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!
Today it is September
Can you believe it? I barely had time to get used to August, and it’s already over! It has felt like September for the last few days (seriously, 40-degree temps at night), but hopefully we’ll have at least a few more summery days before fall really sets in.
This is going to be one busy month…my calendar is almost full and it’s only day #1. I have several performances lined up, the start of Church Mice, a big event at the Hope Institute, and lots more to look forward to. Bring it on, September!
If you’re a regular reader, then you know that I begin each month with a song all about that particular month. Since Listen & Learn made its debut almost a year ago, I have already shared my “September” song. You can refresh your memory by listening to it here. So today, in the spirit of all things fall, we’re counting apples!
Counting time, it’s counting time,
So let’s all sing this simple rhyme.
Ten little apples in a row,
Now let’s count them nice and slow:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Again!
1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
How many apples?
10 little apples,
All lined up in a row!
How are you welcoming the new month? Do you have your own September song? I’m off to go refresh my own memory (it’s been a while since I’ve sung it!) before my first class. Have a fantastic Tuesday!
Click, Clack!
Wow, has it been a busy week! Between the students at the Hope Institute returning to the classroom and long rehearsals every night for Guys & Dolls, I was ready for a weekend-long nap. I didn’t have that luxury, though; there were four performances and lots of work to be done, instead. It was exhausting, but here I am on Monday morning, ready for a brand new week at school and the start of the fall session at my private studio this afternoon.
In addition to my classes at school last week, I was also able to write a couple new tunes in preparation for the coming month. The first is one meant to accompany my new instruments: castanets! I purchased them through Musician’s Friend (see them here) and I think they are going to be a hit. Hopefully the song will be, too!
Click, clack, clack, click,
Move your fingers oh so quick.
Click, clack is the sound you get
When you play the castanet.
Left hand, click, clack,
Up and down and forth and back.
Left hand, open and close,
Click clack is how it goes.
CHORUS
Right hand, click, clack,
Up and down and forth and back.
Right hand, open and close,
Click clack is how it goes.
CHORUS
Both hands, click, clack,
Up and down and forth and back.
Both hands, open and close,
Click clack is how it goes.
CHORUS
For many of my students, the concept of left and right is very foreign and not yet within their grasp, but it’s never too early to start working on it. Listen to and read about another song I wrote on this very subject here.
I have more new songs in the hopper, so make sure to come back tomorrow. In the meantime, enjoy your Monday! Oh, and the last day of August…can you even believe it??
Friday Fave: Guys & Dolls in Concert!
I know this is not music therapy or children-related, but I just had to mention the wonderful production that I’m a part of, which happens to open tonight! It is being put on as a fundraiser for the Hoogland Center for the Arts, which is a hub for all things theater and arts-related in Springfield. The center is facing some financial difficulties, and we are hoping that this show helps secure its future.
The cast of Guys & Dolls includes Eddie Mekka, who you might remember as Carmine from “Laverne & Shirley”. I’ve never seen the show, but it has been fun to share the stage with a former TV star. He plays Nathan Detroit, and is supported by local actors filling the roles of the other characters. If you live in Springfield and want to come see the show, you can call 523-ARTS for tickets.
So that is what I will be doing all weekend. I’m a bit overwhelmed with all of the work I need to finish in the next couple of days (in between shows) but as always, it will get done. What are your plans for the weekend? Whatever they are, I hope you have a good one!
Music Therapy: A Hybrid?
That is exactly how it is described in an article from Time Out New York, which I found via a blog post by Brown Music Therapy. The article is titled “The New Hybrids” and leads in as follows:
We’re not talking about eco-friendly cars, but innovative fields that blend disciplines in unexpected ways – and could kick-start your career.
Other “hybrid” jobs mentioned in the article include narrative medicine, urban agriculture, and food media. I’ve never used that particular term to describe music therapy, but in a way, it sort of fits. Music therapy is still considered to be a new and, for some people, unconventional field, and there is always a lot of curiosity at the mention of it.
If you are a music therapist, you know how difficult it can be to explain your job to someone who is completely unfamiliar with the field. I still struggle with this, even after almost three years. I’ve read so many magazine and newspaper articles where music therapy is either misrepresented or poorly explained, so I was impressed with the short write-up featured in this article. Read it for yourself here.
A New Way to Say Goodbye
When I introduced a brand-new goodbye song in one of my classes this morning, I was met with mixed emotions…from the staff! The students seemed to respond very positively to the new tune, while several of my coworkers didn’t hide their disappointment that I strayed from the usual goodbye song. They were good sports, though, and were quick to adapt and sing along. I’m lucky to have classroom staff that are so supportive of the music therapy program :)
Like the hello song I discussed yesterday, today’s goodbye song replaces several old standbys that have passed their prime. See what you think:
It’s time for me to go, oh, oh, oh,
Music is over for today.
It’s time for me to go, oh, oh, oh,
So tell me, what do we say?
Goodbye, goodbye,
Farewell, and so long.
Goodbye, goodbye,
This is the goodbye song.
Wish I could stay, hey, hey, hey,
But I’m afraid our time is through.
Wish I could stay, hey, hey, hey,
But I have to sing goodbye to you.
Goodbye, goodbye,
Farewell, and so long.
