Free Download: “Little Red Apples”
This is one of many counting songs I’ve written, which focuses on counting both up to 5 and down from 5. I created simple apple visual aides (using red construction paper and then laminating) which my students can then manipulate as we count.
Click here to download the mp3 and lyrics/chords.
P.S. If you want access to my entire collection of over 200 songs (mp3, lead sheet, and instrumental track), videos, tutorials, and visual aides, plus ALL new releases from Listen & Learn Music, consider joining me over at Listen & Learn Plus!
Sunday Singalong: Good Green Earth
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!
A Glee-ful Trip Down Memory Lane
Yesterday’s post about Glee! got me feeling pretty nostalgic about the “good old days” of high school show choir. So nostalgic, in fact, that I went over to my parents’ house and dug out my box of photo albums. I graduated from high school in 2001, the days before digital cameras became the norm, but I did find a few snapshots of my show choir, Seven & Senators, in action. Can you find me in the picture above? (Hint: click the picture to enlarge it.)
We actually called ourselves a “swing” choir rather than a show choir, because we performed mostly jazz songs. In this picture, we’re doing “Moonglow” – that’s me in the back, getting dipped by my sophomore year crush. We never dated, but almost all of my high school boyfriends were musical types. So it surprised lots of people when I went and married a non-musical soccer player :)
My junior year, our choreographer taught us all how to tap dance. And by the end of the year, we were GOOD. At our spring concert, we performed this awesome arrangement of “Bill Bailey” and seriously wowed everyone with our dance skills. That’s why we all look so happy in this picture!
Part of what made being in Seven & Senators so much fun is that I was surrounded by my best friends. We spent a LOT of time together, so over the years we became very close. Two of my fellow sopranos were even bridesmaids in my wedding.
There aren’t many life experiences like being a member of a tight-knit performing group. Of course, we had our share of drama (questionable directors, upperclassmen jealousy when as lowly freshmen, my two friends and I made the group instead of them, arguments over solos and dance partners) but we were quite low-key compared to the hijinks that ensue on Glee. We might not have made for very good television, but we still had a darn good time!
Friday Fave: Glee!
Who else is with me when I say that Glee just might be the most entertaining show on television right now? Judging from the response I received after posting about the return of Season 1 on my Facebook page the other night, I’m not alone in that sentiment. Hard-core fans of this show call themselves “gleeks” – and I just might be one of them!
There are so many reasons why I love this show. The first is that I’m a six-year show choir veteran, so every episode serves up a big heap of nostalgia (although thankfully, I never had to deal with teen pregnancy, sabotaging gym teachers, or blue slushies thrown in my face).
Next is obviously the amazing music. The variety of songs, from Lionel Richie to Wicked to Kelly Clarkson, keeps the show fresh and relevant. Not to mention the ridiculously talented cast. Lea Michele, who plays Rachel, is in my opinion the highlight of the show (and NOT just because I really like her character’s name). My husband, a closeted gleek, and I rewound and replayed one of Rachel’s songs from Tuesday night’s episode three times.
Another thing that makes Glee so appealing is that it’s hilarious. The absurd plot lines and one-liners are reason enough to watch this show. It’s definitely not for young children, but I do have quite a few teenage students who are big fans. We always discuss the latest episode at the start of our lessons, and I think the fact that I watch increases my “cool” factor with them :)
Speaking of cool, I love the fact that this show has made singing, show choir, and Broadway musical numbers cool. Too bad Glee wasn’t around when I was in high school! I never thought I’d see the day when “Tonight” from West Side Story and “Defying Gravity” from Wicked – the Glee versions, of course – would show up on my husband’s iPod (just don’t tell him I told you that).
What about you? Do you watch the show? If not, I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I highly recommend it. And now I’ll take off my Glee sandwich board (this post has made me sound like a walking advertisement for the show) and go to class. Happy Friday, everyone!
Recharged and Ready to Roll
A whole week has gone by since I last posted, but at least I have a good excuse: I was on vacation! A much-needed one, to be honest, after a whirlwind winter and four long days in the recording studio. Zach and I had a wonderful time in San Antonio, where we hit up the Alamo (as you can see above), the Riverwalk, and of course, the resort pool. It’s always tough coming back to reality after a relaxing vacation, but as the title of this post states, my batteries are recharged and I’m feeling more than ready to take on all of the projects awaiting me.
And speaking of new projects, I figured that since the school year is winding down and summer is approaching, there’s no better time than now to share with you the big items on my list of to-dos and goals. June, July, and August are the three months I devote to my own work outside of The Hope Institute, and I’ve already set the bar pretty high for this summer. Here are just a few of the things I want to accomplish:
- Finish creating sheet music for every last one of my 100+ Listen & Learn songs. I’ve been doing so on an as-needed basis, but it’s time to bite the bullet and get the job done.
