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: Purple People Eater
Every October, I’d go to each classroom at my former job brimming with excitement about the new Halloween songs I’d written for my students.
They always went over well. But inevitably, at the end of each class I’d hear, “Can we sing the ‘Purple People Eater’ song?” Mind you, it was usually (but not always) a staff member making the request.
Even so, the kids loved it just as much. Especially the movements – which I conveniently left out of my video! Ha! Luckily, they’re not too complicated: make “one eye” with your fist to your forehead, “one horn” with your thumb to your forehead and your pinkie sticking out, and then “fly” with your thumbs tucked under your armpits.
Did you dig this song as a kid, like I did? Raise your hand if you still get a kick out of it! Just don’t blame me if you have it stuck in your head all day long now :)
Friday Fave: iPhone 4S & iOS 5
Okay, so maybe I’ve blogged about my favorite Apple products a time or two. And yes, maybe I’ve even been called an Apple fangirl on occasion (hi, Dad). But really, I have my husband to blame: he has owned every single iPhone model since the day the first one came out back in 2007. He has also owned 2 MacBooks, a MacBook Pro, and an iPad.
I’m not complaining about his influence on me, though, because I love all of my Apple devices. They have changed the way I do my job, which is my excuse for writing about them on the blog as often as I do. And today I’m writing about two of the newest additions…the iPhone 4S, and the new operating system, iOS 5.
Let’s start with the new phone. I was long overdue, having used my good ol’ 3GS model for over 2 years. The 4S is much faster, brighter, and full of cool features I didn’t have before, but my FAVORITE feature is the camera. The picture is pretty amazing not just for a camera phone, but for a camera, period.
Another cool feature is Siri, the virtual “assistant” who does just about anything you ask of her, including making phone calls, sending text messages, setting alarms, creating calendar events, and so on.
The iPhone 4S rocks, but what really makes it is the new operating system. iOS 5 has pretty much knocked my socks off — I love the new notifications, iMessage system (I can text from my iPad now!), reminders, iCloud, and the built-in tweeting capabilities. That, coupled with the awesome new camera, are going to make me dangerous at AMTA conference next month. Look out, music therapists! ;)
One of the things that has come in very handy for my studio is the new wireless syncing ability to iTunes, for both the iPhone and iPad. I can transfer sheet music and songs to either device without plugging them in, and they just magically show up. I had fun entertaining my students (and myself) with this all week long.
I know I’m not the only one around here who is excited about the new iPhone and iOS 5. Have you used either? And are your reviews as positive as mine?
We’re Gonna Have a Good Time
Over the summer, I was working on speech goals with one of my music therapy students. The letter “g” was among her targeted sounds, so I came up with a little greeting song based on it.
Well the song stuck, because four months later, we’re still singing that song — and she is nailing those “g” sounds! I’ve even started using it with several other students, which prompted me to record it for the world to hear:
As you can see, the lyrics aren’t amazingly inspired, but they are easy to remember and better yet, easily adaptable. The second verse changes with every music therapy session, depending on what I have planned.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: a song doesn’t have to be long, complicated, or full of genius lyrics in order to be an effective tool for learning. In fact, usually quite the opposite is true. Simple songs = good times!
All the Leaves Fall Down
Fall is such a beautiful time here in the Midwest. As much as I complain about the dropping temperatures, I really do enjoy watching the change of seasons reflected in the trees as the leaves turn all kinds of gorgeous colors.
The downside, of course, is all the raking that must be done once those leaves fall to the ground. Luckily for me, my husband does most of the yard work around here :) I prefer singing about falling leaves instead.
This month I dug up an old song I wrote a few years back called The Leaves on the Trees. It always goes over well with students because each time we sing the verse, it gets just a little faster. No matter how fast it gets, they always shout out “faster!” and of course, I oblige.
One of my first-ever “Sunday Singalong” videos featured this song, which you can see here. I’ve also written a few other fall songs that mention the leaves, but was wondering what other tunes YOU know and use on this timely topic. Please share your leafy faves in the comments!
Beatles à la Brothers
One of the highlights of my week is working with Tony and Patrick, two multi-talented brothers with a penchant for Billy Joel and the Beatles. Tony sings and plays the piano, and Patrick plays guitar and piano. Both brothers have been taking lessons with me for less than a year, but have proved to be extremely quick studies.
Last week we had our very first recording session, during which the boys sang and played Imagine. We actually recorded two versions — one with Tony on vocals and Patrick on piano, and the other with Tony on piano and vocals with Patrick on guitar. Below is the latter version:
Next up for Tony & Patrick? Piano Man, Strawberry Fields, Come Sail Away, and several others. I’m looking forward to lots more recordings from this duo!
