Lately I’ve had quite a few readers ask about my work at The Hope Institute, a residential school for children with multiple disabilities where I’ve headed up the music therapy program for the last (almost) 4 years.
I’ll be writing about the program in more detail throughout the year, but today I thought I’d share a simple yet important song that remains a staple in many of the classrooms with which I work.
Calendar time is an essential part of the school day around here (as it is in many schools), and I incorporate calendar songs of all varieties into my music therapy sessions. Here’s one I’ve mentioned before — spruced up a bit for the new year:
Today is ______,
Today is ______.
Today is ______, January _____.
Yesterday was ______,
Tomorrow’s ________.
But today is ______, January _____, 2011.
So when I sing this with my students this morning, the lyrics will be:
“Today is Monday, today is Monday. Today is Monday, January 10th. Yesterday was Sunday; tomorrow’s Tuesday. But today is Monday, January 10th, 2011.”
Each month, I record a new version with the correct month already included. That way, when the teachers sing this song with their students on a daily basis, they fill in the day and date themselves.
I’ve been using this song (which I came up with it on my own, though I’m positive others have done something very similar if not identical) for years now, but am always up for new ideas. If you’ve got another daily calendar song to share, please do!
Thank you for sharing this song, Rachel! I love how you incorporated harmony into the recording. I think it might be valuable in some sessions to drop the guitar, use this recording, and add visuals.
I’m looking forward to hearing more about your work at The Hope Institute this year as you continue your adventure of a blog a day. You’re doing great thus far; keep it up!
~Elise
You’re welcome, Elise :) I absolutely agree; that is why I created this particular recording — so that it could be used in that very way in the classroom without me there to play guitar (and of course, for other music therapists to use). Much more on Hope to come!
I sing pretty much the same thing only to the melody of Oh, My Darlin’.
Today is Monday
Today is Monday
Today is Monday
January 10th.
Today is Monday
Today is Monday
today is Monday, Jan. 10th
and then we add a quick year on the end for laughs. You can also interchange it with tomorrow or yesterday.
Thanks for sharing, Abbe! This is perfect for when I feel like switching things up a bit!