, I find that I need an extra hour or so of sleep in order to keep my energy up all day long. My job is extremely gratifying, but it is also extremely exhausting!

Time to Sing Hello

by | Listen & Learn Music, Uncategorized

The students have returned! Today is the official start of the school year, and I’ve already had music therapy with two classes. It was so much fun seeing all of the kids after an entire summer away, and for the most part, they were happy to see me, too.

I was excited to introduce some new tunes, including a brand-new hello song. I had been rotating the same few for the last two years, and though the students and staff liked them, it was time for a change. This is what I came up with:

Hands clap,
Feet tap,
It’s time to sing hello.
To you and you and you and you
All of the people that we know.

So let’s all come together,
And sing out big and strong.
Let’s have a good time in music,
While we dance and play along.

Sit up tall,
Let’s have a ball.
It’s time to sing hello.
To you and you and you and you
All of the people that we know.

Hello everybody, hello.
Hello everybody, hello.
Hello everybody, hello.

Music has begun!

Introducing new songs and activities is always a challenge with some of our students, but so far, they’ve all responded very positively. Hopefully that will continue to be the case as I visit all of the remaining classes this week!

Yummy Summer

by | Listen & Learn Music, Uncategorized

Back in July, I held a contest over at Listen & Learn Plus! which involved subscribers coming up with topics for fun summer songs. The second winner is Rebecca, and this was her idea:

“There are so many foods that seem to be best eaten in the summer at picnics, cookouts, and pool parties. What about a song dedicated to summer munchies?”

Rebecca won a Custom CD for her topic idea. This is the song I’ve come up with using her great suggestions. Hope you like it!

In the summer, there’s so much yummy food to eat.
For breakfast, lunch and dinner or a tasty treat.
When the weather is warm, my belly is full
The only thing that’s empty is the plate or bowl!

Watermelon, the fruit that’s green and pink,
Is best when eaten over the sink.
Because it’s juicy and sticky, and oh so sweet,
Watermelon is a yummy summer treat.

CHORUS

Salad is green and made of lettuce, it’s true.
A healthy food to eat for lunch, and you
Can top it with chicken or cheese, and then
The dressing comes last so go on and pour it in.

CHORUS

Corn on the cob is yellow with a crunch,
It’s my favorite vegetable of the bunch.
Cook it on the grill and season it, too.
Corn on the cob is a food that’s good for you.

CHORUS

Ice cream comes in every color you see,
One scoop for you, and one for me.
Eat it for a snack when the sun is hot,
Oh my, my, I like ice cream a whole lot.

Rumble in the Jungle

by | Uncategorized

Have you ever bought a book, instrument, or other classroom resource and then forgotten about it, leaving it unused on a shelf? Well that is exactly what happened to me with the book Rumble in the Jungle by Giles Andreae, which I purchased at Barnes & Noble over two years ago. I just dug it out this summer, and I sure am glad I did! Turns out, it is one of my students’ new favorites.

What I love best about this book are the vibrant illustrations and the cheeky humor found in the rhyming verses. This is a great opportunity to work on signs, colors, and animal identification. I was amazed when I used the book with one of my little guys, who is not yet even three years old. He knew the sign for almost every single animal, which he did as I sang the book. So much fun!

Weekend Wrap-Up

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On Friday I wrote all about my plans to enjoy some downtime, and that I did! This weekend was perhaps the most non-productive I’ve had all summer, and that was just fine with me. I saw “The Time Traveler’s Wife” (a great film but not as amazing as the book), spent some time by the pool, slept in, caught up on my DVR’d shows, and most importantly, hit up the state fair where I saw Kelly Clarkson in concert!

I fit right in with my tween and teen voice students (many of whom were also in attendance) at the show, considering I am a HUGE Kelly fan. She put on an amazing show, even better than I expected. It was like one big singalong; my voice was a little hoarse afterward but it was definitely worth it. She did all of her big songs in addition to my favorites from her newest album, “All I Ever Wanted”. A fantastic night.

Oh, and I wasn’t completely unproductive this weekend: I completed my blog overhaul, transferring my songs to a server that allows for them to be downloaded and shared directly from the site. I’ve been working on this all week between projects, but it’s finally done! I’d love to hear what you think about the new format.

Monday morning is only a few short hours away, which means a brand new week (jumpstarted by a 5 am workout and coffee). School begins on Thursday, so I’ll be working non-stop to get ready. That includes writing some back-to-school songs, so stay tuned!