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!
Friday Fave: Camera Connection Kit for iPad
It’s no secret that I love my iPad and use it for tons of music and music therapy-related purposes, from taking lesson/session notes to organizing and displaying my gig music to teaching my students music theory.
One of the first apps I downloaded when I got my ipad was Garageband, and I’ve used it many times in sessions with music therapy clients. But I never preferred using my Macbook version of Garageband when it came to recording myself and my voice students, because the iPad version was missing one thing: a real microphone.
However, that has changed — all thanks to Bonnie Hayhurst of The Groovy Garfoose. I had no idea that there was a way to connect my beloved Blue Snowball USB microphone (the mic I’ve been using and recommending since 2008) to the iPad, until I read her “12 Apps of Christmas” series. Bonnie featured the Camera Connection Kit for iPad and mentioned that she was using it to connect her Blue Snowball mic and record with GarageBand.
Thanks to this little guy, I’ve been recording up a storm using my iPad. The Camera Connection Kit also comes with an adapter meant to read SD cards, if in fact you actually want to use it for it’s main purpose of transferring photos. It’s SO much easier to record my students with the iPad rather than the laptop, and they love it too!
The next item on my iPad-related wish list is a 1/4 inch adapter for my guitar. I’ve been researching but haven’t decided on one yet…any suggestions? Bonnie? :)
Catchin’ Snowflakes
Would you believe that even though we’re entering the second week of January, I’ve only seen one honest-to-goodness snowfall? And the snow didn’t even stick on the ground! Personally, I am not a fan of winter weather at all…but my students are, which is why I’m crossing my fingers that they’ll have a chance to make this song come true very soon.
I have Listen & Learn Plus! member Nell H. to thank for this week’s song topic. It’s such a fun idea — what child doesn’t enjoy catching snowflakes on his or her tongue?
I don’t think we’re going to see much snow in the next few days, considering the forecast calls for temperatures in the 50s. We’ll just have to keep waiting, I guess — and enjoying the warmer weather in the meantime!
Sunday Singalong: Count On Me by Bruno Mars
I have been dying to spend some time playing my new ukulele ever since I got it for Christmas, but this first week back to the studio has been a little more than busy! Luckily, I found a few minutes to learn and record this song — a favorite that I featured as a Friday Fave a few months back.
I’ve been brainstorming other songs that would be fun to cover on the ukulele…any suggestions to add to the list?
The First Song of 2012
My purpose for starting Listen & Learn (all the way back in 2008!) was to share my educational songs for children. Since then, I’ve posted over 150 of them — but only about 20 or so in 2011. Turns out I was so busy blogging every day that I didn’t have the time to write and record as much as I would have liked.
2012 is the year I return to my original mission: to provide musical resources on a regular basis. Every Monday, you’ll find a brand new song, which will be available for purchase along with the instrumental track and lyrics/chords.
It should come as no surprise that I’m kicking off the year with a song about the year itself, just as I did in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. I’m excited about all the possibilities that 2012 holds, which I think is reflected in this fun, upbeat tune:
I’m looking forward to writing, recording, and sharing at least 51 more songs with you in 2012! If you have any topic requests, feel free to contact me or leave a comment below. Here’s to a musical new year!
Friday Fave: New Year’s Eve Weekend
How can it be that this is the last weekend of 2011? This year seemed to fly by, and now it is coming to an end. Luckily, these final two days are gonna be good ones! I’ve always thought New Year’s Eve is a little overrated, but you can’t go wrong with plans that involve family, friends, and music.
I’m kicking off this holiday weekend with a gig tonight, which is always a guaranteed fun time. Matt and I have played at the Walnut Street Winery several times in the last couple of months, and are looking forward to returning this evening. It’s a good warm-up for tomorrow’s NYE performance in downtown Springfield. Every year, my city holds First Night Springfield, which is a family-friendly event for all ages. We’re super excited and honored to be a part of it this year.
In fact, we are even working on a new song just for tomorrow’s performance. I already knew the song “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” and liked it, but knew we had to give it a go after seeing this video earlier today:
No wild and crazy New Year’s parties for this girl — I’m a little too old for that ;) Making music is much more fun, anyhow…and the perfect way to bring 2011 to a close. What are YOU doing New Year’s Eve?
End of the Year Office Organization
At this time every year, I put aside a few hours to declutter, file, reorganize, and purge my office/studio. You’d be surprised at how many stacks of paper, receipts, and music books I’ve found stashed all over. It feels so good to start the new year with a newly organized work space!
Here are a few of the tasks on my list today:
- Scan printed sheet music
- Enter expenses and file receipts
- Finish thank you notes to students
- Frame and hang student artwork
- Clear out my inbox
- Part with unneeded programs, fliers, etc.
- Find homes for stray items in my storage closet
- Back up my computer on my external hard drive
- Put away Christmas music
- Reorganize music bookcase
- Put instruments and equipment back in their place
Yikes! That list is a little overwhelming now that I’m looking at it all written out. But there’s no time like the present to get everything done — especially since my week long break is quickly coming to an end.
