Year 8 of Listen & Learn Music was a HARD one. That’s not to say it wasn’t good — in fact, it was all the good things in my life at one time that made it hard. I was adjusting to having two kids (my toddler went to part-time daycare and I was home with my baby during the day), a beautiful new studio, a music therapy intern, and a full caseload, so trying to find time to write and record new songs on a regular basis was a challenge.
Listen & Learn was my creative outlet during this time, even though new music wasn’t consistent. I was open and honest with my personal struggles in blog posts (like this and this), and interviewing other music therapist moms every week for the Guitars & Granola Bars podcast was enlightening and enjoyable.
I look back at 2015-2016 and wonder how I managed it all. I wish I hadn’t tried to not only keep everything on my plate, but also add several other big responsibilities. I worked so much and so hard during my kids’ first years because I thought that was what was expected of me — what I should do. I’m sad about that, but I’m also grateful for the lesson I learned and the steps I took over the next couple of years to change things because of it.
My 2015 Gift to You
YOU are the reason that Listen & Learn Music is still alive and well today, and YOU are the reason I’ll be celebrating another 10 years in 2028. Every email and comment I receive detailing how a song was brought to life in a classroom or music therapy session, and how it helped a child to learn a new skill, provides the motivation to make this an even more valuable resource for you.
To properly thank you for your support, I’ll be sharing one of my favorite resources with you from the L&L collection each day in yearly chronological order, all the way through September 10.
I adapted quite a few existing songs during year 8, specifically to use in my early childhood and preschool music classes since both kids and parents often appreciate familiar melodies. Two of those songs were Meghan Trainor’s “Better When I’m Dancing” (to address gross motor movement) and Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” (as a calming cool down song). The mp3, instrumental track, and lyrics/chords for both songs are your gifts today.
If you have already joined the “Listen & Learn Music Turns 10” celebration, this gift has already been delivered to your email inbox. And if you haven’t yet joined in, all you have to do is fill out your name and email below:
Check your email now for a special invitation to the private “10 Years of Listen & Learn” Facebook group. I’ll be sharing all 10 resources there as well, along with other goodies you won’t want to miss throughout the 10 days of celebration.
Our Biggest Giveaway Ever
On September 10, one extremely lucky winner will receive a LIFETIME VIP MEMBERSHIP to Listen & Learn Plus, including all current and future CMTE courses.
All you have to do is help me celebrate by:
1) following Listen & Learn Music on Instagram
2) Creating a post about how you’ve used a L&L resource, or just simply sending a birthday wish
3) Tagging @listenlearnmusic on your post
4) Using the hashtag #listenlearnmusicturns10
Feel free to save and post this image and use the caption:
Wishing @listenlearnmusic a very happy 10th birthday! I’m joining in the celebration and hoping to win a lifetime VIP membership to Listen & Learn Plus! #listenlearnmusicturns10
Follow the steps above to enter as many times as you’d like between September 1 – 10.