- Complete all of the materials I’ll need for my first-ever music therapy intern, who will be joining me at Hope in August.
- Update the organizational system in my home office/studio. I spend almost all of my time there in the summer, so it needs to be in tip-top shape.
- Release and distribute my first studio album! This will most likely take place in June or July, and I can’t wait for you all to hear it.
Of course there are many other goals on my list, but I’ll keep a few under wraps so I have new material to share with you every once in a while. And while I’m on the subject of new material, let me just tell you that my number one priority in the coming weeks is writing and posting NEW SONGS. Right now I’m working on one about the Ice Age for a kids’ museum camp-in at which I’ll be providing a musical experience, and I’m always up for other topic suggestions!
Well it’s time to roll on out to my first music therapy session of the day. Thanks for sticking with me, and for continuing to spread the word about Listen & Learn. I receive emails from new readers almost every single day, and they never fail to put a smile on my face. See you back here soon!
Bella’s Blessings: A Humble Story of Providence
Last November, I had the opportunity to attend the AMTA National Conference in San Diego, California, where I met countless amazing music therapists. One person, in particular, stood out to me; I kept seeing him everywhere I went – the exhibit hall, the sessions I attended, and so on. He seemed like a fun and outgoing person, so I was excited to finally meet him face-to-face and chat a bit towards the end of the conference.
His name was Tim Ringgold, and I came to find out that he was a music therapist (and fellow blogger!) from Orange County, California. We got to talking about his daughter, Bella, who was born with a rare skin disease called Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). Tim explains it in these words on his website:
Anabella Ringgold was born on May 27, 2009 with a rare skin disease called Epidermolysis Bullosa, or EB. She has the rarest form, called Recessive Dystrophic, or RDEB for short. A single gene in her body responsible for making the anchor that hold her skin to her body is defective. This causes blisters and wounds to occur all over her body, including her mouth and entire GI tract. Any kind of friction, rubbing, bumping can cause blisters to form, or it can cause her skin to shear clean off. Currently, there is no cure for EB. Life expectancy is under 20 years due to risk of malnutrition, infection, or squamous cell carcinoma. Although pain and discomfort is constant, Bella remains bright and cheerful, bless her heart.
I was eager to stay in touch with Tim following the conference, and I was able to do so through Facebook and Twitter. When he announced earlier this year that his book, Bella’s Blessings, was available, I didn’t waste any time in purchasing it. I can’t tell you how glad I am that I did, because it is the latest addition to my “must read” list.
In the book, Tim takes us back to the hours just prior to Bella’s birth. He recounts the moments leading up to it, as well as the actual event, at which point they learned of Bella’s rare skin disease. I felt like I was with the Ringgold family on their roller-coaster of a journey from page 1 to the very end. Tim started a blog just days after Bella’s birth in order to keep family and friends apprised of her progress, and the book contains entries from the beginning through Bella’s first summer.
The back of the book reads: “The secrets to the silver lining…revealed!” This is such a fitting description; Tim and his family found the silver lining in the very darkest of storm clouds. Talk about a story of faith and strength. Faith in God during the most trying and scary times, and strength as they navigated their way though. Tim provided music therapy not only for Bella during her time in the NICU, but the other babies, as well. He shares every emotion, every struggle, every triumph, and every moment of Providence throughout those first few months; my only disappointment was when the book ended. Luckily, Tim’s blog picks up right where the book ends, and we can all keep up with Bella and the Ringgold family.
In the past, I haven’t reviewed books here other than those that I use in music therapy sessions. But Bella’s Blessings is one that I recommend to you, knowing that it will inspire and remind you that there is silver lining in every situation with which we are faced, just as it did for me.
Each month, up to 50% of the proceeds from book sales are donated to a different children’s charity. You can read reviews and make your purchase here. And right after you do that, add Tim’s blog, Care for Anabella, to your blogroll.
Remix: Shaky Colorful Fruit
Last fall I posted a song I wrote specifically for my set of Nino Fruit Shakers, which I titled “Shaky Fruit” (you can read the post and listen to the original song here). Well my students who I see in private practice just can’t seem to get enough of that song, so I decided to bring it to The Hope Institute this month. We are focusing on healthy foods, so it fit in perfectly with our theme.
Unfortunately, we don’t have the Nino Fruit Shakers here at school, but you know me and my habit of adapting songs to fit any situation. All I did was change up the lyrics to match the instruments we have on hand (the Basic Beat chiquitas
Doot-doot-do-doot, shaky fruit,
Blueberry, grape, apple, pear, banana
Doot-doot-do-doot, shaky fruit,
From Mississippi to Indiana.