This office organization is just the beginning of a year-long decluttering effort, thanks to Michelle Erfurt. She started a Facebook group to tackle the 2012 Declutter Calendar, and I am fully on board!
Now that this blog post is finished, it’s time to get down to business. Are you doing any heavy duty organizing or decluttering before the new year begins?
2011: The Year in Review
With just four days remaining in 2011, it’s time to take a look back at what has happened this year, both personally and professionally (as I did in 2009 and 2010). 2011 will go down as a life-changing year in my book, to be sure.
I’ve never been one to make new year’s resolutions or set huge goals for myself in January, but for some reason, I took a leap at the beginning of 2011 by announcing my plan to blog every day for an entire year. At first, it was easy — I was full of new songs, topic ideas, and enthusiasm. As the months went by, blogging daily became more of a challenge, especially as my private practice and studio continued to grow. But I stuck with it, and now am only a few days away from reaching my goal. It’s a pretty great feeling!
One of my most frequent blog topics has been my career path. 2011 saw a BIG change when I left my first job as a professional music therapist at The Hope Institute for Children & Families after four years. I took my private practice and studio full-time, more than doubling my student load in June. Those summer months were beyond stressful, but they were proof that I could in fact support myself as a fully self-employed music therapist.
Not only did my career undergo an overhaul, but so did my studio. I said goodbye to my original location and watched as the other side of my house was transformed into a dedicated studio space with a separate entrance. Not only am I in love with the new studio, but so are my students, their families, and my husband (because he now has full reign over the rest of the house when he comes home from work).
2011 was also the year I rediscovered my love for performing. I was active in the local music scene for a couple of years, but didn’t have the time for most of 2010 and the first half of this year. I jumped back in over the summer, and have been going strong ever since. In fact, I’ll spend this New Year’s weekend playing out. Performing is the perfect balance to teaching and music therapy.
Other highlights of 2011: launching Music Therapy Pro with my wonderful colleagues and friends, Kimberly & Michelle; strengthening my connections with other music therapists doing extraordinary things both online and off, and attending another spectacular AMTA national conference.
One thing that has remained constant every year is the love and support of my family and friends. I’m so lucky to have been blessed with parents who stand behind every decision I make and are my biggest fans. Well, actually my husband shares that title with them. He has been amazingly supportive of my transition into self-employment and puts up with all my rehearsals, late nights working, and constant computer time. Blessed really doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel!
I’m beyond excited for 2012, especially where Listen & Learn is concerned. Many of you have asked about my plans (will I continue to blog every day? will I be setting a new crazy goal?) and I’ll be filling you in soon. Thank you for continuing to read the blog, becoming members of Listen & Learn Plus, and sharing my songs and resources with your own students and clients.
What were your 2011 highlights? I would love to read your thoughts on the year as it comes to a close, whether in the comments below or in your very own year-end blog post (or both!).
A Very Ukulele Christmas
My parents thought I was a little nuts when I told them all I wanted for Christmas was a new ukulele. I had fun learning on my $60 soprano uke, but was ready to upgrade to something a little more sturdy — and more importantly, a uke I could plug in to a sound system for gigs.
I’m all grown up, but I still love a good Christmas surprise. After we had opened almost all of our presents, my dad announced that he had forgotten one in the car. When he carried in a giant wrapped box, I was a little more than excited…sure enough, it turned out to be the beauty I’m so happily pictured with above!
The Cordoba Tenor Ukulele has a solid mahogany top, mahogany sides and back, an electronic pick-up, and above all, a beautiful sound that I can’t get enough of. It’s such a fun instrument to play that I’m already predicting most of my new songs and videos will feature the uke.
Ever since becoming a music therapy student back in 2004, my Christmas list has included instruments and other tools of the trade. I doubt that will change anytime soon :) Did you unwrap any new instruments or other music therapy supplies this Christmas?
Merry Christmas!
From my family to yours, Merry Christmas!
I’ve been busy this week wrapping up the year in my studio and spending time with my friends and family…all of which means no new Sunday Singalong video this week. But I have something special to share with you tomorrow which will hopefully make up for that! Until then, may your Christmas be merry and bright.
Giving Students the Gift of Calm
Every year, I struggle with what to give my students as a token of my appreciation for their hard work when the holidays roll around. This year was no different, but as it turns out, I didn’t have to look any further than the top of my piano.
These framed signs (which I wrote about here) have been conversation pieces amongst my students since I decorated my piano with them back in June. So as my holiday gift this year, I gave my students their own “keep calm” sign in a simple frame, to be placed in their practice area. Kellan (pictured above, thanks to his mom!) and most of my other students have been happy to receive their gift, and excited to display it just as I do in my studio.
I gave different framed signs to my students, based upon whether they study piano, voice or guitar. For my music therapy students, I went a bit of a different route:
A tambourine might not be the definition of “calm” (quite the opposite, actually!) but hopefully it will inspire my students to keep making music during the holiday break.
I still have some gifts to give out this afternoon, after which my studio will officially be closed until 2012! It’s hard to believe that the first semester of the school year is coming to an end, but I’m looking forward to a fresh start in January. I’m also looking forward to lots of zen-like, well-practiced students, thanks to their “keep calm” gifts! ;)