New York City, that is. Tomorrow, my husband and I will head east for a few days to attend a friend’s wedding (Zach is a groomsman), but not before spending a couple days as tourists in the city. My best friend lives there, so we’re going to meet up with her, along with a few other friends who will also be in town for the wedding. Any suggestions on which Broadway show to see while we’re there? Should I go with a tried-and-true favorite (like Mamma Mia, Wicked, or Bye Bye Birdie) or something I’ve never seen (like Avenue Q, Billy Elliot, or In the Heights)? Please advise!
My first trip to NYC was, no joke, to sing at Carnegie Hall. Granted, it was by no means a solo performance; rather, it was with a huge chorus performing the works of Morten Lauridsen. That was back in the summer of 2004, and it was an amazing trip. My mom and I went together, and we hit up all of the hot spots: the Empire State Building, Tavern on the Green, The Today Show, Times Square, two Broadway shows (Thoroughly Modern Millie and Chicago) and lots more.
So needless to say, I am extremely excited about going back to the Big Apple, as well as our friends’ wedding. I’m taking my computer with me (does that really surprise you?) so hopefully I will even fit in a blog update or two. In the meantime, have a wonderful Wednesday!
Somebody is turning 27 around here, and it’s not me! My husband, Zach, who is a whopping five months older than me, will be celebrating his birthday tomorrow, and the rest of the family and I will be there right along with him.
Although Zach and I have only been married for a year and a half, I’ve been by his side for six birthdays. He takes the cake for giving the best gifts (birthday, Christmas, or otherwise) but I always tell him that I’m much easier to buy for than he is! One of the best gifts he’s ever given me (and there are lots from which to choose) was actually for our wedding, when we we were planning the playlist for the souvenir CD that would be given out to all 250+ guests.
We had already decided that the song I wrote for him on Valentine’s Day, Second Chance Dance, would be included, but what I really wanted was to record a song together for the CD. After lots and lots of coaxing, he finally caved in. We reworked the lyrics to the song “Anyone Else But You” (the one Ellen Page and Michael Cera sing at the end of the movie Juno). Zach isn’t a singer, or musical in any way aside from enjoying it, so I was pretty darn proud of the job he did on this song. Needless to say, his friends and family were more than surprised when they heard it played during the picture slideshow my parents put together for our rehearsal dinner!
I will always treasure this recording, because it’s most likely the only one I’ll ever have of its kind. I couldn’t be luckier to have such a wonderful, funny, supportive husband – he calls himself my #1 fan, though my mom begs to differ – and I hope his 27th year is his best yet!
I can’t believe that I am writing my last blog post of 2009. Where did the last twelve months go? This year seems to have flown by faster than any previous year, which I’m told happens as you get older. But as quickly as it went, 2009 was a fabulous year, in terms of both my career and personal life. Follow the links to read more about each month’s highlight:
January: One of my students had a breakthrough during music therapy. February: I passed the joy of the Snowball Microphone on to my readers. March: My husband and I closed on and moved into our new house. April: We vacationed in San Diego and returned completely refreshed. May: A new addition to the family arrived…our golden retriever, Sadie. June: I turned 26 and got an iPhone, which did wonders for my productivity. July: I launched my Kickstarter project, a three-month adventure. August: My music therapy work was featured in a local news piece. September: Listen & Learn was featured as a “Blog of Note” by Blogger. October: The Model Me Kids DVD for which I wrote songs debuted. November: I attended and presented at my first national conference. December: I was featured in a radiothon for Children’s Miracle Network.
If 2010 is anywhere near as successful as 2009 was, I’m in for a great year. Thank you, everyone, for reading Listen & Learn Music, and for sending your feedback my way. I hope you’ll continue to do so in the new year. And come back tomorrow to hear a song you can sing for the next 365 days, as well as my new year’s resolutions. Cheers!
