by Rachel | Uncategorized
Believe it or not, I’m one of those crazy people that gets up and goes to the gym at 5 am. It sounds completely awful, I know; but I love getting a jump start on my day and having my workout finished before most people are even out of bed. Besides a really loud alarm clock placed strategically out of my reach, there is only one thing that keeps me going every day: music.
I have filled my little iPod shuffle with songs that I know will keep me moving from the second I step onto the treadmill, through all of my strength training reps, to my cardio cool-down at the end. A few current favorites are the Black Eyed Peas, Michael Jackson, All American Rejects, and Kelly Clarkson.
Music is a great way to motivate my students and keep them moving, as well. As a music therapist, I always forget how useful recorded music can be – in fact, I was just having this conversation with another music therapist recently. I have been trying to use it to my advantage more lately, and I am being reminded that it can really give my students the push to do their work and meet their goals.
So here is a little list of the songs on my iPod that my students are digging, and that they will work extra hard to hear at the end of their session:
The Jungle Book – “Bare Necessities”
High School Musical – “We’re All in This Together”
High School Musical 2 – “You are the Music in Me”
Laurie Berkner Band – “Bumblebee (Buzz Buzz)”
Alvin & the Chipmunks – “Witch Doctor”
Smashmouth – “All Star”
Jonas Brothers – “Live to Party”
The Lion King – “Hakuna Matata”
Justin Roberts – “Hey Hippopotamus”
Lou Bega – “Disney Mambo # 5”
This is just a short list of the many songs that I find myself humming after a long day of music therapy! Are there any others you can add to the list? If so, I’d love to hear them.
by Rachel | Uncategorized
This is my grandma and I this past spring at my brother’s graduation party. She is coming home today (she lives in Naples, FL) to celebrate her 80th birthday, and our family is throwing a party for her. My mom and I wanted to do something really special for her, so we decided to write a song. The song is called “Legacy” and as I mentioned in last week’s Friday Fave, we utilized the wonderful GarageBand to record it.
A legacy is measured in many, many ways
It’s not the wealth you leave behind,
Or the number of your days.
The little things that mean the most
You won’t read about in the evening post
They’re in a knowing smile,
And the laughter of a child.
Chorus
The music of your life
Will never cease to play,
The wisdom of your lyrics
Shaped who we are today.
The melody is familiar,
We’ve known it all along.
Your legacy is in this gift of song
The hands of time fly quickly and every moment counts
You must leave your mark and give your love
In unlimited amounts.
For all the hearts you’ve held so dear
Even those no longer here
Know this one thing’s true,
Our lives were blessed because of you.
Chorus
Let’s spend this day in celebration
As we tell you how we feel.
We may not have the words we need,
But the sentiments are real.
CHORUS
We put a picture slideshow together, and this song is the soundtrack to it. I can’t wait for my grandma to see it at her party on Saturday!
by Rachel | Uncategorized
Hi friends. I’m feeling exceptionally happy today, and not just because it is Friday. Also, not just because I’m drinking a huge mug of delicious coffee. The real reason is that I have something exciting to write about today, and this could quite possibly be my favorite “Friday Fave” to date. I hope you’ll read on.
I discovered Kickstarter while reading one of my favorite blogs. The girl who writes the blog (her name is Lindsey Markel) also wrote a publication for girls with the goal of “empowerment through advice, education and encouragement regarding everything from school to credit cards, and heartbreak to living a life of wonder”. Lindsey was seeking to self-publish her work in book format and distribute it to women’s shelters, Planned Parenthoods, and after-school programs nationwide, which is why she turned to Kickstarter.
Curious, I clicked the link from her blog and was led to a site which calls itself a “a funding platform for artists, designers, filmmakers, musicians, journalists, inventors, explorers…”. I could become a backer of Lindsey’s project by pledging any amount of money (from as little as $1) and if her goal amount was reached (which it was – twice over, actually), my pledge would be collected via an Amazon payment.
