by Rachel | Uncategorized
First things first: it’s time to announce the winner of the SleepPhones Giveaway! (I used random.org to select a random number from the list of comments.) That lucky person….drum roll, please…is musicsparks! Congratulations to you, and a big thank you to the rest of you for entering. Don’t forget, you can receive $5 off your own pair of SleepPhones by using the coupon code “LALM5” when you order online. Stay tuned for upcoming giveaways, and as always, your regular visits to my humble home in the blogosphere are much appreciated!
Item number two on the agenda will be short and sweet, I promise. I just have to take a few sentences to brag about my extremely talented piano students, all of whom scored “SUPERIOR” ratings at our local National Federation Junior Festival. It was my first year as a member of the federation, so this was their first time participating. It’s not easy to get up and play in front of judges and an audience, but my students looked and sounded like pros (as reflected by their high scores). It was a proud weekend for this piano teacher!
Item number three is just a reassurance that yes, there ARE new songs coming your way this week! I’ve had a lot of news and special items to share this past week, but I’m ready to get back to what this blog is really all about. Tomorrow’s tune is about a VERY tall American icon who lives on the East Coast. Any guesses?
by Rachel | Uncategorized
One of my favorite traditions at The Hope Institute is gathering all of the students and staff for an all-school holiday singalong. We really go all out: our Hope House Band (comprised of me on guitar and vocals with three other members on guitar, drums, and bass) sets up, we pass out song packets with lyrics to all the classes, and we even invite students to perform special roles in the festivities.
This year, one of our senior classrooms has been creating their own visuals to accompany songs for each month, and December is no exception. We have been having so much fun using their creative materials for Ten Twinkling Trees and The Other Eight Reindeer that now, they are going to add their artistic talents to tomorrow’s singalong.
The class worked together to make signs for each of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, which they will hold up in the air at the appropriate times in front of the entire school when we sing the tune tomorrow. I think the staff members are more nervous than the students, to tell you the truth! We rehearsed this morning, and I know everyone will be impressed.
Singing seasonal carols is my favorite way to get into the holiday spirit, and I know I’m not the only one. I love hearing coworkers and children singing Christmas songs in the hallway outside of my office throughout the day, and next week I will be leading one of my classes as we surprise other rooms with a song or two. How does your school get into the holiday spirit? Do you put on a special program or concert? I know that many schools are not allowed to celebrate religious holidays…if this is your case, do you celebrate the season in an alternative manner? Please take a moment to share!
by Rachel | Uncategorized
A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that there was a big event coming up at The Hope Institute, where I work as the music therapist. That event is our annual Celebrity Chef gala, and it is happening tomorrow night! Chicago chefs Brian Duncan and Paul Virant will be preparing an amazing meal, and there will also be music, dancing, silent and live auctions. This year, some of our students have played an important role in preparing for the fundraiser, which will benefit Hope and the children it serves.
One of my classes has been rehearsing since school began for the performance they will give at Celebrity Chef. We will be singing three songs, one of which I wrote specifically for the event. These students have put their hearts into it, and I am so proud of their hard work! I know they will be a hit tomorrow night.
As a souvenir, each guest will receive a CD which includes several Hope Institute “hits” from music therapy, as well as the song written for the event. Several of my students lent their voices to the CD, and an entire classroom worked together to assemble all 500 of the CDs we will be giving away. I was completely blown away by their neat work and speed – they completed this task in less than three days!
I’m extremely honored and excited that our music therapy program will be highlighted at the event, but even happier that my students will have a chance to shine. We work on skills such as respectful behavior, social interaction, and teamwork on a daily basis, and they will definitely be showcasing their progress tomorrow night. I can’t wait!
by Rachel | Uncategorized
If you haven’t already done so, be sure to watch this video. It is really amazing. At the very end, the little girl, Emily, says, “I like inspiring kids,” which inspired me to share this video with yesterday’s piano students (who all just happen to be little girls under the age of 10). All of them were awestruck, and had all kinds of questions afterwards. My last student, who told me when she arrived that she didn’t want to play the piano anymore, had completely changed her tune by the end of the lesson. I asked her if she still wanted to play, and she didn’t hesitate in answering “Yes!”. Emily has definitely accomplished her goal, and for that, I am thankful :)
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.