Shaky blueberry, shaky blueberry,
Blue and crunchy too.
Shaky blueberry, shaky blueberry,
Doot-doot-do-doot-doo.
Shaky grape, shaky grape,
Purple and juicy too.
Shaky grape, shaky grape,
Doot-doot-do-doot-doo.
Shaky apple, shaky apple,
Red and crunchy too.
Shaky apple, shaky apple,
Doot-doot-do-doot-doo.
Shaky pear, shaky pear,
Green and delicious too.
Shaky pear, shaky pear,
Doot-doot-do-doot-doo.
Shaky banana, shaky banana,
Yellow and tasty too.
Shaky banana, shaky banana,
Doot-doot-do-doot-doo.
“Shaky Colorful Fruit” debuted this morning, on this first Monday back after Spring Break. I had to practice it a few times through first so that I could get the new lyrics down…so far, so good :) My students are also shakin’ to the beat of “Eat Like a Rainbow” by Jay Mankita, along with a few other originals devoted to mealtime.
Inside the Recording Studio: Day 4
Today’s recap will be a short one, because I was only in the studio for a little over two hours! On Day 3, we had finished all but vocals for song 9, so I went to the vocal booth to work on those right away.
Getting good vocal takes is much easier at 1:00 pm than it is at 11:00 pm! I finished the melody and harmony for song 9 in just under an hour, so next, we moved along to song 10. We’d already decided that song 10 (which isn’t the actual track number on the CD, just the order in which we recorded it) would be an acoustic-only track to balance out the other 9 songs, which are much more “produced”.
Song 10 didn’t take long at all. I played the acoustic guitar part a few times through, and then moved to the vocal booth. A half hour later, my work on this album was DONE. It was so hard to believe! All that was left to do was mix and master each track, a task that Jim (my sound engineer) will tackle this week and next.
It was a little sad walking out the door of Jupiter Studios for the last time. Jim said he’d never seen anyone make themselves at home on the studio couch like I had, which I can definitely believe. It was my headquarters for the week!
There was a benefit to finishing early…I got to play a great April Fool’s trick on my husband, Zach. I texted him as I was leaving and wrote, “just finished vocals and getting ready for mixing!” which of course, he believed. But really, I was hitting the road for Springfield, which is just under a two-hour drive. I called him as I pulled into our neighborhood to say that I was heading back to his sister’s house for the night, and right as we hung up, I walked into our house. He was very happily surprised, since I hadn’t planned on coming home until the next morning.
So now I get to wait anxiously to receive the final tracks in all their mixed and mastered glory. Luckily, we have a vacation planned for next week that will keep me occupied! We’re spending the holiday weekend with family before taking off for San Antonio on Wednesday.
I owe you all some songs, which have been few and far between around here lately. I promise to return to my regularly scheduled programming soon. In the meantime, have a wonderful Friday!
Inside the Recording Studio: Day 3
As I write this recap, I’m getting ready for my final day in the studio. I’ve spent over 30 hours here, and I’m going to miss this place when I’m finished! Yesterday was a big day, so I’ll get right to it.
To be honest, I was a little bummed to be missing out on such a gorgeous day outside. Here in St. Louis, the sun was shining and the temperature was 75 degrees (unusual for the end of March). But as soon as we got to work, I completely forgot about the weather and turned my focus to the music.
We started with song 7, using the same process we’d gone through for the previous songs. Jim (my sound engineer) laid down the drums, then keyboards, then bass and electric guitar, and then it was time for me to play my acoustic guitar part. We did two takes, and when that was finished I moved to the vocal booth. First, I sang the lead melody twice through. My voice was still fresh since it was early in the day, so we got good takes right away. Then I sang the harmonies three times through. That was it for song 7!
While I was in the vocal booth, we went ahead and recorded the vocals for song 6 (which we had tried to do the night before, but it was 10 pm and my singing reflected that fact). This went quickly, and it was time to listen to songs 6 and 7. I was thrilled with both of them and couldn’t wait to send preview tracks to my mom, dad, and husband. They have been my sounding board throughout this process, providing feedback on each track as they are completed. The rest of you will have to wait, though :)
Song 8 is my new favorite (though so far, I’ve said that about every song). Jim started playing the keyboard as he listed to the scratch track, and I instantly knew we were dealing with greatness. He had some pretty complicated work to do on this one, so I spent some time on the internet until he was ready for me to play my acoustic guitar part. After I did that, I went into the vocal booth to record the melody. Instead of a traditional harmony line, I did some scatting to match the instrumentation and the result was pretty, pretty cool.
