All winter long, I look forward to warm weather for many reasons, but mostly this one: so that I can ride my bike! And since we’ve had such a beautiful (not to mention early) spring, I’ve already put almost 600 miles on my bike since March 1st.
And though my rides are a bit longer now than they were when I was younger, riding my bike still makes me feel kinda like a kid — in a good way. However, I’m a lot better about bike safety now than I was back then, and that is what today’s song is all about.
I’m getting ready to head out on a nice long ride this morning with my dad, and you’d better believe we’ll be wearing helmets, using our signals, and putting to use all of the other safety tips mentioned in the song. Well, except for the one about riding on the sidewalk…we’re a little too old for that ;)
That’s exactly what I need to do…because after a long day that started at 4 am and included traveling by plane followed by a full schedule of lessons and music therapy, I need to find the energy to catch up on lots of work!
But the long weekend I spent in Mexico with my husband and another couple was well worth the tiredness I’m experiencing now, because my batteries are feeling recharged and I’m ready to take on the week — which just happens to be full of big projects and events.
I’m hoping this song helps charge up the batteries of my students and all of the other kiddos who will hear it. It’s meant to get them up and moving at the start of the day (and I’m thinking I’ll probably need it myself tomorrow morning).
This song is part of what promises to be an exciting collaboration, which I’ll tell you more about later :) Until then, I hope it will serve its purpose for you and your kiddos as a way to get those muscles moving and blood pumping!
This weekend as I was brainstorming ideas for today’s new song, I thought back to a lesson I helped a teacher at my former job teach to his students. The topic was clapping at appropriate times, which may seem very basic to most, but for students with developmental and behavioral issues, it wasn’t so simple.
I don’t remember exactly which songs I wrote or used in that particular case, but the lesson was my inspiration for I Like to Clap — the latest song here at Listen & Learn.
The song touches upon several different occasions on which clapping is appropriate and encouraged, and of course, includes hand claps and applause (at the very end).
Hopefully this is one that your kiddos can have lots of fun with, and learn from as well. I’m looking forward to singing it with my students this week!
Okay, okay…so this song really has nothing to do with Halloween at all. It is, however a Listen & Learn oldie! I think three years qualifies, as such, don’t you? When I went digging through the archives to find my original post, I couldn’t believe it how long it has been around.
The original moves all involve making some kind of sound, but they don’t have to. I’m using “Ugga Bugga Boo” this month when some of my students, and we’re finding creative ways to change up the lyrics. Some of the movements we’ve come up with:
get into the beat and shrug your shoulders up and down (up and down)
get into the beat and wave your arms ’round and ’round (’round and ’round)
get into the beat and bend your knees down and up (down and up)
And of course, there are always a few silly ones in the mix, too :) With a title like Ugga Bugga Boo, that’s to be expected!
This little church mouse sure can. Shakers are an integral part of my instrument collection because not only do they sound great, but they are colorful and easy to play. I often incorporate them into the songs I write — particularly those targeting movements and following directions — for those same reasons.
“Surely You Can Shake It” is new to the Listen & Learn collection. The song combines several goals, including shaking up high, down low, slowly, and quickly.
Surely you can shake it down low,
And surely you can shake it up high.
Surely you can shake it ‘round and ‘round,
But can you make that shakin’ sound?
Surely you can shake it down low,
And surely you can shake it up high.
Surely you can shake it ‘round and ‘round,
And you can make that shakin’ sound!
It’s fun to hear my students make (or at least, attempt to make) the “ch” sound along with me. An easy way to target other speech sounds would be to change “ch” to “shh”, “sss” or just about any other syllable. If you haven’t already noticed, I’m a big fan of using a single song to address multiple goals!
Welcome! I’m Rachel Rambach, board-certified music therapist and creator of Listen & Learn Music — educational songs and musical materials for children. I love sharing my work with you, along with my behind-the-scenes creative process, adventures in business ownership, and life as a mom of two.
My Book + Course
This is the book + course that will help you shape your music therapy career in order to make more money and live your ideal lifestyle. Details here.
