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!
14 Weeks
I got to take a surprise peek at Baby Rambach this week! There was lots of moving around and kicking, and in this picture, the baby is waving at me. I also got to hear the heartbeat, which was 168 bpm.
After the ultrasound technician made sure that everything looked okay, I asked if she could tell whether I’m growing a little boy or little girl. She said she saw a little something between the legs, and that if she had to guess at this point, she’d say it was a boy. However, my doctor told us not to buy anything just yet…they told her the same thing about her baby at 14 weeks, and then at 20 weeks they told her she was actually having a girl.
Up until then, I was convinced that I was having a girl. But when I heard “boy” I got super excited — I will be thrilled either way. We’ll know for sure in about a month!
Maui Wowi!
2012 has definitely been the year of amazing vacations. Our tour of Europe back in August was the trip of a lifetime, but last week’s Maui vacation was a close second.
I have never seen a more naturally beautiful, tropical or peaceful setting than Maui. My family vacationed in Honolulu when I was in high school, but this part of Hawaii was completely different. Of course, the resorts and pools were gorgeous, but the mountains, beaches, ocean, sunrises and sunsets were the real shining stars.
As usual, Zach took plenty of photos to document our trip. It will always be really special to both of us, not just because we had such an amazing time, but because it was our first “family” vacation — technically, Baby R. was along for the ride :)
One of the things we noticed was that there were LOTS of families with babies and young children in Maui, which already has my wheels turning for a return trip in the coming years.
It was definitely hard coming back to freezing temps and the bleak Midwest after a week in paradise, but we have plenty to keep us busy between getting ready for Christmas, playing with Sadie (who we always miss SO much while we’re away), and preparing for a very exciting new year!
Plus One
See that little lei I’m holding? It’s on reserve for Baby Rambach…arriving in June! Zach took that photo during our Maui vacation last week to announce our pregnancy, and now the word is out!
Of course, we’ve known about our little “plus one” for awhile now; the big fat positive sign appeared on October 6. I had been telling Zach for almost two weeks that I could just tell I was pregnant, and of course, he thought I was only setting myself up for disappointment — especially since we had just started trying that month.
As in most cases, I ended up being right, and we let our families in on the secret right away. It was really hard keeping the news to myself otherwise, so I told some friends along the way. But we waited until we hit the 13-week mark to make it “Facebook Official” and I am super relieved to have the news (and my tiny little BUMP) out in the open.
Our due date is June 14, just a little over a week after my 30th birthday. I always pictured having a little June baby just like me, and now it’s actually becoming a reality. I couldn’t be happier or feel more blessed, especially since I have an amazing partner in Zach, who is going to be an amazing dad.
The next six months are probably going to fly by, but I’m going to try and post here regularly as the pregnancy progresses and Baby Rambach gets closer and closer to making his/her arrival!
Friday Fave: I’ve Got Some BIG News!
I’ve never been good at keeping secrets, so I’m thrilled that I no longer have to keep this in: I’m going to have a baby! The ultrasound picture above was taken in November at just 8 weeks, but now that I am 14 weeks along, Baby Rambach has grown to the size of a lemon. Amazing!
I found out that I was pregnant on October 6, just a few days before the national music therapy conference. I couldn’t resist letting a few people in on my secret, including my partners in crime, Michelle Erfurt (who is also pregnant and due in less than a month!) and Kimberly Sena Moore (who was my conference roommate).
My husband Zach and I were thrilled and relieved to finally make the news “Facebook Official” last week, when we posted this photo taken on our vacation in Maui. It feels a whole lot more real now that everyone knows, and also now that I’m starting to get a little bump.
I announced the news to my students and their parents earlier this week, and while everyone was very excited and happy for me, I had a few concerned students who thought this meant I would no longer be their music therapist or teacher. I alleviated their fears immediately, though; I will most definitely be returning to work after a few weeks off this summer. The due date is June 14, less than two weeks after my 30th birthday…talk about the best birthday gift ever!
I’m so excited to be joining the “club” of music therapists who are moms and moms-to-be, not to mention that I’ll have my own personal audience at home to listen to all the songs I write :)
It Was Bound to Happen One of These Days
Since leaving the school setting and going into private practice full-time, I’ve been fortunate when it comes to staying healthy. Last January, I set out to record and post a new song every Monday, and my good health (along with some crazy determination) has allowed me to do this successfully — until today.
As you know, I’m in Hawaii this week with my husband. So the Friday before we left, I sat down and wrote the song that I planned to post today. Unfortunately, that very day I was hit by a pretty nasty cold bug that left me without a voice suitable for recording. It could have been worse (like full-fledged laryngitis) but trust me, no one would have wanted to listen to that song had I gone through with the recording.
I’ve stuck with my “new song every week” goal for 11 months, and though this cold may have set me back a little, I’m bound and determined to give you (and my clients) 52 songs before January 1! So next week you’ll be seeing two new songs to make up for this tuneless Monday.