We got to work on Song 9 just after 10 pm, as my energy started to dwindle. Jim got through the keyboards, bass, and electric guitar, and I somehow managed to make my fingers form chords and strum well enough to lay down the acoustic guitar. He suggested I do vocals, but after one take, we laughed at my poor exhausted voice and decided to call it a night.
At that point, it was 11:30 pm and another engineer arrived to do some overnight tweaking on my vocals. I got to listen to each of the songs as Jim showed him what he would be working with, which was really fun.
Coming tomorrow: a recap of my 4th and final day in the studio. Thanks so much for following along with me on this exciting journey!
Inside the Recording Studio: Day 2
I can’t believe my time in the studio is halfway over! It’s gone by really fast, but luckily we’ve gotten a lot done. We’re actually ahead of schedule: 5 songs are finished (except for mixing), and all that is left for the 6th song is vocals. We’ll start Day 3 by recording those, and then move right on to the 7th song.
Day 2 began with vocals for songs 1 and 2, which went pretty quickly. I sang the melody line for each song a few times until we had a usable take, and then we got to work on harmonies. I had already worked out a few of those prior to this week, but most were created on the spot in the booth. Luckily I’ve always had a weird talent for harmonizing almost any song upon first listen, so it wasn’t too painstaking.
After we finished the vocals for those two songs, we got to work on song 4. (By the way: someone asked me yesterday via Twitter if I am keeping the song titles under wraps. The answer is yes, at least for now!) I spent a long time in the guitar room (pictured above) with this one; for some reason, I had a tough time remembering how many measures to play between verses. Vocals were much quicker, however, which saved us some time.
Next up was song 5. We called this our “Carpenters-inspired” song, which is reflected in the instrumentation. I was pretty tired by the time I got into the vocal booth, and the first couple of takes were rough. I didn’t think we’d get the vocals done on this one, but after some coaching from Jim (my sound engineer), I pulled it off.
Song 6 is one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written. It’s just plain fun, and so was recording it. I am so excited about the electric guitar part for this song, which Jim literally wrote as he went. In fact, this is what I tweeted last night:
I just couldn’t believe how perfectly the guitar reflected the song’s message and my feelings about it, and as I listened, it really sank in that my songs were coming alive just as I had hoped. It was a pretty amazing moment.
After Jim was finished recording his parts, I jumped back into the guitar room and recorded my acoustic guitar part. At that point, it was 10 pm and we decided to wait until the next day to record vocals. I was thankful for that, considering I had an empty stomach, no energy, and was ready to fall asleep any moment. Next up: Day 3 recap, coming tomorrow!
Inside the Recording Studio: Day 1
I didn’t know what to expect when I walked into Jupiter Studios yesterday. I was feeling a mixture of excitement and fear; excitement for my first “real” recording experience, and fear that it wasn’t going to live up to what I had hoped. Turns out, yesterday was one of the best days of my professional life so far. It’s an incredible thing, watching and listening as my songs are crafted into something spectacular.
I knew that Jim Callahan, the owner of Jupiter Studios and my sound engineer for this project, was going to be amazing even before I met him. We’d spoken on the phone and emailed back and forth since last summer, and he certainly knew his stuff. When Jim walked into the studio yesterday, he explained the plan of action and we went to work.
The first thing we did was set tempos for all 10 songs. I would play and sing, he would adjust the click track, and then we would experiment until we found a tempo that worked. Then I played a “scratch” guitar track for each song, followed by “scratch” vocals for each song. Michelle Erfurt asked me if it was like what you’d see on TV, with the isolation booth, headphones, big microphones, the whole works. It absolutely was; quite a difference from my home studio set-up (my computer, a microphone, preamp, and my guitar).
After we finished scratch tracks for each song, I came back into the editing room and Jim got to work on instrumentation. This is when the songs really came to life. He started with drums, which he programmed using a MIDI keyboard (a much more sophisticated version of what I use at home). Next, he got out his electric bass and recorded a bass track (which he wrote as he went, using the sheet music I gave him). After that came the electric guitar, and then it was time for me to record my final acoustic guitar track. We did do final vocals for one song, but most of the final vocals will be recorded at the end of the week.
The whole process for each song takes about two and a half hours. That doesn’t include mixing, which will also be done at the end when the vocals are completed. My part is easy; I record my parts, and then watch, listen and give input as Jim does the rest. I could get used to this!
I’ve been tweeting and text messaging from the studio (follow me on Twitter if you haven’t already) and of course, I have my Macbook by my side at all times to stay connected. I’m just having the best time, and I have all of you to thank. I would never have had this opportunity without your support, whether you made a pledge to my Kickstarter fund or are a regular Listen & Learn reader. I can’t wait to share the finished product with you all. Stay tuned for my “Day 2” recap tomorrow!