That is how our first holiday in our first home looked. It was certainly a white Christmas, and I was hoping to take a similar picture of our new home this year, as we get ready to celebrate our first Christmas in it. Unfortunately, we’ve only had a tiny bit of snow, and it is currently raining cats and dogs, so maybe I’ll get one later in the week.
No matter what the weather, I’m just glad to be staying home for the holidays! I feel very lucky that both of our families are nearby, which means we get to see everyone without having to drive long distances or get on an airplane. And that is why I decided that for today’s “Merry Karaoke” song should reflect this sentiment:
Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays, For no matter how far away you roam – When you long for the sunshine of a friendly gaze, For the holidays – you can’t beat home, sweet home!
I met a man who lives in Tennessee, and he was headin’ for Pennsylvania and some homemade pumpkin pie; From Pennsylvania folks are travelin’ down to Dixie’s sunny shore; From Atlantic to Pacific – Gee, the traffic is terrific!
CHORUS
I met a man who lives in Tennessee and he was headin’ for Pennsylvania and some homemade pumpkin pie; From Pennsylvania folks are travelin’ down to Dixie’s sunny shore; From Atlantic to Pacific – Gee, the traffic is terrific!
CHORUS
What are your plans for the holidays? Will you be staying home, or traveling to see friends and family? No matter what you’re doing, I hope your week is safe, fun, and full of cheer. Today is my first official day of vacation, and I am off to bake cookies. I’ll be back with at least one more installment of “Merry Karaoke” before the week is through…see you again soon!
Has it really been two whole weeks since I returned from the AMTA conference in San Diego? According to my calendar, it has, but it feels like just yesterday. My first national conference was an experience I won’t soon forget, and I’m already thinking ahead to next year. You can read some of the highlights I shared early on during my stay, but more important, in my opinion were the lessons I learned not only about my profession, but about myself, as well. (I know…how cheesy am I?)
Yes, there are actually others like me out there! Ok, so I knew this already, but it’s easy to forget that there are plenty of other music therapists out there, with jobs very similar to mine, when I am on my own in good ol’ Springfield. Having face-to-face contact and trading stories and advice was worth the price of admission, in my opinion.
The internet really is a good place to meet people. Of course, I mean that only in the most professional sense :) I’ve made quite a few online connections with fellow MTs over the last couple of years, and I was thrilled to have a chance to meet many of them IRL (that’s “in real life” for those of you who don’t speak internet!) at conference. Several of us joked that we felt like old friends already, but it really was true. And let me tell you, hanging out with music therapists in person is much more fun than sending tweets and writing on Facebook walls!
I’m on the right track. Having been in the field for only 2.5 years, I tend to question my knowledge, professional abilities, and the decisions I make as a therapist from time to time. I had this false notion that every other MT knew exactly what he or she was doing every step of the way, but I quickly learned from the vets at conference that those question marks are normal. Based on the feedback I received regarding my career, I came home with a brand-new sense of confidence and even clearer vision for my future path.
Public speaking is actually fun. This was probably one of the most valuable lessons of the bunch. In submitting my presentation proposal, I basically forced myself to face one of my biggest fears: public speaking. Little did I know that the key to this art is finding the right topic, which I definitely had by presenting “Music Therapy in the Blogosphere”. I enjoyed myself so much that I couldn’t wait to give another presentation two days later. I’m officially hooked on public speaking!
Good ideas lead to big things. I knew that I would finally get to see and hold the new Listen & Learn Songbook once I arrived in San Diego, but it wasn’t until it was actually in my hand that I was able to grasp the reality of it. What began as an idea was now, after lots of hard work, a product that people were buying! The picture above shows Michelle Erfurt (my wonderful publisher, on the left) and I at our booth in the exhibit hall.
I could spend another hour telling you all about the specifics: the presentations and workshops I attended, the people I met, and the conversations that were had, but I have a feeling those will unfold over time as I put them to good use. This conference was just what I needed to recharge my battery, so to speak. Do I really have to wait an entire year for the next one?
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.
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