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: A Lot Like Summer
I recorded this video on Friday, so my comment about the weather being gorgeous wasn’t a lie! But this weekend has been gross (we’re talking highs in the 50s and rain), so I guess this song isn’t so timely after all.
But the discordant weather does NOT change the fact that summer break is a mere 20 days away, and that there are only 13 actual school days remaining. Not that I’m counting. It’s just that summer is my very favorite season, and there are lots of exciting events happening to kick it off.
One fun pre-summer event is happening today, and that is the baptism of my niece, Maggie. I’m taking a whirlwind roadtrip to St. Louis for this occasion, and then booking it back here for the early childhood music class I teach this afternoon. I’ll be exhausted tonight, but it will be totally worth it.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I hope it’s actually “beginning to look a lot like summer” where you are, or at least a little less cold and soggy than it is here!
The Top 3 Items On My Birthday Wish List
I may be turning 28 next month, but I’m still allowed to make a wish list for my birthday! With my new studio transformation in progress, most of the things I’m asking for relate directly to my work — though that is almost always the case. (Last Christmas, my parents insisted that I put at least one thing on my list that didn’t concern music or technology.)
So here are the top 3 items on my loooong list of wants. Let’s just say I would be more than pleasantly surprised if I receive them on June 5.
iPad 2: I’ve actually gone back and forth on this one. As awesome as the iPad is, I just don’t know if I really need it. For one, my husband has one and gives me free reign over his whenever I want. Also, I already have an iPhone. But the more I read about the iPad and explore the apps that are available, the more convinced I become that it would be a useful tool in my studio.
Airturn Page Turner: This is one of reasons I want the iPad. The idea of my students and I being able to play using sheet music displayed on the iPad or Mac (of course, I would also need this) and use a foot pedal to turn the pages is just awesome.
Blue Mikey: A microphone for my iPhone. I am a huge fan of Blue Microphones and have been using the Snowball for years. But sometimes during a lesson or music therapy session, I don’t necessarily want to set up my computer and microphone. I’d love to be able to just plug this bad boy into my iPhone and start recording. I do this every once in a while with the voice memo app, but it would be nice to get a more high quality sound.
What music & technology related items are on your wish list?
Achoo! (A Sneezy Song for Spring)
With all of the allergens floating through the air and the bipolar weather we’ve been experiencing here in Illinois, I’ve heard a lot of “achoo-ing” going on lately.
So much of it, in fact, that it inspired my latest song. You know how much my students and I love a song that starts out slow and speeds up as it goes along (as evidenced here and here) and that is exactly what my newest song does, too:
When you feel a little tickle in your nose,
Then you know how the next part goes:
You shut your eyes tight,
Cover your face just right,
And then you have to sneeze!
Achoo, achoo!
Excuse me, and bless you!
Achoo, achoo!
I sneezed, and you did, too!
{Repeat, speeding up each time}
Even some of my not-so-verbal students are saying “achoo!” right along with me, and it’s so much fun to hear them keep up with me as the song speeds up. I’ve been having them play egg shakers and chiquitas, since the “ch” sound they make fits perfectly.
Oh, and speaking of songs about sneezing, please check out the song “Spring Fever” by Mr. Heath. It’s a staple at our annual spring singalongs. Do you know any other tunes that celebrate the joy (ha!) of spring allergies?
Have Cart, Will Travel
I have to admit: pulling a cart from classroom to classroom took some getting used to at first. Four years later, though, my trusty cart is like an extension of myself. That and my guitar, of course.
I know very well that I’m not the first music therapist or teacher to travel with a cart. The speech therapists and art specialist at my school do the same, and it works extremely well for our students. They get to stay in their classroom or activity room, where they feel the most comfortable, and we take only the materials we’ll need on that particular day.
That being said, I wish I had a third eye to keep on my cart during particular music therapy sessions. It can be a little too tempting for several of my students at times, especially when there are favorite instruments or equipment on it. Some teachers keep a sheet over their carts while working with students, which is not a bad idea at all.
So what do I put on my cart? Well, the instruments change from week to week, as do any visual aides or props that accompany my activities and interventions. Every so often, I’ll bring along my iPod and speaker, which I use as positive reinforcement for a few classes. My visual schedule and guitar stand are cart staples, since I use them every day in every classroom.
