Sunday Singalong: Red & Green

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With less than a week remaining until Christmas, I’m squeezing in every last holiday song I can around here! This one comes to you by request, though the coordinating outfit was completely my idea :) I mean, how often do I have the opportunity to wear a ridiculous hat in my videos?

“Red & Green” has been around for the last couple of years, and lends itself very well to all sorts of color-centric activities. Here is the original post I wrote about this song.

And now I’m off to perform an entirely different genre of holiday music: Handel’s Messiah.  My church choir is joining forces with another church’s choir to sing the Christmas portion of this masterpiece, and wow, is it glorious.  Hallelujah, indeed!

Sydney the Snowman’s Nose

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sydney-snowman

Poor Sydney.  All he wants in life is a new nose, but for now he’s stuck with this old carrot (like so many of his snowman friends).  Cute song idea, right?  But don’t give me any of the credit…that goes to my friend Brian, who suggested this topic on my Facebook page.

When I first started writing this song, I had the intention of letting Sydney find the new nose for which he was searching.  But then it hit me that I had an opportunity for a lesson in self-esteem (though I kept it subtle).  Notice the nods to “Frosty the Snowman” — I just couldn’t resist!

Sydney the snowman had one wish, just one,
And it didn’t have anything to do
With the bright, hot sun.
His wish was for a brand new nose,
Made of anything but carrots,
Which he thought were gross.

Oh, Sydney searched high and low,
He even asked people that he didn’t know,
If they could help fill in the space,
In the middle of his face.

Sniffity-sniff-sniff, sniffity-sniff-sniff,
Watch as Sydney goes,
Over the hills and around the town
In search of a different nose.

Sydney the snowman liked most things, it’s true.
Candy canes and lollipops
And pretzels and bananas, too.
But the vegetable he did despise,
Unfortunately, was the perfect size.

Oh, Sydney couldn’t think of anything less cute
Than a nose made out of an old orange root,
And then a stranger who was kind,
Gave a compliment that changed his mind.

What a beautiful snowman face have you,
With a nose so bright and button eyes so blue.
I can tell you were made with love,
And that’s something to be proud of.

Sniffity-sniff-sniff, sniffity-sniff-sniff,
Watch as Sydney goes,
Over the hills and around the town
Proudly showing off his carrot nose.

Big props to Brian for coming up with such a clever song topic! I hope I did it justice. I received quite a few additional ideas as a result of my call for song topics, so I’m trying to decide which to tackle next. Do you have any last-minute holiday song topic suggestions? Let me know in the comments!

Sunday Singalong: The Other Eight Reindeer

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It’s been a few weeks, but “Sunday Singalong” lives on!  I’ve been waiting and waiting for this cold to go away (or at least, give me most of my voice back) so that I could make a new video, and today’s the day.

“The Other Eight Reindeer” (here’s the new recording) is a play on the old “Rudolph” song we all know and love, as you will hear in the first few bars.  In fact, when people hear it for the first time, they are thrown for a loop when they realize it’s actually not the familiar song.  Below the video, I’ll explain a bit more about how I use this song with my students.

This song works best in a group setting, especially if there are at least 8 or 9 children to “act out” each reindeer.  I wrote a post last December describing in detail how I use props and movement to turn the song into an interactive experience; rather than repeat myself here, I’ll point you to that post (complete with pictures).

Any holiday-related song suggestions for next week’s “Sunday Singalong” video?  Remember, if I choose yours, you get a free Listen & Learn album download.  Just leave a comment here or share on Facebook or Twitter.

Winter’s On the Way

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catching snow-winter-on-the-way-season-song

Yesterday during one of my music therapy sessions, I announced that it was time to sing about the season — fall. One of the staff members gave me a strange look and said, “Really?”

I don’t blame her. The wind was gusting outside and the temperature was in the mid-30s; it’s not exactly fall weather. In these last few weeks leading up to winter, it just doesn’t feel right singing Fall Into Fall or All About Autumn.  That’s why I wrote today’s song…for these interim weeks in between the two seasons.

