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Listen and Learn Music: November 2008

Sunday, November 30, 2008

It's Holiday Time

The holiday season is officially here! I skipped the crowds at the mall on Black Friday and instead spent the morning dragging the decorations out of the basement and putting up the Christmas tree with the help of my wonderful husband. Now that my house is full of holiday cheer, I decided that it's time to spread a little bit of it here at Listen & Learn. After all, December begins tomorrow!



It's holiday time, so here is a rhyme,
For us all to sing together.
Spreading joy and good cheer,
This time of the year,
No matter how cold the weather.

It's time for giving,
Helping others and being kind.
It's time for sharing,
Which will make you feel good inside.

It's holiday time, so here is a rhyme,
For us all to sing together.
Spreading joy and good cheer,
This time of the year,
No matter how cold the weather.

It's time for music,
Come on and ring your bell.
It's time for carols,
Silent Night and The First Noel.

It's holiday time, so here is a rhyme,
For us all to sing together.
Spreading joy and good cheer,
This time of the year,
No matter how cold the weather.

It's time for parties,
Spending time with your family and friends.
It's time for celebration,
Hope the laughter never ends.

It's holiday time, so here is a rhyme,
For us all to sing together.
Spreading joy and good cheer,
This time of the year,
No matter how cold the weather.

I have lots of traditions to uphold in the coming weeks. Some of these include watching "White Christmas" about six dozen times, making homemade chex mix with my dad, singing along to the Carpenters' "Christmas Portrait" album, and much more. What are your holiday traditions?

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Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

Before Thanksgiving Day officially begins in my house, I wanted to take a second to share a few of the things that I am thankful for this year.

1. My Family
I am so lucky to have such a loving family on both my husband's side and mine; they never stop supporting me in everything I do, and they truly are my biggest fans.

2. Music
I feel so blessed to have music in my life, and to be able to share it with others. The fact that I get to be musical all day long and get paid for it is just icing on the cake.

3. My Home
Zach and have lived in our house for nearly three years now, and sometimes I just look around and think, "wow, we've got it pretty good." I never take that for granted.

4. You
No, really! I started this blog on a whim, never thinking that people would actually read it. Now I get emails from you, letting me know how you are able to adapt and use my songs in your classroom or with your students, and I truly appreciate each and every one of them. The fact that this has become an educational resource thrills me to no end, and I owe that to each and every reader. So thank you!

I hope that you enjoy your Thanksgiving Day just as much as I know I will. See you back here soon!

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Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Thanksgiving Eve

It's almost here! If you're like me, you're probably looking forward to a few days off so that you can relax, spend time with family, and enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday. I have one more song to share with you that I think really captures the spirit of Thanksgiving in a fun, cheerful, and kid-friendly way.



Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving
The day that we give thanks
For the food that’s on our plates and friends with whom we celebrate
Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving
We sing this joyful song
For all the good things that we have to last the whole year long.

Let’s think about the pilgrims,
Who settled long ago.
They started this tradition
The one that we all know as

Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving
The day that we give thanks
For the food that’s on our plates and friends with whom we celebrate
Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving
We sing this joyful song
For all the good things that we have to last the whole year long.

We’ll all eat lots of turkey,
Mashed potatoes, green beans too
End with a slice of pumpkin pie
And then when we are through, we’ll sing

Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving
The day that we give thanks
For the food that’s on our plates and friends with whom we celebrate
Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving
We sing this joyful song
For all the good things that we have to last the whole year long.

What are your plans for Turkey Day? Mine include LOTS of eating - first with my family, and then with my husband Zach's family. But hey, I'm not complaining :) I hope you all have a very happy Thanksgiving! I'll be dropping in over the weekend to give a little preview of what is to come in December...hope to see you then!

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Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Ten Fat Turkeys

I know we've already counted turkeys this month, but I just had to tell you about this book that I've been reading (well, singing) with my students. You may already know it; it's called Ten Fat Turkeys and it's just as silly as the other book I recommended, I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie.

This story is a new student favorite, which is good enough for me! I especially enjoy the pictures, which are colorful and goofy. Be sure to add this to your bookshelf for next year. I have one more Thanksgiving song for you, so make sure to stop by and take a listen tomorrow. I hope you are enjoying this short week, and gearing up for the official start of the holiday season. I sure am!

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Monday, November 24, 2008

If You're Thankful and You Know It

Good morning! I'm back from my last round of travels, and I couldn't be happier :) These last few weeks have been a whirlwind, and although I won't be traveling this week, it will still be a busy one for me. Not only am I hard at work on session plans for December (which of course means writing a few new songs!), but I am gearing up for my performance on Wednesday night. Lots to do, so let's get to it!