Pretty soon, I’ll be passing my cart down to my intern, who will be taking my place when she graduates and I go full-time with my private practice. It has served me well over the years, though I’m not sure how much I’ll miss the fun of squeezing it in and out of my office several times a day!
Do you travel by cart, too?
Friday Fave: Scheduling Success!
When it comes to private practice, scheduling is an art. Usually I don’t mind it at all; in fact, I even look forward to it. But this time around, with over 50 students to schedule, I’m not gonna lie: I was nervous.
I sat down at my computer yesterday with all my students’ preference sheets, prepared for several frustrating hours of work. However, all that worrying was for naught..because I was finished within 45 minutes!
Not only had I managed to fit every last student (54, to be exact) into my pre-determined studio hours, but I even managed to schedule a couple of 15 minute breaks throughout the week. I’ll appreciate myself for doing that later this summer, when I’m in the middle of a 14-student day and in desperate need of a snack or bathroom break :)
Once I had the schedule completed, it was time to email all of my students’ families to let them know their designated day and time. So far I’ve only heard positive feedback, and I’m crossing my fingers and toes that the trend continues. Because one change could lead to a domino effect, especially with so many siblings needing back-to-back time slots.
Have you celebrated a scheduling success lately? It feels good, doesn’t it!
Rap, Repeats & Rhythm Sticks
Those are the 3 R’s, right? :) Well they are today here at Listen & Learn, because my latest song incorporates all three. I know what you’re thinking: Rachel and rap don’t sound like a very likely combination. But I have a very healthy respect for most genres, including this one.
In fact, I was completely inspired after my husband showed me this incredible video. Watch it and then try telling me you don’t have even the slightest itch to try it for yourself! Anyway, here’s my lame attempt at rapping:
I was explaining my job to some of Zach’s visiting family members yesterday, and one of them jokingly asked, “Is there a such thing as rap therapy?” I had to laugh, because I immediately thought of this song.
By itself, it’s more of a chant than a rap…but I think the beatbox track makes it legit (or as close to legit as I’ll probably ever get). Either way, my kiddos are having fun with the song — not to mention working on important skills like rhythm, imitation, listening, and fine motor movement — which is really all that matters.
Giving Up Hope
A little over four years ago, I began my professional career as a music therapist at The Hope Institute in Springfield, Illinois. Although many of my new coworkers at Hope, a residential school for children with multiple disabilities, were unfamiliar with music therapy, they were amazingly supportive of me as I started developing the program.
At the same time, I was slowly growing a private practice. After an 8-hour day at Hope, I hit the road as a traveling music therapist and voice/piano/guitar teacher, working with my students in their homes. I did this 5 afternoons a week, for two years, until my husband and I moved into our new home and I opened a home studio.
Ten private students increased to 20, which eventually increased to 30. I loved the work that I was doing at Hope, and I loved the work I was doing in my private practice. Life was good.
But life was also exhausting. When I added my church music job, elected IAMT officer position, and Listen & Learn to the mix, I sometimes marveled at the fact that I actually found time to sleep. Oh yea…and then there was my husband and dog, with whom I was spending less and less time.
12-hour workdays were doable, at least for the time being. But what would happen when Zach and I started a family? And was it really good for my health to be this busy and stressed all the time? I found myself asking these questions on a daily basis.
So what did I do? I took on new students. Over 20 of them, actually, totaling to 52 private students for the upcoming summer and fall sessions.
And then I made the scariest and most exciting decision of my entire life thus far: I gave notice of my resignation at The Hope Institute.
This moment, which I had been dreading, turned out to be like something out of a fairy tale. My principal told me that I would be greatly missed, but that he completely understood my decision and supported it wholeheartedly. And then upon my recommendation, Hope hired Karen, my wonderful intern who has been such a blessing to the music therapy program this year.
I am infinitely grateful to my colleagues and students for providing me with such an amazing, challenging, rewarding, overwhelming, fun, and educational experience these past four years. My work at Hope not only gave me credibility in my community, but it also connected me with so many people who enriched my life and opened the door to countless opportunities.
I’m going to miss this place. But as sad as I am to be leaving, I’m equally excited about this new chapter in my life. Going full-time with my private practice will be a challenge, to be sure, but it will also allow me the flexibility and free time I’ve not had thus far in my career.
