This is where all of my interests and skills are combined for one purpose: to make peoples’ lives better through music. Whether it’s through my original songs, serving my community through my business, or singing with my children, this is my favorite place to share my musical endeavors. Thank you for visiting, and I hope to get to know you better.
Performances
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And Then She Was 4
It seems impossible, but my girl turned 4 this week! We celebrated by playing hooky from preschool, baking a homemade cake (with pink frosting, of course), and having our family over for pizza and presents.
Since she was born, Mia Belle has been my “Velcro baby” — stuck to me 24/7. And although she’s still a mama’s girl through and through, at 4 she is finally open to letting go of me in favor of her daddy, who takes her to ballet class and “Chikolay” (Chik-Fil-A) every week.
read more…Spring into Summer Break
The countdown to summer break is on! For many of my music therapy sessions and music classes, we only have a few weeks left before we’ll part ways for the summer. Although most therapists and teachers who work with school-aged children look forward to summer break, it can be a challenging time for our clients and students.
Endings are never easy, and although we might continue working with the same kiddos next year, there are still a lot of changes happening for them. Between schedule changes and weather changes, the prospect of new classrooms, new teachers, and classmates can be totally overwhelming.
As a music therapist, it’s easy for me to present these challenging topics and transitions in a fun and upbeat way. Below, I’ve featured two songs that I’ll be using to help my clients and students transition to summer break!
read more…Creating Adaptations to Suit Your Needs
One thing that I love about working with lots of different kiddos is the opportunity to create adaptations! These allow me to use the same songs with many different students and clients, all of whom have unique strengths and needs. Being a music therapist has made me even more creative; I am constantly inspired not only by my kiddos, but also by their teachers, therapists and parents.
I have been approached countless times by those I work with to incorporate different themes or important topics into my music therapy sessions or music classes. Often times, I will use a song that I already know, and adapt it to accommodate other goals.
read more…Mother’s Day the Kindergarten Way
My son’s school has the most precious tradition: a Mother’s Day Tea hosted by the two kindergarten classes. I heard about it last summer from another mom whose son had just finished kindergarten, and I’ve been looking forward to it ever since.
I have to say, this event definitely lived up to my expectations! Imagine 50 kindergarteners dressed in their Sunday best, serving their moms treats and performing songs about how much they love their moms…that’s what I got to experience last night :)
read more…My Family in Photos
Over Easter, my family had the rare opportunity to all be together in one place at the same time. We met up in Denver, where my stepsister and her family hosted all 18 of us — including 8 kids ranging in age from 2 to 12!
We not only celebrated Easter, but also my mom’s 60th birthday. One of the things she really wanted was current photos of all of us, along with some of the entire family together.
read more…Teaching Safety Skills Through Song
Music is such a powerful and flexible tool, as we’ve witnessed firsthand both through our own life experiences and the work we do with children. Most of us have learned so many things through music…I mean, Schoolhouse Rock, anyone?!
I learned so much through music and I love seeing my clients and students learn things through music as well. Children latch onto music very quickly, so it is the perfect vehicle to teach important skills, like safety rules.
read more…How to Find the Right Song Every Time
You know that moment when you need a song for a child, music group, or music therapy session? In your mind, you clearly know what goals the song will target, the instruments or props that you want to use, the theme…now you just have to find it. Well, you are in luck!
read more…Keep It Simple
Last week, I told you that my colleagues and I were hard at work on a new resource centered around our go-to props and instruments: drums, rhythm sticks, scarves, and shakers. Today is the day we get to share that new resource with you!
Keep It Simple: 16 Goal-Based Applications for the Instruments & Props You Already Own is here, and I can’t wait for you to check it out and start putting the applications to use.
In this comprehensive downloadable PDF, we are sharing:
- Overviews for each instrument/prop, which include a list of general objectives that can be targeted using those materials, additional intervention ideas, and 10-15 extra songs that pair well with each instrument/prop. We created Spotify playlists for all 4 categories, which are linked in the overviews.
- 16 applications that you can easily put to use in your own sessions. Each application includes a demonstration video and link to lyrics/chords, along with a detailed facilitation guide outlining the targeted objectives, procedure list, and multiple adaptations.
- A quick reference spreadsheet containing an overview of the objectives for each application. Although many of the songs may seem simple or you’re familiar with them already, we have found a variety of ways to facilitate them in order to help our clients meet their goals.
- 2 extra applications that can be used not only with the big 4 instruments/props, but also incorporate many meaningful signs that can be used across populations. Sign language demonstration videos are included.
These tried-and-true applications have been effectively put into practice in schools, hospitals, early childhood centers, senior living facilities, and private practice, and our clients ranging from 3 months old to 90+ years old have benefited from them. We hope that your clients will, too.
Give your instrument- and prop-based repertoire a big goal-based boost with Keep It Simple, created by our team of 4 board-certified music therapists. You will find all of the details and option to purchase right here!
Spring is All About… {Free Download!}
One of my favorite things to bring into my music therapy sessions and music classes is visual aides. I LOVE visual aides! For many of my clients and students, visual aides help them connect the dots from the lyrics to the objects or concepts in the songs.
Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate the goals and objectives that can be targeted when I put the instruments away and utilize visual aides. Although I typically create my own, “Spring is All About…” already has beautiful visual aides that you can get for yourself right now, because this song is a free download!
My Go-To Instruments & Props
As a new music therapist, I was constantly on the hunt for new, unique, and unconventional items to add to my instrument and props collection. And although they were fun and different at first, the novelty wore off quickly…especially when I realized they weren’t super versatile for use across settings and populations.
It took a few years, but I finally came around to the fact that the most traditional instruments and props in my collection are also (usually) the most effective.
read more…