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: Making Friends
In today’s video, I’m singing “Making Friends” – a song I recently wrote for a class at The Hope Institute. It was featured throughout the month of January in my music therapy sessions, and I already miss singing it now that February is here (along with all-new tunes).
This has been the weekend of all-new tunes, in fact. I spent most of yesterday writing and recording, as I finished up a custom CD for a consult client. Since I began offering consultative services in January, I’ve had no shortage of new songs in the vault to share here at Listen & Learn. I love it! I’ve been so inspired by the new topics presented based on the goals and objectives of my clients. Make sure to come back tomorrow for one of those new songs!
How was your weekend? Aside from my intensive writing/recording session yesterday, mine has been pretty relaxing. My husband and I finally saw Avatar (in 3-D no less!) and last night, we had the opportunity to attend a viewing of the new HBO film, Temple Grandin. I’ll be sharing more about that in the coming week, so stay tuned…
The Feelings in My Heart
We talk a lot about love during February. After all, it is the month in which we celebrate Valentine’s Day! But what about all of those other feelings we experience on a daily basis? Recognizing, expressing, and regulating emotions are important skills for any child, including those with whom I work. I had this is mind when I wrote today’s song, “The Feelings in My Heart”. Take a listen:
Happiness, Excitement, Anger, Sadness, and Love,
My feelings are in my heart.
You can tell how I am feeling by my actions and words,
But in my heart is where they start.
I laugh and I smile when I’m happy,
Having fun with my friends for a while,
Happiness is a feeling I have in my heart,
It makes me laugh and smile.
I jump up and down when I’m excited,
When good things are coming around.
Excitement is a feeling I have in my heart,
It makes me jump up and down.
CHORUS
I yell and I pout when I’m angry,
When there’s something I’m mad about,
Anger is a feeling I have in my heart,
It makes me yell and pout.
I cry and I frown when I’m sad,
When I’m hurting or feeling down,
Sadness is a feeling I have in my heart,
It makes me cry and frown.
CHORUS
I hug joyfully when I feel love,
For my friend or my family,
Love is a feeling I have in my heart,
It makes me hug joyfully.
I used this song yesterday with a class of middle school students who have behavioral issues. After each verse, we went around the room and gave examples of healthy ways to express that particular emotion. Not only did I receive some very interesting responses, but I got a little more insight into my students and what they are all about. I’m planning another activity related to this topic for next week. I am going to create snippets of popular songs, which I’ll play for the class and ask them to identify whether each song reflects happiness, excitement, anger, sadness, or love. I will provide the lyrics for analysis, and of course, some of the songs will fall into more than one category. I’ve learned that anytime you can incorporate music that the students actually listen to outside of school (as long as it is school-appropriate), the opportunity should be seized!
Happy Groundhog Day!
If you’ve already had your fill of winter, then you’ll be disappointed to hear that Punxsutawney Phil did indeed see his shadow this morning. I have most definitely had enough of this season, but I resigned myself long ago to the fact that the groundhog ALWAYS sees his shadow, and there will ALWAYS be six more weeks of winter.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a song about Groundhog Day…but I know someone who does! Fellow music therapist Wade Richards of Time for Music has a wonderful podcast, and his latest episode features not only a rockin’ Groundhog Day song, but also a super-fun tune for Super Bowl Sunday. Check it out!
Spring may be six weeks away, but now that it’s February, we are one step closer :) What are your plans for this month? I’m excited about the upcoming Illinois Federation of Music Clubs’ annual Festival, in which several of my piano students will be participating. It will be both their first time and mine, so it should be a great learning experience for all of us. Other than that, I have some fun projects to share with you in the next couple of weeks. I know I have been hinting at them for a while now, so I promise to spill the beans soon. In the meantime, here’s the song my students and I are singing all month long:
February is month number two,
The shortest of all the months, it’s true.
Usually twenty-eight days, but sometimes
At leap year, then there’ll be twenty-nine.
February second is Groundhog Day,
We’ll wait for the animal to come out and play.
Let’s hope his shadow he does not see,
It means spring will soon be here for you and me.
CHORUS
February fourteenth is Valentine’s Day,
We’ll give out cards and “I love you,” we’ll say.
Time for chocolate, and candy hearts too,
Pink and red flowers for me and you.
CHORUS
February also brings President’s Day,
Remembering those who paved the way
For the US to become so great,
And that is why we celebrate.
CHORUS
Sunday Singalong: The Leaves on the Trees
You can find the original post of this song, including lyrics, here.
Tonight’s edition of “Sunday Singalong” goes out to a very special fan of mine: hi, Matthew! Matthew’s mom emailed me last week and told me that although her son has many Listen & Learn favorites, he responds to this particular tune with excitement and anticipation as I speed up faster and faster. He’s not the only one; this is a favorite among my own students for the very same reason! Matthew will receive a free download of the Listen & Learn album of his choice, and you can have the same if I select your song suggestion to be featured in an upcoming “Sunday Singalong” video. It could be one of my own songs or a cover, so be creative. Just leave a comment or email me with your suggestion.