Goodbye, goodbye,
This is the goodbye song.
And now I must say goodbye to YOU, because it is my bedtime! Now that school is back in session, I find that I need an extra hour or so of sleep in order to keep my energy up all day long. My job is extremely gratifying, but it is also extremely exhausting!
Time to Sing Hello
The students have returned! Today is the official start of the school year, and I’ve already had music therapy with two classes. It was so much fun seeing all of the kids after an entire summer away, and for the most part, they were happy to see me, too.
I was excited to introduce some new tunes, including a brand-new hello song. I had been rotating the same few for the last two years, and though the students and staff liked them, it was time for a change. This is what I came up with:
Hands clap,
Feet tap,
It’s time to sing hello.
To you and you and you and you
All of the people that we know.
So let’s all come together,
And sing out big and strong.
Let’s have a good time in music,
While we dance and play along.
Sit up tall,
Let’s have a ball.
It’s time to sing hello.
To you and you and you and you
All of the people that we know.
Hello everybody, hello.
Hello everybody, hello.
Hello everybody, hello.
Music has begun!
Introducing new songs and activities is always a challenge with some of our students, but so far, they’ve all responded very positively. Hopefully that will continue to be the case as I visit all of the remaining classes this week!
Yummy Summer
Back in July, I held a contest over at Listen & Learn Plus! which involved subscribers coming up with topics for fun summer songs. The second winner is Rebecca, and this was her idea:
“There are so many foods that seem to be best eaten in the summer at picnics, cookouts, and pool parties. What about a song dedicated to summer munchies?”
Rebecca won a Custom CD for her topic idea. This is the song I’ve come up with using her great suggestions. Hope you like it!
In the summer, there’s so much yummy food to eat.
For breakfast, lunch and dinner or a tasty treat.
When the weather is warm, my belly is full
The only thing that’s empty is the plate or bowl!
Watermelon, the fruit that’s green and pink,
Is best when eaten over the sink.
Because it’s juicy and sticky, and oh so sweet,
Watermelon is a yummy summer treat.
CHORUS
Salad is green and made of lettuce, it’s true.
A healthy food to eat for lunch, and you
Can top it with chicken or cheese, and then
The dressing comes last so go on and pour it in.
CHORUS
Corn on the cob is yellow with a crunch,
It’s my favorite vegetable of the bunch.
Cook it on the grill and season it, too.
Corn on the cob is a food that’s good for you.
CHORUS
Ice cream comes in every color you see,
One scoop for you, and one for me.
Eat it for a snack when the sun is hot,
Oh my, my, I like ice cream a whole lot.
Rumble in the Jungle
Have you ever bought a book, instrument, or other classroom resource and then forgotten about it, leaving it unused on a shelf? Well that is exactly what happened to me with the book Rumble in the Jungle by Giles Andreae, which I purchased at Barnes & Noble over two years ago. I just dug it out this summer, and I sure am glad I did! Turns out, it is one of my students’ new favorites.
What I love best about this book are the vibrant illustrations and the cheeky humor found in the rhyming verses. This is a great opportunity to work on signs, colors, and animal identification. I was amazed when I used the book with one of my little guys, who is not yet even three years old. He knew the sign for almost every single animal, which he did as I sang the book. So much fun!
Weekend Wrap-Up
On Friday I wrote all about my plans to enjoy some downtime, and that I did! This weekend was perhaps the most non-productive I’ve had all summer, and that was just fine with me. I saw “The Time Traveler’s Wife” (a great film but not as amazing as the book), spent some time by the pool, slept in, caught up on my DVR’d shows, and most importantly, hit up the state fair where I saw Kelly Clarkson in concert!
I fit right in with my tween and teen voice students (many of whom were also in attendance) at the show, considering I am a HUGE Kelly fan. She put on an amazing show, even better than I expected. It was like one big singalong; my voice was a little hoarse afterward but it was definitely worth it. She did all of her big songs in addition to my favorites from her newest album, “All I Ever Wanted”. A fantastic night.
Oh, and I wasn’t completely unproductive this weekend: I completed my blog overhaul, transferring my songs to a server that allows for them to be downloaded and shared directly from the site. I’ve been working on this all week between projects, but it’s finally done! I’d love to hear what you think about the new format.
Monday morning is only a few short hours away, which means a brand new week (jumpstarted by a 5 am workout and coffee). School begins on Thursday, so I’ll be working non-stop to get ready. That includes writing some back-to-school songs, so stay tuned!
Friday Fave: Downtime
Yep, those are my feet, and this is my favorite summer vacation spot…my mom’s pool. Although it’s only two blocks away, I haven’t spent nearly enough time there this summer. I can’t complain, though: I have been lucky to work on several music-related projects that have been both challenging and extremely fulfilling, and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the summer months.
Yesterday was a great day; I wrapped up one of the big projects that has required almost all of my time in the last couple of weeks. Now that it is “in the vault”, I am finally allowing myself to chill and enjoy my downtime. I am determined to fit in all of the activities that really embody this season for me, including laying by the aforementioned pool, reading magazines and various chick lit, shopping, and going for lazy bike rides around the neighborhood. I only have six days in which to do all of these things, but I have faith in myself :)