I have found over the last few years of working with kids that there are a few songs out there that will always be crowd pleasers. Among those are "Old McDonald," "The Wheels on the Bus," "BINGO," and "If You're Happy and You Know It". For this reason, I am always using these as templates for new songs that incorporate the themes, ideas, and goals I am addressing. Since it's Thanksgiving time, I simply changed "happy" to "thankful" and voila! A simple yet fun and effective song to celebrate the season.



If you're thankful and you know it, clap your hands!
If you're thankful and you know it, clap your hands!
If you're thankful and you know it, then your face will surely show it.
If you're thankful and you know it, clap your hands!

If you're thankful and you know it, stomp your feet!
If you're thankful and you know it, stomp your feet!
If you're thankful and you know it, then your face will surely show it.
If you're thankful and you know it, stomp your feet!

If you're thankful and you know it, shout I am: "I am!"
If you're thankful and you know it, shout I am: "I am!"
If you're thankful and you know it, then your face will surely show it.
If you're thankful and you know it, shout I am: "I am!"

If you're thankful and you know it, do all three!
(clap clap, stomp stomp, "I am!")
If you're thankful and you know it, do all three!
(clap clap, stomp stomp, "I am!")
If you're thankful and you know it, then your face will surely show it.
If you're thankful and you know it, do all three!
(clap clap, stomp stomp, "I am!")

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Saturday, November 22, 2008

Ten Little Scarecrows

Surprise! Here I am, blogging away from Connecticut in the midst of wedding excitement. In just a few hours, Rob and Shannon will tie the knot, and I'm lucky enough to provide the soundtrack (well, the vocals, at least) to the ceremony. But I couldn't forget about all my faithful readers, so I stopped in to share a counting song with you. This time it's Scarecrows, which aren't exactly Thanksgiving-related, but hey, it's still fall!



Counting time, it’s counting time,
So let’s all sing this simple rhyme.
Ten little scarecrows in a row,
Now let’s count them nice and slow!

One, two, three, four, five,
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
Again!
One, two, three, four, five,
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

How many scarecrows?
Ten little scarecrows!
All lined up in a row.

Be sure to stay tuned for the last few Thanksgiving songs I've been waiting to share with you! Have a great weekend, and see you on Monday :)

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Friday, November 21, 2008

Friday Fave: Songs for Teaching

I have some really exciting news that I've been bursting to share with you, and I thought there was no better time to do so than today, as my Friday Fave. A while back, I told you all about Songs for Teaching and my opportunity to make my songs available on their website.

Now, just a few short weeks later, you can visit Songs for Teaching and not only listen to my songs, but download them as well. I currently have six collections available: Months, Weather, Healthy Habits, Fall, Rhythms, and Manners.

And while you're there, be sure to check out all of the other great artists and their songs. There are so many different styles to choose from.

I'm spending the weekend in Connecticut, but I just might have to take a break from the wedding festivities to post another Thanksgiving song since time is running out. No promises, but check back tomorrow just in case!

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Thursday, November 20, 2008

The Turkey Dinner Dance

Good morning! The countdown is on: Thanksgiving is a week from today, which means I only have a few more days to share the rest of my turkey day songs with you. I'd have to say that today's song, "The Turkey Dinner Dance", is my favorite of the bunch, mostly because I love watching my students bust a move.



Let’s do the Turkey Dinner Dance,
Come on, come on let’s go.
Join right in and follow me,
You can do it fast or slow!

Turkey to the left, cha cha cha
Turkey to the right, cha cha cha
Turkey up and turkey down,
Turkey all around!

CHORUS

Stirring gravy to the left, cha cha cha
Stirring gravy to the right, cha cha cha
Stirring gravy up and down,
Stirring gravy all around!

CHORUS

Mashed potatoes to the left, cha cha cha
Mashed potatoes to the right, cha cha cha
Mashed potatoes up and down,
Mashed potatoes all around!

CHORUS

Pumpkin pie to the left, cha cha cha
Pumpkie pie to the right, cha cha cha
Pumpkin pie up and down,
Pumpkin pie all around!

CHORUS

The choreography is so basic that it really can't be called choreography. Each element in the song has its own move, explained below:

Turkey
What you'd expect...tucking your thumbs under your armpits and flapping your arms.

Stirring Gravy
Hold your right arm in front of you, curving it to make a half circle (this is the pot). Then use your left to "stir" inside the pot.

Mashed Potatoes
I'm sure you all know this basic dance move, where you pump your fists up and down in front of you.

Pumpkin Pie
Hold your arms out in front of you, curved at the elbow, and twist back and forth at the waist.

Or you can make up your own movements - but if you do, be sure to share them with the rest of us! Enjoy :)

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Wednesday, November 19, 2008

A New Look

When I started this blog, my attention was focused solely on sharing quality content with you. While this will always be my first priority, I decided that this place might as well look pretty, too. After all, I spend a lot of time here and the decorating just never was quite up to my standards.

