When I started brainstorming for this week’s “Sunday Singalong” video, I knew I wanted to do something special for Mother’s Day. I just wasn’t sure what, exactly. Then I remembered a song that I wrote for my mom last April on her 50th birthday, and I had a plan. I chose some of my favorite photos of my mom, and used the song to narrate this slideshow:
I have a lot of people in my life to celebrate today. There’s my mom, of course, but then I also have my stepmom, aunt, grandma, mother-in-law, grandmother-in-law, and all of the moms and moms-to-be I know (like my sisters and friends). If you’re a mom, I hope you’re doing something nice for yourself – or even better, being spoiled by those who love you. Enjoy your special day!
When I received a request for a seatbelt song via Facebook yesterday, I jumped at this songwriting opportunity. I also asked myself: why hadn’t I thought of it already? Buckling up is essential to our safety, and it’s a habit we learn at an early age. Some kids just need a gentle reminder, and what better way to remind them than through song!
We’re gonna get in the car and take a ride,
So let’s open the door and get inside,
But before we pull away,
And before it’s time to play,
We need to buckle up.
Click, click, click,
We’re bucklin’ our seatbelts.
Click, click, click,
We gotta be safe.
A click for me, and a click for you,
Bucklin’ up is what we do!
What other safety skills can you think of that might make a good song topic? I’ve already written these, but I’d love to add to the collection. And of course, if you are looking for something a bit more personalized for your little guy or gal, you can always opt for a custom song.
While you’re busy brainstorming safety song ideas, I’ll be whipping up several new tunes for you over the next couple of weeks. In May, I begin helping my students prepare for the transition from the regular school year to summer school, or for some, graduation and entry into the “adult” world. It’s an exciting time, and a great opportunity to make music together!
This week, I reached out to my readers via Facebook and Twitter,looking for “Sunday Singalong” song suggestions. I received quite a few great requests, including “Shaky Fruit”, “The 3 R’s”, and “Maraca Rock”, but the one I chose was just too fitting to pass up.
“April Showers” has been around for a long time – since 1921, in fact. It was originally recorded by Al Jolson, though Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and many other singers have versions as well. This song is used more often with senior citizens than it is with young children, but I like it so much that it just may have found a permanent spot in my repertoire.
Not only one, but TWO fellow music therapists requested “April Showers” this week. Kristin Bozard and Janice Harris will receive a free album download of their choice, and YOU can too! All you have to do is suggest a song (via email or blog comment) for next week’s “Sunday Singalong” video.
One more thing, and this is pretty exciting. Yesterday I wrote my 400th blog post! I’ve only been writing this blog for a little over 1.5 years, so I’m pretty amazed at hitting such a high number already. Thanks so much for being a Listen & Learn reader, and here’s to 400 more posts!
Happy Earth Day! What are you doing today to celebrate our planet? Every year, the students and staff at The Hope Institute head outside to plant trees on campus property, and luckily we’ll have a beautiful day for doing so. I’ll also be singing the “Good Green Earth” song I shared in my latest Sunday Singalong videoas well as another Earth Day-appropriate song, “The 3 R’s” by Jack Johnson.
One of my very favorite albums (which just happens to be full of great songs for kids) is Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the film Curious George by Jack Johnson. In fact, I even Friday Fave’d it last winter. “The 3 R’s” is a take on “3 is a Magic Number” from Schoolhouse Rock, but it incorporates the “reduce, reuse, recycle” theme we all learned in grade school. Check it out:
Three, it’s a magic number,
Yes it is, it’s a magic number.
Because two times three is six,
And three times six is eighteen,
And the eighteenth letter in the alphabet is R.
We’ve got three R’s we’re going to talk about today:
We’ve got to learn to
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
If you’re going to the market to buy some juice,
You’ve got to bring your own bags and you learn to reduce your waste.
And if your brother or your sister’s got some cool clothes,
You could try them on before you buy some more of those.
Reuse, we’ve got to learn to reuse.
And if the first two R’s don’t work out,
And if you’ve got to make some trash,
Don’t throw it out.
Recycle, we’ve got to learn to recycle,
We’ve got to learn to
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Because three, it’s a magic number,
Yes it is, it’s a magic number.
3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36
33, 30, 27, 24, 21, 18, 15, 12, 9, 6, and
3, it’s a magic number.
I love Jack Johnson’s cool, laid-back attitude; his California surfer style fits in with Earth Day perfectly! I’m curious to find out what everyone else is singing on this special day, so please do tell.
If you’ve seen Ice Age, then you probably recognize these creatures as the main characters. My song is unrelated to the film, but I loved this picture – and the animals just happen to be the right species! “The Ice Age Song” is my attempt at consolidating general knowledge about this prehistoric era in a way that children can understand.
Now, this is not a topic I’d cover as a matter of course. But my sorority’s local alumnae association is hosting a kids camp-in with an Ice Age theme at the Illinois State Museum later this month, and guess who is providing the musical entertainment? I did actually do a search for songs on this subject, but unfortunately came up empty-handed. So I got to work writing my own, and this is what I came up with:
Millions of years ago,
The earth was covered in ice and snow,
No oak tree grew, no grass on the ground.
Only glaciers all around.
The air was cold, the land was bare,
In the Ice Age everywhere.
Wooly mammoths, and cave bears too,
And wooly rhinos, just to name a few.
Were animals who lived back when,
But have become extinct since then.
There were also reindeer with their great big hooves,
And horses, bison and wolves.
CHORUS
35,000 years before now,
The Ice Age people lived somehow.
They hunted with tools they made from rock and bone,
In caves and shelters they found a home.
Fire kept them warm and scared the animals away,
They were able to live this way.
CHORUS
The Ice Age was a time of discovery
For those who came before you and me.
Eventually the ice began to melt away,
And the Earth evolved into what it is today.
Now glaciers and fossils and drawings show,
That the Ice Age existed long ago.
CHORUS
I kept the information pretty basic and straightforward, bearing in mind that my audience will be made up of late-elementary school students. My program comes at the end of the evening, though, so by then, they’ll probably already know all of this and then some. In fact, maybe the kids could help me write “The Ice Age Song: Part 2”. Hmm…now that’s not a bad idea!
After a two-week hiatus, I’m back with a brand new video. It was such a beautiful spring day that I felt inspired to film this one outside, with the help of my wonderful husband. I’m thinking there will be lots more outdoor “Sunday Singalong” videos in the coming months!
“Good Green Earth” was another iTunes find, from the album Good Morning Sun, Goodnight Moon by James K. I’ve been incorporating in into my music therapy sessions around Earth Day for the last three years, because not only it is a personal and student favorite, but it’s great for reinforcing the days, months, seasons, and even up and down motor movement. I love songs that are so multifunctional!
It’s hard to believe that Sunday night has arrived, and another week will begin bright and early (“the sun comes up…”) tomorrow. How was your weekend? Mine was mostly spent catching up with laundry and cleaning, but I did sneak in a little shopping and lounging :) I’m excited for a low-key, productive week and even more gorgeous spring weather. See you back here soon!
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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by Jack Johnson. In fact, I even 