After I made my pledge, I began exploring some of the other projects on Kickstarter. There were all sorts of creative types hoping to turn their projects into a reality, which got me thinking about Listen & Learn. I have lots of goals for my song collection and website, one of which is to professionally record a compilation CD which can be widely distributed to those who it could possibly benefit. My current set-up, which consists of recording and editing each song on my laptop and burning CDs one by one, is funtional but not ideal. As my horizons have expanded, I’m ready for the next level!
So today is the official launch of my very own Kickstarter project, titled “Listen & Learn: Songs for a Different Kind of Audience”. My hope is that if one of my songs or ideas has positively affected a child in someone’s life, that person will become a backer. After all, backers get cool stuff in return (did I mention that part earlier?). I could keep writing, but instead I’ll just give you the link to my project – HERE IT IS!!
Thanks for reading this super-long post, and for being a regular visitor. Have a beautiful Friday and a wonderful weekend!
by Rachel | Uncategorized
Today’s Friday Fave is a little different from those I’ve posted in the past. Before I get to the “fave” part, there are some not-so-pleasant facts I need to share…here goes.
The state of Illinois is facing some pretty devastating budget cuts that would drastically reduce or eliminate many statewide social services. The long list of agencies and organizations that would be affected provide services for millions of people, many of whom are children with disabilities.
The Hope Institute for Children and Families provides residential and educational services to children with multiple disabilities, and it is on that list. I have been ensured that my job as music therapist is not in danger, but some of the children at our school might not be so lucky. It these cuts are not restored, services for many of our students may not be funded and they might be sent home. An incredibly alarming scenario, not just for Hope but for the parents and students who depend on the care that Hope provides.
But everyone at Hope, and those involved with the other social service agencies in Illinois, has faith that doors will not be shut and children will not be denied the support upon which they depend. And that brings me to the “fave” part of this otherwise somber post, which is community support.
I have been amazed at the efforts of our community here in Springfield and across the state to stop these devastating cuts from ocurring. Two weeks ago a huge rally at the capitol building was organized, and many social service organizations united to show our legislators just how dedicated they are to what they do, and how far they are willing to go to keep doing it.
Letter-writing and telephone campaigns have been in effect since the budget cuts were announced, and through the beauty of email, Facebook, and Twitter, I’ve watched as people have responded and participated in such campaigns, whether or not they are affiliated with an affected social service agency. What a beautiful thing.
The legislators won’t be in session again for another two weeks, so it could be a while before we have any definite answers about the future of Illinois. But I am sure that in the meantime, the community will continue to write letters to the editor, email and call their representatives and senators, and so on. And that makes me proud to be a part of it, despite our sad political state.
For more information about the Hope Institute and how it could be affected by the budget crisis, visit their Facebook page.
by Rachel | Uncategorized
Yes, me and every 12-18 year old girl out there. But let’s be honest: it’s hard not to. She’s talented (writes her own songs, plays the guitar, performs live) and wholesome, which are both rare in the world of popular music. Her music is fun and catchy, and it appeals to people of all ages with different tastes.
But her targeted audience just happens to be the stream of tween and teen girls that come to my studio for voice lessons each week. And when I ask them what kind of music they like and want to learn, they inevitably answer, “Taylor Swift.”
There is a school of voice instructors that frowns heavily upon teaching popular music, not to mention – gasp! – country music. I should know; every single one of my voice teachers throughout my education hailed from this school. But it is for this very reason that I never even considered enrolling there. I spent many, many years learning songs I couldn’t stand because they were songs I needed to know.
The difference between the lessons I took and the lessons I teach is that while I still insist upon teaching those need-to-know songs, I make sure to devote time in each lesson for what my students wants to sing. Tackle “Caro Mio Ben” and then we’ll take on “Popular Song of the Moment”. This has been my modus operandi since I first began teaching, and it works. My students are happy, their parents are happy, and that combined makes me ecstatic.
This month, Taylor Swift is the shining star – what almost every one of my voice students works toward at the end of her lesson. It’s artists like her who inspire these girls to pursue singing, after all.
Believe it or not, I’m one of those crazy people that gets up and goes to the gym at 5 am. It sounds completely awful, I know; but I love getting a jump start on my day and having my workout finished before most people are even out of bed. Besides a really loud alarm clock placed strategically out of my reach, there is only one thing that keeps me going every day: music.
