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!
Sharing a Vision
Early last spring, I was invited to present at Illinois’ statewide Sharing a Vision early childhood conference. I’ve been looking forward to it ever since, and today is the day! My presentation, Music Therapy Techniques for School, Home & Play, is set to begin in just a couple of hours.
I’ve given similar presentations at quite a few conferences in the last couple of years, yet I never grow tired of sharing my passion with others — especially people who work with children like I do.
The opportunity to educate an entire room full of people about music therapy is priceless, and the fact that I get to make music with them (yes, I am bringing my guitar and a boatload of songs!) is just icing on the cake.
Sunday Singalong: The Scarecrow Song
Singing this song always puts a smile on my face, because it reminds me of one of my former students at The Hope Institute who absolutely LOVED it. He got such a kick out of singing it and finding each body part as it was mentioned in the song!
It’s fun to pull out all my seasonal songs that I haven’t thought about for ages — it’s like rediscovering them all over again. Look for more to be featured in Sunday Singalong videos over the next couple of months!
Friday Fave: It’s Fall, Y’all!
Happy “First Day of Fall” to you! Summer is officially over, and I have resolved to stop whining about it and fully embrace the new season. After all, it’s hard to deny that this early autumn weather is absolutely spectacular.
Last week, I featured the song Fall Into Fall in my Sunday Singalong video, so today I’ll share another fall fave with you. “All About Autumn” is the newer of the two, and one I always enjoy singing throughout the season.
Lead Sheet Download: $1.50
I originally posted this song back in 2009, but I’m pretty sure most of you haven’t dug quite that deep into the archives — unless you’ve been reading the blog for that long! I’m going to make a habit of re-sharing some of my older tunes for that very reason, because there are some hidden gems from way back when :)
Do you have big plans for the first weekend of fall? My plan is to spend some quality time with my family, put the finishing touches on my Church Mice music class that begins on Sunday, and do something outside in this lovely weather. I hope you are able to do the same!
Student Spotlight: “The Best Day”
It’s no secret that I <3 Taylor Swift. Maybe she’s not the best live performer or most diverse artist, but she writes catchy songs that are fun to sing and I don’t mind my students looking to her as a role model. There is no doubt that her music is the most frequently requested in my studio.
One of my favorite Taylor Swift songs is “The Best Day” — and that is the very song my student Jenna chose to record this past week. She’s been working very hard on it for the last couple of months, and I think she did a wonderful job! Take a listen:
It makes me so proud to hear my students’ practicing pay off, but not as proud as they are. I love playing back a recording after they have finished singing, and seeing their faces as they realize how great they sound. That’s one of the best parts of my job.
Hidden Treasure Revealed
Most people might look at this picture and see an old piano and bench. That’s what my students saw…until I opened up the bench at the end of their lessons or music therapy sessions to reveal the hidden treasure they now look forward to each week:
That’s right…stickers. The $1.99 variety you find at Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, or even the grocery store. Who knew that kids could be so easy to please?
“Sticker time” has been a part of my lessons and music therapy sessions for several years now, but only this summer did I think to put them in the piano bench (before, they were in a boring old expandable binder).
After the last piece has been played or the goodbye song has been sung, my students have the opportunity to choose a sticker from the bench and place it on that day’s date in their monthly calendar. And let me tell you, they don’t take their selections lightly; sticker time is serious business (well, as serious as anything involving stickers can be) to many of them.
It’s amazing how my students find such joy in something so simple, but I’m definitely not complaining. It’s the little things, you know?
Do You Give Out Your Digits?
To potential clients, that is. (I promise I’m not trying to pry into your personal life!) I made the decision to include my phone number on my studio/private practice website last spring when I was really trying to grow my business, and now am going back and forth about removing it.
Here’s the thing: I really dislike talking on the phone. I’m an email gal all the way, especially when it comes to interacting with new people. But I understand that a parent might want to talk voice-to-voice with a potential music therapist or music instructor, which is why I posted my phone number in the first place. And it worked.
But now that my studio is full with a long waiting list to boot, the phone calls from potential clients are starting to wear on me. Instead of answering a call from an unfamiliar number, I let it go to voice mail instead. As I type this blog post, I have at least 10 voice mail messages waiting for my attention and response. Terrible, I know!