As for the status on my voice? The air here in Maui sure has done a body good, and I am feeling MUCH better than I did upon arrival. Have an amazing week and do your best to stay healthy!
How I Feel
Lots of kiddos with autism, including many of my past and present clients, have a hard time expressing how they are feeling both physically and emotionally. Some are non-verbal, while others don’t have the language to adequately explain their feelings. As we know, this can leave them feeling frustrated and even more upset, especially if they need help or are feeling bad.
One of my clients was struggling with this issue, so her mom came up with the idea to compose short, simple songs based on familiar melodies for her range of feelings. The hope was that when my client was feeling a particular way, she could express herself through song rather than words.
The approach to making these songs effective communicative tools involved first introducing them to my client, singing them again and again so she became familiar with them (she picks up songs very quickly). Then, when her behavior obviously reflected a particular feeling or emotion, her family members and teachers would begin singing the corresponding song and prompt my client to sing along.
She has already made some great progress expressing herself through these songs, and hopefully they are useful to others out there. Have you used a similar technique for helping non- or less verbal kiddos express how they are feeling?
First and Last
I work a LOT on names with my students. Saying, spelling, and identifying their names are common goals in music therapy, and I have songs for all three. However, I didn’t yet have a song for the latest name-related goal that was recently brought to my attention: identifying and knowing the difference between first and last names.
Up until now, the focus has always been on the first name…but one student in particular has mastered this and is moving on to bigger and better things. So I came up with a no-frills song about the different parts of our names.
Although knowing her middle name is not included in the current goal, I threw it in so that when I use this song with her or another student down the road, the option to include it is there.
I’ll be using “First and Last” mostly in individual music therapy sessions, but it could easily be utilized in a group setting, as well. For more name-related songs, click here and here.
Count Your Blessings
I really wanted to write another Thanksgiving-themed song this week, but I was feeling a bit stuck. After 4 years of churning them out effortlessly, I realized I was out of fresh ideas. But a little writer’s block never stopped me before; I was bound and determined to celebrate the holiday with one more new tune.
By Saturday, I still hadn’t come up with an idea. Later that night, I was over at my parents’ house having dinner and White Christmas (one of my favorite movies of all time) was on television. As Bing and Rosemary crooned about counting their blessings, I had a thought: what about a song that literally does just that?!
And that’s how Count Your Blessings came to be. Each verse gives an example of some of the blessings in our lives, and then comes the actual counting — by 1, 2, 5, and 10. You know I love a good multifunctional song, and this one definitely falls into that category.
I envision this song serving as a great conversation starter about the things in our lives for which we are thankful, although you could also just focus on the counting aspect. Another thought I had was having students draw pictures of their “blessings” to be counted, especially if they are just beginning to grasp the concept of counting by multiples.
As we get down to the wire, don’t forget about all the other Thanksgiving-themed tunes available to you. You can find my collection here, and there is still time to use discount code “givethanks12” to receive 20% off The 10 Days of Thanksgiving.
Family Is
Yesterday afternoon, I returned home from a trip to Florida and realized I had a song to write, record and post here on the blog. Luckily I didn’t have to think very hard about what to write about — I had just spent 3 days with my immediate and extended family at a reunion.
After reuniting with her cousin whom she hadn’t seen in over 40 years (on Facebook of all places), my mom was able to connect with family members she’d never met or had lost touch with and decided to organize a reunion. Not only did I get to meet lots of second and third cousins, but I also had the opportunity to see my grandma, uncle, brother, and sister-in-law who all live far away.
With the holidays just around the corner, this is as good a time as any for a song about the importance of family. My students and I spend a lot of time talking about their families (and they’re always curious about mine, too); doing so within the context of a song is even better.
I hope you were able to spend some time with your family this weekend, too! Have a lovely week, and don’t forget that The 10 Days of Thanksgiving (complete with chords, mp3, instrumental, and 10 page PDF visual) is 20% off now through Thanksgiving Day when you use the discount code givethanks12.
Colors of Thanksgiving
Now that it’s officially November — which in my world signifies the start of the holiday season — I’m not wasting any time getting to work on new Thanksgiving songs. This may be one of the topics I’ve written the MOST songs about (check ’em all out here) but that certainly isn’t stopping me from adding to the collection.
Colors of Thanksgiving doesn’t need much of an introduction or explanation; I think the title pretty much tells all. This is another one of those songs where I really had to refrain from writing additional verses, because there are just so many great symbols that represent this holiday. And yes, most of those symbols are edible, but I managed to work in at least one non-edible item. Listen and find out what it is:
What colors would you add to this song that I haven’t already? The beauty is that if you use this song with your kiddos, you can add as many extra verses as you want. And to really kick it up a notch, make visuals (or have the kids make them) to go along with each verse.
P.S. Speaking of Thanksgiving songs and visuals, use the code givethanks12 upon checkout to receive 20% off my 10 Days of Thanksgiving album up until Thanksgiving Day. It’s by far my most popular Turkey Day resource!