How was your weekend? Mine was full of music, so of course it was wonderful :) I spent most of Saturday preparing some new songs and rehearsing for a show I played last night, which went very well. I was extremely surprised (and thrilled!) by the turnout…not only was my regular cheering section in attendance, but some friends from out of town, church, work, and even a few parents of my students were there, too! It was a blast. The music-making continued today when my friend Cory came over to record with me (more on that soon). A few hours of sleep, and I’ll be ready to take on a new week!
Friday Fave: The Most Caring Radio Station
Last November, I had the amazing opportunity of participating in 103.7 WDBR’s annual radiothon, which benefits The St. Johns Children’s Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network. I wrote and recorded two songs based on the stories of parents and children whose lives were saved by these organizations, and the songs were played on-air throughout the weekend. Needless to say, it was a huge thrill.
The radiothon raised over $90,000 last year, and now they have opportunity to go into 2010’s radiothon with a $50,000 head start. Foresters™ is partnering with Children’s Miracle Network to find North America’s Most Caring Radio Station, and WDBR is in the running! They are currently in 16th place, so they have until February 5 to take the lead. The great news is that you can help, and it only takes a minute.
Just go to the contest website and click the “Vote Now” button. You’ll be asked to register your email address, and then you’re ready to vote. Search by city and state (Springfield, IL) and then cast your votes for:
103.7 Today’s Hit Music
Bookmark that page so you can go back and vote each day (make sure to use up all 10 votes per day). I’ve been listening to WDBR for as long as I can remember, and I may be a little biased, but I know for sure that not only do they deserve this title, but so do the children who will reap the benefits of the reward. For more information about WBDR, click here. And go vote!
Do the Clock Rock!
My students and I have been rocking out all month to this song (which can be found on the pages of my Listen & Learn Songbook, by the way!) and this blog post is definitely past due. Telling time is another one of those skills that every child must learn, and I have come across (and put into use) a fair share of songs meant to teach just that.
The song I wrote is about as simple as it gets. It’s a stepping stone to the more complicated aspects of reading the clock, which I’ll get to in my next tick-tock tune :) For now, we focus on the numbers and use simple choreography (arm motions mimicking the hands of the clock) to show how they are situated. By now, the classroom staff at The Hope Institute are experts at it!
Doo-doot, doo, do the clock rock,
Rockin’ all day and night,
Doo-doot, doo, do the clock rock.
Round and round, with all our might.
Start at the top, that’s twelve AM.
One, two, three, four, five,
Six at the bottom,
Seven, eight, nine, ten,
Eleven and then,
We’ve made it back to twelve again!
CHORUS
Start at the top, that’s twelve PM.
One, two, three, four, five,
Six at the bottom,
Seven, eight, nine, ten,
Eleven and then,
We’ve made it back to twelve again!
CHORUS
Many of the classrooms at my school have those plastic or cardboard clocks with movable arms, which come in very handy when we sing this song. The rest of the time, I draw my own clocks, or just use hand motions – my students LOVE doing the “Clock Rock” dance – to emphasize the information presented in this song. The more fun you make it, the more effective a teaching tool it will be!
Sunday Singalong: Brand New
Now that I’ve gotten all of my excuses out in the open, we can move on to tonight’s video. It’s an oldie (July 2009) and a bit of a departure from the usual Listen & Learn fare. This song falls under the OTHER category of music (geared more towards you than your child) I write, which you can hear more of here.
You can download the album Brand New for free, by the way :) If you have a song request or suggestion for next week’s Sunday Singalong, let me know!
Friday Fave: Music Therapy in Arizona
You may be wondering why I’m featuring music therapy in Arizona today, when I live clear across the country in Illinois. Well here’s the thing: one of the main reasons I write this blog is because my readers (YOU!) continue to provide such positive feedback and support. It is the very least I can do to give that back to you, and that’s what today’s Friday Fave is all about.
One reader in particular is a music therapist like me, originally from Illinois, who is currently doing all that she can to advocate for music therapy in her state of Arizona. Like many other states, Alison and her colleagues are faced with incredible budget cuts that would deprive them of a sustainable income. Alison explained the situation in an email to me, and this is what she had to say:
Arizona has fallen on hard times as most states have but they are constantly targetting music therapy. In February of last year the state tried to give music therapists a pay cut of 55% which is not a sustainable income. Sadly we would all make more money giving piano lessons at that rate. Other therapies were given a ten percent cut and as I recall AMTA sued the state for discriminatory cuts and managed to get us an equal 10 percent cut. On Monday Arizona state legislators are voting on more budget cuts which would cut music therapy down 50% again if passed according to DDD’s proposed budget cuts plan. We are having a push here to educate all of our legislators as well as workers at the Department of Developmental Disabilities. We have been fighting an uphill battle in Arizona for almost a year now but seeing results in our clients is well worth it.
