Just as the World Series started to heat up, I received this blog comment from Rene, a member of Listen & Learn Plus! and teacher extraordinaire:
Will you still be my music therapist when the Rangers beat the Cards in the World Series? How about a friendly “deal.” If the Rangers win, you sing “The Claw” on your Sunday Sing Along; if the Cards win you sing….do the Cardinals have a song? Ok, better yet…if the Rangers win you sing “The Texas Pledge Song” and if the Cardinals win AND if they don’t have a song…you write one and sing it? Have a super great day from your biggest fan in Texas.
I woke up on Saturday morning, still giddy from the Cardinals’ win and having all but forgotten about our little deal. And then I saw yet another comment from Rene:
Bravo, Cardinals and Cardinal fans. Though I am sad my Texas Rangers lost, the silver lining is we get to hear Rachel’s Cardinal song! Woo hoo.
Of course, she hadn’t forgotten! I wasn’t off the hook…so I whipped up “The St. Louis Swingers” and actually was pretty happy with the result. Thanks, Rene, for giving me such a fun topic to write about!
And congratulations on your team’s showing in the World Series; although they didn’t win, they played very well and gave the Cards a good run for their money. As my husband (an extremely avid Cubs fan) is used to saying, “there’s always next year”.
Every October, I’d go to each classroom at my former job brimming with excitement about the new Halloween songs I’d written for my students.
They always went over well. But inevitably, at the end of each class I’d hear, “Can we sing the ‘Purple People Eater’ song?” Mind you, it was usually (but not always) a staff member making the request.
Even so, the kids loved it just as much. Especially the movements – which I conveniently left out of my video! Ha! Luckily, they’re not too complicated: make “one eye” with your fist to your forehead, “one horn” with your thumb to your forehead and your pinkie sticking out, and then “fly” with your thumbs tucked under your armpits.
Did you dig this song as a kid, like I did? Raise your hand if you still get a kick out of it! Just don’t blame me if you have it stuck in your head all day long now :)
One of the things I’ll really miss this fall is seeing all of my former students at The Hope Institute dressed up in their Halloween costumes, parading around the school.
And I’ll be working away during trick-or-treat time this year, so I will just have to live vicariously through Facebook — for not only my former students, but also my current ones and my nieces, nephews, and friends’ children. If I can’t witness the costumes on parade in person, at least I’ll get to see pictures!
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!
For someone who isn’t the biggest fan of Halloween, I sure have written enough songs to make it appear otherwise! This is one of my older tunes — it’s been around for a few years, but I still like to pull it out from time to time.
It seems to be pumpkin weekend here on the blog, and in real life as well. It’s only the second day of October, and already I’m seeing orange everywhere I go. I guess I might as well jump on the bandwagon and pull out my decorations. Oh, and I should also go pick out that pumpkin I mentioned in the video!
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.