Winter’s on the way,
But for today,
The season is still fall.
The holidays are near,
But the calendar’s clear:
It’s autumn after all.

Winter doesn’t start until the end of
December, this we know,
When the air is really cold, so cold that
It may even snow.

CHORUS

You may see lights and holiday trees,
Popping up everywhere you go,
But remember for today,
No matter how the wind may blow:

CHORUS

Winter time will come, just a few weeks more.
And it will stick around ‘til spring.
But until that day, I’ll wait to see,
What the winter months will bring.

CHORUS

Our last day of school before the holiday break is December 20, so we won’t have a chance to officially welcome winter in song (which begins the very next day) before then. I’ll be ready when we return, though; I’ve got a new winter tune brewing, so look for it on December 21!

Thanksgiving Blessings

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Thanksgiving-Blessings-Gratitude

Happy Thanksgiving!  I’m grateful all year long to everyone who visits Listen & Learn, especially to those of you who make it a regular habit.  Writing a Thanksgiving gratitude post has become a yearly tradition for me: my first was back in 2008, followed by 2009, and now here I am today with a much longer list.  My life has been blessed with so many amazing people, opportunities, and experiences that I could never cover them all…but I’ll make a good effort, anyway!

I’m thankful for my husband, Zach, who is the most patient, forgiving, driven, and kindhearted person I’ve ever met.

I’m thankful for my parents, who still fix meals for me from time to time (including today’s!) and make me feel like the most loved daughter in the world.

I’m thankful for my entire family, including my nieces and nephews who make me genuinely excited to have children of my own in the future.

I’m thankful for my puppy, Sadie — who will always be my “baby” even once I have children.

I’m thankful for my friends, who remind me that it doesn’t matter how often we talk on the phone or see each other in person…we’re in it for life.

I’m thankful for my beautiful house and all of the memories we’re making here.

I’m thankful for my music studio, which allows me to do much of my work without even getting in my car.

I’m thankful for my education, not only in the classroom but the fact that I continue to learn new things all the time.

I’m thankful for my career, which allows me to create, perform, and share music on a daily basis.

I’m thankful for my students, who inspire me every day.

I’m thankful for my little corner of the internet, which has connected me to countless wonderful people and given me another outlet for my creativity.

I’m thankful for the chance to reflect on all of the good things in my life, and for the fact that you’ve taken the time to read this!  I would like to know: what are YOU thankful for this year?

You’re a Hero to Me

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Childrens-Miracle-Network-Songs

Yesterday as one of my piano students was leaving his lesson, he said, “Miss Rachel! I heard you on the radio this weekend!”

He was referring to the WDBR Cares for Kids Radiothon, which ended up raising over $102,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network and St. John’s Children’s Hospital.  Although I was in Cleveland for the duration of the radiothon, my original songs were played throughout the three-day event.

Last year, I wrote songs about Hollie & Sam — two of the many children whose lives were saved by the doctors at St. John’s and CMN.  This year, I chose to write a song from the patient’s perspective; “You’re a Hero to Me” honors those very doctors who go above and beyond to make miracles happen.

Saying thank you
Doesn’t seem like enough,
Finding the words to express the way I feel
Has been tough.

‘Cause every time I think about
All that you did when I was hurt,
The only thing that comes to mind is
One word:

You’re a hero to me,
And my whole family.
For never giving up or losing hope.
You stood by my side,
Comforted me when I cried,
And I know, I know,
You’re the reason I’m alive.

We didn’t know if I’d make it,
To my next birthday,
But you worked around the clock
To take my pain away.

I was scared, but not as scared
As if you hadn’t been there,
You went above and beyond
To show you care.

CHORUS

You were doing your job,
But it was so much more than that,
I never felt like just a patient
With an illness to combat.

CHORUS

I’ll post my other new radiothon song very soon, but before I get to that, I have some gratitude to share. I hope you’ll stop by tomorrow for my third annual “I’m thankful for…” list (here are lists #1 and #2).  Until then, enjoy this Thanksgiving Eve!