Alison wrote back a few days later with this unfortunate news:
We found out Friday night that the cuts passed and music therapy has been cut by 50% and other therapies 10%. It is very sad. I have many higher functioning clients with autism who become upset and cry when I tell them I am going out of town next week but will see them in two weeks. I can’t imagine how they will feel when I tell them that this will be the last time they will see me.
We were asked last week to collect some data from our clients; how many clients were funded by the state, how many had speech/communication goals, how many received speech therapy, and how many received no other therapies. My clients have been the most grateful and appreciative of any I have had the pleasure of working with. Some were on waiting lists for music therapy up to 7 years and finally started receiving it once I moved here. I have 35 clients that I see in home on a 1:1 basis and of those 20 have a speech related goal, 21 do not receive speech therapy, and 15 do not receive any other therapies. It’s so unfair to the kids. Many of the therapists are going to try to do private pay but I know that isn’t a viable option for most of my families. I just hate to see these kids left without any services. My youngest clients are the ones who do receive Speech and OT but I know they will be dropped once they require after school hours as most of my after school hour kids do not receive these therapies.
We are fighting right now for recognition as a therapy and not just as habilitation with a music component (which is what the state of AZ has us listed as). So any letters from music therapists across the country could help us with this.
This is such an awful situation not only for music therapists, but also for the clients who will most likely have their services terminated due to these budget cuts. Alison is not the first person I’ve talked to who is effected by the cuts, and sadly, she won’t be the last. As she wrote above, you can help by writing a letter in support of music therapy recognition in her state, no matter where you live. You can even use the letter she wrote as a template:
You can email me with your letters in support of music therapy recognition in Arizona, and I will make sure they get into the right hands. Or, you can contact Alison directly.
The music therapy community is small in comparison with other fields, which is why it is so important to support one another. You, as a reader, support music therapy just by visiting Listen & Learn Music, and for that I thank you!
Catching Up
I’m back from the Big Apple and thoroughly ashamed to have neglected Listen & Learn for an entire week! I honestly can’t remember the last time I went so long between posts, and I feel a bit like a failed blogger :(
The truth is, I was already behind schedule before my trip, and being away for four days didn’t help that situation very much. I have several projects in the works, as well as new responsibilities both at school and in my private practice, which means I have a LOT of catching up to do.
But before I tackle all of that, let me fill you in on my trip to NYC. I can pretty much sum it up in one word: amazing. Just being there is a thrill, and we took full advantage of our short time in the city that never sleeps. We ate lunch at Pershing Square Cafe, dinner at Basso 56, and ordered deli sandwiches from Rupert (of The Late Show with David Letterman fame).
When we weren’t eating, we were walking around the city – Rockefeller Center, Times Square, and Grand Central Station were just a few stops we made – and seeing a Broadway show! My wonderful husband waited in line at the TKTS stand long enough to score tickets to Memphis, a new Broadway musical that definitely lived up to all the hype. We had some of our favorite friends right there with us, including my best friend (and NYC resident) Katie and her fiance, Justin.
On Friday, we packed up our rental car and headed to New Jersey, where we took part in the wedding festivities of our friends Dustin & Kristin. I don’t have nearly enough time to paint an accurate picture of this beautiful affair, so it’s a good thing I took almost 200 photos! We returned home late on Sunday night, and I spent my “day off” on Monday working on an exciting project (more later…I promise!).
I have a long list of topics to share with you in the coming days and weeks, so thank you for sticking around! The emails I received from readers while I was out of town put a big smile on my face, and were a constant reminder for me to get in gear here at Listen & Learn. So this is me…getting into gear…and telling you to come back tomorrow for a brand-new song. See you then!
Big Apple Bound!
New York City, that is. Tomorrow, my husband and I will head east for a few days to attend a friend’s wedding (Zach is a groomsman), but not before spending a couple days as tourists in the city. My best friend lives there, so we’re going to meet up with her, along with a few other friends who will also be in town for the wedding. Any suggestions on which Broadway show to see while we’re there? Should I go with a tried-and-true favorite (like Mamma Mia, Wicked, or Bye Bye Birdie) or something I’ve never seen (like Avenue Q, Billy Elliot, or In the Heights)? Please advise!
My first trip to NYC was, no joke, to sing at Carnegie Hall. Granted, it was by no means a solo performance; rather, it was with a huge chorus performing the works of Morten Lauridsen. That was back in the summer of 2004, and it was an amazing trip. My mom and I went together, and we hit up all of the hot spots: the Empire State Building, Tavern on the Green, The Today Show, Times Square, two Broadway shows (Thoroughly Modern Millie and Chicago) and lots more.
So needless to say, I am extremely excited about going back to the Big Apple, as well as our friends’ wedding. I’m taking my computer with me (does that really surprise you?) so hopefully I will even fit in a blog update or two. In the meantime, have a wonderful Wednesday!