June 2 is my last official day at Hope. I’m going to enjoy this final month to the fullest, and then prepare for what promises to be quite an exciting adventure. I hope you’ll come along with me.
The Audition Video That Changed My Life
This picture is a pretty good representation of my younger self…and by younger self, I mean my 17-year-old high school senior self.
In yesterday’s Sunday Singalong post, I mentioned that my voice student (and guest star of the video) Jayla said, “I hate watching and listening to myself sing.”
So I told Jayla the story about a time when I felt the same way about watching and listening to my own performances, and what changed that. Here’s how it all went down, just a little over ten years ago.
One night after a rehearsal for my high school musical, our accompanist helped me make a college audition video for Emory University’s music school. I had already traveled to quite a few faraway schools for in-person auditions, and this was one of the few that accepted videos in place of actually being there.
I remember that I sang “Don’t Rain on My Parade” along with two foreign language pieces, and I also remember feeling pretty good about my performance afterward. But those good feelings didn’t last very long.
When I got home, my parents wanted to watch the video, and I was eager to see it, too. Just a couple minutes into it, though, I lost it. We’re talking hysterical sobbing here, people. My parents looked at me like I was crazy, and reassured me over and over again that I looked and sounded great.
I, however, thought just the opposite. I convinced myself that becoming a music major was a horrible mistake, because I’d never make the cut. All of my past successes as a singer just flew out the window, as far as I was concerned.
As upset as the video had made me, my mom sent it to Emory anyway. I’m sure you can imagine my surprise when a month later, I received a letter in the mail notifying me that I had been accepted to the program.
I didn’t end up choosing Emory (I went here instead), but I’m forever grateful to that school for teaching me that I needed a major attitude adjustment when it came to respecting myself as a singer. I learned to actually enjoy watching video of my performances and listening to recordings of myself singing. Instead of getting angry about mistakes, I grew from them.
And that’s why I’m so adamant about recording my students’ performances and having them watch and listen to themselves on a regular basis. They are learning from a young age to be respectful critics of themselves, and to love the sound of their own voices.
It’s funny to look back at myself, crying over an audition video, from where I am now: sending out an abundant number of recordings and videos into the universe every week.
How do you feel about watching and listening to yourself?
Friday Fave: Here Comes the Sun
You’d think that by this point in April, I’d have already enjoyed quite a few sunny days here in central Illinois…but unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case. Although we’ve been spared the terrible storms and tornadoes that have devastated many other states, this spring will NOT go down in my book as a pleasant one, weather-wise.
But I’m hopeful that will change as we approach May, and this morning’s sunny sky is a good sign. It comes at an especially good time, because my family is weathering some cloudy skies as we prepare to say goodbye to my husband’s grandmother, who suffered a stroke last week and is now in hospice. But we’re thankful for her long, happy life (she’s 92) and all that she did for her family — especially my husband, to whom she was especially close.
Sunny days are a nice reminder of all the good things to come, like summer vacation, my birthday, weddings, and lazy days by the pool (though I don’t get as many of those as I used to). Just a little over a month until I get to enjoy all four!
Sunny days also give my students and I an opportunity to sing the “Sunny Day” weather song! Since it hasn’t happened often so far this year, we make the most out of every chance we get to do so. Today is one of those days:
I hope your Friday is shaping up to be as beautiful as mine promises to be. Thank you so much for sharing part of it with me!
The Rainbow Connection
When I was little, I’d sit in front of the TV on Saturday mornings just waiting for the music video of Kermit the Frog singing “The Rainbow Connection” to come on. From the first time I heard it, that song had a special place in my heart…and it still does.
“The Rainbow Connection” can be heard frequently inside the Music Therapy Connections studio, because I assign it to many of my beginning voice students. One such student is Grace, who did an absolutely beautiful job with this song. Although she’s only 10 years old, she could fool you with her big voice:
Another version I have absolutely fallen in love with is by jazz singer Jane Monheit, which you can listen to here. (Actually, she could record herself singing the phonebook and I’d buy it.)
Are you a fan of this song, too? I know I wasn’t the only little girl singing along with Kermit at the top of my lungs way back when…