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Friday Fave: Heat Wave!
It seems like all anyone can talk about this week -- both on Facebook and in person -- is how darn hot it is outside. Here in central Illinois, we've been under a heat advisory since Sunday...but the truth is, I don't mind one bit. Yep, I'm one of those people who...
A Quick Fix Can Make All the Difference
Can you guess why Dawson looks so happy in this picture? It could be the fact that he LOVES guitar lessons so much...or it could be that we've finally figured out a way for him to comfortably play his guitar. That box underneath his feet was such a simple solution,...
Do You Keep Parents in the Loop?
I have found that some methods are more effective than others when it comes to keeping parents up-to-date with their music students' progress. As in, my old method didn't work so well...but luckily, my new one does. Old method: I sent a form home in each student's...
Tally Me Some Fruit!
Last week one of my students' parents mentioned that her daughter was really into "Day-O" -- otherwise known as The Banana Boat Song, by Harry Belafonte. Oh, and my student wondered if there was a version about oranges, too...which of course had my wheels turning...
Sunday Singalong: Angry Birds Theme
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...
Friday Fave: Tubano Drum
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...
10 Songs That Just Make Me Feel Good
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...
What’s Your Fuel of Choice?
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:...
Songs To Celebrate Summer
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...