Thanks so much for watching my video and heading over to Listen & Learn Music! I’m excited to share “The Toolbox Song” with you because it truly is one of the most effective tools in my musical toolbox (pun totally intended).
My students and clients request this song time and time again, and I am always happy to oblige, because it allows me to work on so many goals at the same time.
To receive the mp3, instrumental track, lyrics/chords and facilitation guide, simply enter your first name and email address below. Then I’ll deliver the download link to your inbox.
{23 Days of Gratitude} Day 21 – You!
When I purchased the domain name for Listen & Learn Music a little over 9 years ago, I never imagined this would become a place that would help me connect with hundreds of music therapists, teachers, and parents across the country. Every time I attend AMTA national conference, it’s especially apparent just how many friends I’ve made through this tiny corner of the internet.
{23 Days of Gratitude} Day 18 – My Little Ones
Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are pretty much the highlight of my week. I get to spend them making music with the most wonderful groups of children and their adults in our Listen & Learn for Little Ones classes. Singing, dancing and playing instruments with toddlers and preschoolers just never gets old.
{23 Days of Gratitude} Day 15 – AMTA National Conference
Every November for the last 8 years, I’ve spent a few days with 1,000+ other music therapists learning, presenting and exhibiting my work. I’ve met countless therapists from all over the country, and built friendships with many of them through my conference experiences.
Thanksgiving Song Roundup!
It’s that time again! Thanksgiving songs just might be my favorite out of all the holidays, so I am excited to share with you the songs from my collection that are perfect for this season.
There are many tunes I’ve written and collected over the years, but these are the 6 that I continue to pull out and use with my students every single November. Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
Psst…right now, you can become a VIP Listen & Learn Plus member and get all of these songs (plus hundreds more music resources for children) with a biannual payment plan. I only offer this once a year, and it ends soon! Click here for details.
{23 Days of Gratitude} Day 11 – My Education
I was much too young and oblivious to fully understand and appreciate the value of my education as I was receiving it. Of course, I knew that college was expensive (especially a private out-of-state one), but I took for granted to an extent the fact that my parents were able to give me such an amazing gift.
{23 Days of Gratitude} Day 9 – Podcasts
Thanks to my friend and fellow music therapist Kimberly Sena Moore, I learned about podcasts long before they were cool (way back in 2009). I became a podcaster long before most people even knew what a podcast was, and have been doing it pretty much ever since.
{23 Days of Gratitude} Day 6 – My Studio
Music Therapy Connections has had quite the journey, from being based in my car (when I traveled to my students and clients), to my home, to 3 small rooms inside a music store, to now our own 2,500 square feet of space.
When my co-owner Katey and I stepped foot into the building for the first time, we knew it was where MTC was meant to be. We poured hours upon hours and our blood, sweat and tears (well, mostly Katey, since I had a newborn at the time) into making it the perfect studio for us.
“Shakin’ in the Rain”
When I set out to write a mash-up of songs about rain, I realized there were wayyy more than I could possibly include in a single song. So I chose the ones I thought would be most recognizable and singable by my little students and their families, and ended up with Shakin’ in the Rain.
I Heart My Hydro Flask
Never did I ever think I would shell out almost $50 for a water bottle. Crazy talk, right!? BUT, I am not a water drinker, and that is not a good thing. I even ended up in the hospital during my last pregnancy due to dehydration. So while I’ve tried to do better ever since that scary event, I was still slacking.
The only way I knew for sure that I would actually drink the amount of water my body needs was to become financially invested. I had heard about the Hydro Flask on a podcast I love, and after that, I just kept spotting it everywhere. Obviously it was a sign — I was meant to have this water bottle!
Getting Out of Go-Mode
For as long as I can remember, that has been my default setting. But in 2017, a switch was flipped in my brain, and I decided I didn’t want to live in go-mode anymore.
It has taken time to adjust to the idea and practice of living at a slower pace, and I’m still not all the way there yet. It was easier during the summer, when I had a built-in excuse to slow down; now that we are in the throes of fall, it feels like I should be back to life at warp speed like everyone else.