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.
Helping Children Slow Down and Stay in Control
One of the most amazing qualities about music is its versatility. It can pump us up, bring back memories, teach us new skills, and calm us down. There is so much power in our melodies and chords, so let’s use our powers for good, and make sure that our clients and students leave music therapy sessions and music classes in a regulated state.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about What It’s Like to be a Therapist at a Camp for Kids with Special Needs, and I briefly mentioned that I use music to help the campers (and staff!) stay calm and practice regulation strategies. This week, I want to expand on that and let you in on all my secrets for helping children remain slow and in control in situations where that is most appropriate!
read more…Keeping Caregivers Engaged in the Music
Parents and caregivers often attend music classes and music therapy sessions, and although those classes and sessions are not for them, their presence so important to the progress and growth of our clients and students.
It’s always important to engage everyone in the room through the music, and unfortunately sometimes the adults get forgotten. But parents and caregivers are more likely to engage with their children and return to music class and music therapy sessions if they are also playing instruments, singing along, and dancing.
Over the years, I’ve learned a few things that can help keep everybody engaged during music class or music therapy!
read more…DIY Cupcake Shakers + A Song for Shaking Along
How innovative are you when it comes to instruments for music classes, music therapy, and classroom use? Well, I can tell you I’m not even a fraction as innovative as my colleague at Music Therapy Connections, Becky Waddell.
About a month ago, Becky sent me a Slack message: “I picked up tiny cupcakes that I’m turning into shakers for one of my classes if you get an itch to write a song about cupcakes! Ha!”
read more…What It’s Like to be a Therapist at a Camp for Kids with Special Needs
This past week, I was on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts, at Adam’s Camp New England. For the past three years, I have been one of the music therapists for Adam’s Camp. Every year, this camp has pushed me to the limits and taught me new skills, while creating incredible bonds with children, their families, and other therapists along the way.
To say I love this camp would be a serious understatement! I look forward to my weeks at Adam’s Camp more than almost anything all year.
read more…#Goals (and When to Reassess)
Summer is usually a pretty laid-back time at my private practice, Music Therapy Connections. However, summer 2019 is a MAJOR exception to this rule, as it has been quite the whirlwind so far.
At the end of May, we welcomed a new music therapy intern, Emma, and then just a couple weeks later, we welcomed a new full-time music therapist, Molly. Then, one week after that, our long-time music therapist, Alisabeth, left us to have her baby.
So as you can imagine, there has been an overload of new client intake, new contracts beginning, and current clients being reassigned to different music therapists. Thankfully, we are at tail end of this shuffle, and now the real work begins.
read more…The Amazing Cabasa!
One of my all-time favorite instruments in my music therapy arsenal is my collection of cabasas! I love them so much, and use them frequently in my music therapy sessions and music classes — probably every day.
When I pass out cabasas, people are often unsure how to use them and typically require some guidance. Because of this, the cabasa is a great instrument for children to explore, be creative, and practicing mimicking.
read more…Move Your Body Along
As I was scrolling through Listen & Learn Music in search of a movement song, I stumbled upon “Move Your Body Along” — a true hidden gem in the L&L catalog.
I have to admit, I listen to so many songs because of my job, that sometimes I forget them. Other times, I have the best of intentions, set out to learn a song and incorporate it into my repertoire, and just never do it. THIS is one of those songs!
read more…Incorporating Singable Stories
Children just love books; it is a simple fact I have come to learn over the years. Whether it’s looking at the pictures, having a chance to turn the page, or snuggling in an adult’s lap, many children are highly motivated and engaged when it’s time to read a book.
I was always hesitant to incorporate books into my music therapy sessions and music classes, but I noticed that if I arrived a few minutes early or stayed a little later, many of my clients and students would ask if I would read them a book. For young children, I truly think it is a way for them to express that they want to share an experience with you and often, they are telling you that you are important to them.
For younger children and those with special needs, visually attending or engaging in a book might be hard work or just not interesting for them. When that’s the case, my solution (of course) is to sing the words of the story!
There are so many stories that are easily singable, and many even have songs or melodies written for them. Below, I’ve featured two singable stories you can find in the Listen & Learn Music catalog.
Some of the goals addressed in these songs:
- Improve the transition to bedtime
- Improve sequencing skills
- Improve object identification
- Increase sustained attention
- Increase creative thinking
- Improve fine motor skills
There’s no better time for a lullaby than bedtime, and the same goes for books! When you combine the two, you get “I’ll See You in the Morning”, a sweet lullaby that pairs with the books of the same title (find it here) by Mike Jolley.
When utilizing “I’ll See You in the Morning”, encourage children to look at the pages and identify what they see, fill in the blanks, or recall what they heard in the story. The singable story may also help them understand the transition from day to night, which can be confusing, and even scary for young children.
It can be hard for children, and even adults, to truly understand how big the world is. There are so many different cultures, languages, and sights to see, and “Around the World We Go” serves as a great introduction to the diversity of the world we live in! This singable story pairs with the book of the same title (find it here) by Margaret Wise Brown.
“Around the World We Go” can be utilized in many of the same ways as “I’ll See You in the Morning”, but because of the repetitive nature of this particular book, it provides the ideal opportunity to include sign language for improved fine motor skills.
“Around the World We Go” can also be used as a conversation starter with children about other people around the world. For children who are older, this could even be used as an opportunity to create their own verse for the singable story, and maybe even encourage the children to create illustrations for their verse.
All singable stories can be utilized to improve sustained focus and object identification, but it is easy to see that different singable stories can be utilized to target other goals, such as understanding the differences in the world or transitioning to bedtime. There are so many possibilities with singable stories, which makes them a priceless addition to any music therapy session or music class.
Let me know in the comments below: What singable stories do you incorporate into your music therapy sessions or classes?
You can listen to all of these songs in their entirety right here. Lyrics, chords, mp3, and instrumental track for these original songs are available for download. As is the case for all Listen & Learn Music creations, we invite you to adapt these songs as needed to best serve your students and/or clients.
Four Seasons Song Pack!
The end of May and beginning of June is a busy time for everyone, but it’s especially jam-packed for my family thanks to LOTS of birthdays! This week, we’re celebrating mine (June 5) AND my son’s (June 8).
For the last few years, I’ve put together a special Listen & Learn offer during my birthday week, and this year is no exception. This one might actually be my favorite yet, because it will come in handy alllll year long.
read more…Greatest Hits of the School Year
Here in New Hampshire, school is still in session for a few more weeks. Many of my clients and students are preparing to move on to new classrooms, new schools, or are just getting ready for summer break, and often, a break from music therapy or music classes.
For the last session or class of the school year, I like to bring out all of the kiddos’ favorite songs we’ve done, and sometimes, children will even make requests for what songs they’d like to hear.
read more…