The Ice Age Song

by | Listen & Learn Music, Uncategorized



If you’ve seen Ice Age, then you probably recognize these creatures as the main characters.  My song is unrelated to the film, but I loved this picture – and the animals just happen to be the right species!  “The Ice Age Song” is my attempt at consolidating general knowledge about this prehistoric era in a way that children can understand.

Now, this is not a topic I’d cover as a matter of course.  But my sorority’s local alumnae association is hosting a kids camp-in with an Ice Age theme at the Illinois State Museum later this month, and guess who is providing the musical entertainment?  I did actually do a search for songs on this subject, but unfortunately came up empty-handed.  So I got to work writing my own, and this is what I came up with:

Millions of years ago,
The earth was covered in ice and snow,
No oak tree grew, no grass on the ground.
Only glaciers all around.
The air was cold, the land was bare,
In the Ice Age everywhere.

Wooly mammoths, and cave bears too,
And wooly rhinos, just to name a few.
Were animals who lived back when,
But have become extinct since then.
There were also reindeer with their great big hooves,
And horses, bison and wolves.

CHORUS

35,000 years before now,
The Ice Age people lived somehow.
They hunted with tools they made from rock and bone,
In caves and shelters they found a home.
Fire kept them warm and scared the animals away,
They were able to live this way.

CHORUS

The Ice Age was a time of discovery
For those who came before you and me.
Eventually the ice began to melt away,
And the Earth evolved into what it is today.
Now glaciers and fossils and drawings show,
That the Ice Age existed long ago.

CHORUS

I kept the information pretty basic and straightforward, bearing in mind that my audience will be made up of late-elementary school students.  My program comes at the end of the evening, though, so by then, they’ll probably already know all of this and then some.  In fact, maybe the kids could help me write “The Ice Age Song: Part 2”.  Hmm…now that’s not a bad idea!

A Spring in My Step

by | Uncategorized

Spring is in the Air

It’s heeeere!  Spring, of course.  I spent the weekend in Chicago, where the first day of spring was 34 degrees with 30 mph winds and a snow/rain mix, but hey, at least I can say that winter is technically over.

Two years ago, I wrote new lyrics to the traditional tune “This Little Light of Mine” for a song all about spring.  I don’t do much piggybacking (changing the words of existing songs) these days, since writing the music myself is much more fun; but I still pull out “Spring is in the Air” every March.

This year, I decided to breathe new life into it, adding some instrumentation and changing the key of the previous version.  I can’t wait to sing it with all of my students tomorrow!

Winter’s gone away,
Spring is in the air!
Winter’s gone away,
Spring is in the air!
Winter’s gone away,
Spring is in the air!
Winter’s gone, let’s go outside, it is spring!

Flowers start to grow,
Spring is in the air!
Flowers start to grow,
Spring is in the air!
Flowers start to grow,
Spring is in the air!
Flowers grow, no more snow, it is spring!

Warm and sunny days,
Spring is in the air!
Warm and sunny days,
Spring is in the air!
Warm and sunny days,
Spring is in the air!
Warm days, sun’s rays, spring is here!

Only one more week of the normal routine before life gets a little crazy (in the best possible way). The following week is my spring break, which I’ll spend in St. Louis recording my first studio album. Then the week after that, Zach and I are jetting off to San Antonio for a few blissful days of vacation. No wonder there’s a spring in my step!

Happy Face, Happy Voice

by | Listen & Learn Music, Uncategorized

Whining. We all do it from time to time, whether you’re a child, mature adult, or my dog at 4 in the morning.  For kids, whining comes naturally in unfavorable situations, or even just when they’re tired and cranky.  How many times have the words “stop whining!” come out of your mouth?  Probably quite a few if you’re a parent, teacher, or anyone else who spends time with children on a regular basis.

But that phrase may fall upon deaf ears after awhile, so how about a new way to help nip this bad habit in the bud?  That was the strategy for one of my consult clients, who requested a custom-written song about using a “happy face and happy voice” instead of whining.

When you are unhappy and feeling blue,
There are just a few things that you need to do.
Just listen up, and you’ll be fine,
As long as you don’t whine.

First you need to find your happy face,
Then you need to find your happy voice.
When you talk without a whine,
And smile, you shine.
You’re making the right choice!

Simple and to the point. It’s amazing how such basic songs can be so effective, as long as the message is clear. What other bad habits might be addressed through a song like this?

SONGBOOK SALE!

by | Uncategorized

It’s regional music therapy conference time, and we (myself and songbook publisher Michelle Erfurt) are celebrating by offering a limited-time-only sale on my songbook, Listen & Learn: Songs for School, Home and Play.

From March 15 – April 16, when you purchase a songbook for $25, we will also include the supplemental CD (usually sold separately for $10) and free shipping. Also, a portion of all Listen & Learn songbook sales will be donated to the music therapy clubs of Colorado State University and Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (you choose which university you’d like to support when you make your purchase).

Listen and Learn: Educational songs for School, Home, and Play contains 24 of my most popular songs. It includes the melody line and chords for songs that address goal areas such as counting, daily care, directions, transitions, friendships, and more, along with activity suggestions for each one. It was developed for other music therapists, educators, parents, or anyone who works with children. I made a video in which I talk more about the book and sing a song from it; you can watch here.

Wave Goodbye to Winter

by | Listen & Learn Music, Uncategorized


Warning: I might be contagious, so don’t come near me unless you want to catch…spring fever! Here are a few of my symptoms:

  • jumping for joy at the appearance of sunlight
  • impatiently counting down the days left of winter
  • the urge to hug the weatherman for predicting warmer temps
  • spontaneously breaking into songs about spring

I’ve come down with a very serious case, and it’s only getting worse with each passing day.  But I take comfort in knowing I’m not alone in my suffering; it seems that spring fever is running rampant.  Have you fallen victim?

The good news is that my spring fever inspired me to write a new song, and every time I sing it, I can’t help but feel giddy at the prospect of birds singing in the trees, warm sunshine on my face, green grass, and blooming flowers. 

Wave goodbye to winter,
Say hello to spring.
Clap your hands,
Oh, clap your hands,
Oh, clap your hands and sing!

Sing because spring is almost here.
Sing because the sky will be blue and clear.
Sing with the birds, up in the tree,
Sing and (clap your hands) with me!

Wave goodbye to snow,
Say hello to spring.
Sway side to side,
Oh, side to side,
Sway side to side and sing!

CHORUS

Wave goodbye to cold air,
Say hello to spring.
Wave your arms,
Oh, wave your arms,
Oh, wave your arms and sing!

CHORUS

Wave goodbye to gray days,
Say hello to spring.
Tap your toes,
Oh, tap your toes,
Oh, tap your toes and sing!

In 17 days, we can officially wave goodbye to winter and celebrate the official start of spring.  But for now, I’ll settle for a week of sunshine, 40-degree (and climbing) temperatures, and best of all, little to no precipitation.  It’s the small victories, you know?  After this brutal winter, I’ll take whatever I can get!