Before I take my phone number down, I thought I’d ask your opinion. Do you post yours? And if so, is it a dedicated business number or your personal number? Help!
The 2011 Edition of Imagine is Out!
After reading the inaugural issue of Imagine — the first online magazine dedicated to early childhood music therapy — last September, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the next one. Luckily for me and the other music therapists of the world, it’s here!
Once again, I had the opportunity to submit an article to be included in the resources section. It’s called “Building Your Own Business in Early Childhood Music Therapy”. Flipping through the magazine, it’s obvious that I’m in good company. A few highlights:
- “Advocating for Music as an Essential Early Childhood Experience” by Dena Register
- “Understanding Development in Early Childhood Music Therapy” by Rebecca Wellman
- “Biddy Biddy: A Song Without Words” by Carol Ann Blank
- “Cool Music Apps for Little Ones” by Petra Kern
- “Laughter in Music Therapy and With Young Children” by Kalani Das
- “Music Therapists Talk About Self-Care: A Video Interview” by Kat Fulton
All of this excellent information in one place is getting me fired up for the American Music Therapy Association’s national conference, which is coming up in less than two months. I just booked my plane ticket last night and can’t wait to see many of the contributors to Imagine in the flesh!
Sunday Singalong: Fall Into Fall
Fall officially begins on Friday, and I’ll tell you what: I’m going into it kicking and screaming. But it’s going to keep getting darker earlier and chillier whether I like it or not, so I might as well just accept it.
I wrote “Fall Into Fall” almost three years ago, maybe I’ll come to terms with the arrival of fall by writing a new song about it. That would be a much more productive coping mechanism than complaining, huh!
Friday Fave: We’re Gonna Party Like It’s 2001
When I look at this picture of my best friends and I at our high school graduation, I find it extremely hard to believe that ten years have passed. We’ve taken many pictures like it since — at each other’s bridal showers, weddings, baby showers, and other milestone events. And I’m sure we’ll take lots more this weekend at our high school reunion.
My husband has been hard at work planning this event (after all, he was voted “Life of the Party” in our senior yearbook) along with the rest of the committee. It’s going to be so much fun to see all of the people I’ve only kept in touch with via Facebook for the last few years. I keep reminding myself of that, rather than dwelling on the fact that this reunion has me feeling a little old. Ridiculous, I know :)
But despite feeling old, I also feel accomplished — and that is a good feeling :) I love that I’ll be the only music therapist at my reunion, though I’m not so much looking forward to explaining my profession dozens of times. I guess I’ll have to rehearse my elevator speech between now and tomorrow!
My Musical Space: Susan Seale’s Musicalia
Last spring, I chronicled the renovation of my new studio right here at Listen & Learn. I asked readers for decorating and organizing suggestions, and was thrilled to receive a boatload of ideas from the wonderful Susan Seale, who has a music and movement education studio of her own.
The pictures Susan sent me of her studio sparked a fun idea: why not showcase the places where my readers create, teach, and facilitate musical experiences? So this is the inaugural edition of a new series called “My Musical Space” — beginning with Susan’s beautiful studio. (Click the pictures to view larger versions.) Let’s start with the entrance and waiting room:
“These are photos of the hallway, looking into the office with it’s busy-ness and the organized but extremely busy storage beside the office (and thankfully out of view of my clients…when I have the curtain drawn).”
“I have a ton of equipment and movement props that are organized into cupboards made for me:) Storage for ukuleles and orff instrumentarium, puppets, percussion, rainsticks..super long ones!”
“The floors are fun here…specially designed pattern in the music room to facilitate movement with the very young. Two pianos. I don’t know if you can see in the photos, but I have a tree net scrunched up hanging on the wall beside the ball bag. I hang the net across the opening to the piano area and store big instruments like the cello and such behind the net during my baby classes…to keep babies and instruments safe.”
Thank you so much, Susan, for giving us an inside look at your amazing musical space! You can learn more about Susan, her studio, and all her brilliant ideas by visiting her blog, Make Me Musical.
Readers: if you’d like to submit pictures and captions of YOUR musical space for an upcoming feature, please email them to me. Keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be a studio; maybe your musical space is your car, or a corner of your living room, or the closet-sized office where you work (I used to have one of those!). Whatever it may be, I’d love for you to share with us.