Sunday Singalong: Costumes on Parade
One of the things I’ll really miss this fall is seeing all of my former students at The Hope Institute dressed up in their Halloween costumes, parading around the school.
And I’ll be working away during trick-or-treat time this year, so I will just have to live vicariously through Facebook — for not only my former students, but also my current ones and my nieces, nephews, and friends’ children. If I can’t witness the costumes on parade in person, at least I’ll get to see pictures!
Friday Fave: Making a Guest Appearance…
…over at Mundana Music Therapy, one of my favorite blogs by two of my favorite music therapists! If you’re curious about how I organize and access my insanely huge repertoire of music therapy songs, then hop on over and check out my guest post, 5 Ways to Organize Music Therapy Repertoire.
Kimberly Thompson and Megan Resig are the owners of Mundana Music Therapy, and recently relocated their private practice from Rochester, New York all the way to Portland, Oregon.
Kim and I ended up in the same elevator at last year’s AMTA national conference in Cleveland, where she introduced herself and told me that she and Megan would be attending the CMTE presented by myself and my Music Therapy Round Table colleagues. They did, and we have been in touch ever since. In fact, Mundana Music Therapy is the newest Listen & Learn sponsor.
Kim and Megan are doing big things in the world of music therapy, and I’m honored that they invited me to make an appearance on their blog. So go check it out, and have an amazing Friday!
Custom Song: Counting With Tally Marks
I’ll tell you what…I’m getting quite a bit of mileage out of the “Banana Boat Song” around here lately. Over the summer, I recorded a fruit shakers version for one of my music therapy students, and today I have a custom song based on it.
This particular song is all about tally marks — what they are, and how to count with them. Rene, who wins the award for most custom songs ever purchased (thanks Rene!), gave me a list of key terms to include in the song, several of which are tally mark, vertical, diagonal, equals, sum, groups, and add. I managed to fit each of the terms into the lyrics, as well as some practice counting by fives.
One of the things I love most about being a music therapist is never knowing what kind of subject matter I’ll be asked to address next. I’m always up for a good challenge! If you’re in need of a song for a specific topic, skill or concept, click here to learn more about my custom song package.
Do You Have One True Calling? I Don’t.
When asked what I do for a living, I almost always answer automatically: “I’m a music therapist.” But the long answer is a little more complicated.
In addition to providing music therapy, I also teach lessons, perform, write music, blog, design websites, and juggle professionally. Okay, just kidding about that last one. But in all seriousness, the items on that list are right up there in importance with my “official” career, and they are things that I spend time doing every day.
My dad is well aware of my “multiple irons in the fire” — as he termed it when he sent me this article last week. The author writes that it’s okay to have multiple interests and talents rather than follow one clearly defined career path, and even has a name for such people: mulipotentialites.
She states that the alternative to having one true calling is to create a life around all of your interests; furthermore, create a platform that’s fueled by your multipotentiality. The article cites Chris Guillebeau (one of my personal heroes) as someone who has successfully done so. And the reason for his and others’ success? There is one over-arching theme connecting all the facets of their platforms.
The article got me thinking about my platform and over-arching theme. If you read this blog on a daily basis, then you know that I jump around from topic to topic quite frequently. Sometimes I write about business, other days I share music therapy songs I have written or songs that my students have recorded, and then there are the many posts related to my favorite technologies and how I use them. The list goes on, really.
My tagline since starting Listen & Learn has been “helping children learn and grow through music” — and while I think that covers most of the content I write and the work I do, I wouldn’t say that covers all of it. Maybe my over-arching theme will become more clear with time.
Do you have one true calling, or would you consider yourself to be a multipotentialite? And if so, what’s your over-arching theme?
Instruments, Instruments, Instruments!
The second Tuesday of the month always brings a brand new episode of the Music Therapy Round Table podcast, and this time around, we’re talkin’ instruments.
Kimberly, Michelle and I took on the difficult task of narrowing down our most essential instruments for use in the music therapy setting; it was quite interesting to hear the differences and similarities in our answers, since the three of us work in varying environments.
Honestly, we could have gone on and on when it comes to the topic of instruments. After all, they are — like the title of the episode states — our tools of the trade. My studio is overflowing with small percussion, and I’m always looking for new additions to my collection.
What does your collection look like, and which instruments would you consider to be your essentials? Head on over and listen to the latest episode, and share your answers to these questions!