When I came across Rainy Day Templates, I knew that I'd found the perfect person to give Listen & Learn Music a complete facelift. Ellie Moore has worked tirelessly (not to mention amazingly fast!) to produce an awesome new look for my site. So I hope you like it, and if you are in need of a blog overhaul, I definitely recommend Ellie.

So if you come back and don't recognize the place, no need for alarm. Same content, different look. Please let me know what you think!

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I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed A Pie

This book is a MUST for your child or classroom, as I've discovered this month. It's a new take on the classic, I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, complete with hilarious illustrations and a funny story that even the kids who are too cool for school will enjoy. You can find it where I did, on Amazon, for a very reasonable price.

Just a note before I share the song and lyrics: in the book, the last line of every refrain is "Perhaps she'll die." I always change this to "Perhaps she'll cry", which is much more kid-friendly - many of them like to pretend that they are crying when they sing this line along with me. It's simple to type out the word "cry" and cut and paste it into the book over the word "die" on each page.

This book is the perfect way to help your child/students/YOURSELF! get excited about Thanksgiving while having fun and being silly at the same time.

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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

It's a Cold Day!

Happy Tuesday to you all! You might recall that a few days ago, I shared with you the "Chilly Day" song since the temperature finally decided to head downwards. Well it didn't stop there; now it's just downright cold. In fact, we even had a few snowflakes yesterday. Luckily they have subsided (I'm not ready for that yet!), but the cold remains. So here's a very fitting song to complement the current conditions here in the good ol' Midwest:



Cold day, it’s a cold day
The temperature is low, this I know.
Cold day, it’s a cold day
So I’ll stay inside and watch the cold wind blow.

Cold day, it’s a cold day
I can see my breath each time I sing or talk.
Cold day, it’s a cold day
I need to bundle up if I go for a walk.

Cold day, it’s a cold day
The heat is on inside at home and school.
Cold day, it’s a cold day
I’ll zip my coat up because being warm is cool!

I spent last weekend in sunny Orlando, and now I'm bracing for the opposite end of the spectrum weatherwise as I head to Connecticut on Thursday. It will be a wonderful weekend no matter what the weather, as my family will be celebrating my brother-in-law Rob's marriage to his beautiful bride, Shannon.

But until then, look for another Thanksgiving tune tomorrow as we inch closer to that yummy holiday. I can't wait!

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Monday, November 17, 2008

Ten Days of Thanksgiving

I'm back from Florida and really excited to share today's song with all of you. Since Thanksgiving is ten days away, I thought it was the perfect time to post "The Ten Days of Thanksgiving". This is a huge hit with my students, though the staff at my school prides themselves on being able to sing along with me:) So I hope you're hungry; and if you're not, you will be before this song is through!



On the first day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate:
Some turkey on my plate.

On the second day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate:
Two cobs of corn,
And some turkey on my plate.

On the third day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate:
Three mashed potatoes,
Two cobs of corn,
And some turkey on my plate.

On the fourth day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate:
Four heaps of green beans,
Three mashed potatoes,
Two cobs of corn,
And some turkey on my plate.

On the fifth day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate:
Five golden rolls!
Four heaps of green beans,
Three mashed potatoes,
Two cobs of corn,
And some turkey on my plate.

On the sixth day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate:
Six scoops of stuffing,
Five golden rolls!
Four heaps of green beans,
Three mashed potatoes,
Two cobs of corn,
And some turkey on my plate.

On the seventh day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate:
Seven sips of soup,
Six scoops of stuffing,
Five golden rolls!
Four heaps of green beans,
Three mashed potatoes,
Two cobs of corn,
And some turkey on my plate.

On the eighth day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate:
Eight cups of eggnog,
Seven sips of soup,
Six scoops of stuffing,
Five golden rolls!
Four heaps of green beans,
Three mashed potatoes,
Two cobs of corn,
And some turkey on my plate.

On the ninth day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate:
Nine cranberries,
Eight cups of eggnog,
Seven sips of soup,
Six scoops of stuffing,
Five golden rolls!
Four heaps of green beans,
Three mashed potatoes,
Two cobs of corn,
And some turkey on my plate.

On the tenth day of Thanksgiving, this is what I ate:
Ten pumpkin pies,
Nine cranberries,
Eight cups of eggnog,
Seven sips of soup,
Six scoops of stuffing,
Five golden rolls!
Four heaps of green beans,
Three mashed potatoes,
Two cobs of corn,
And some turkey on my plate.

How did you do? You'll be a pro after listening to the song just a few times, trust me! Well it's Monday, which means my to-do list is long and I better get to it before my first class begins. Have a wonderful day, and I'll see you tomorrow!

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Friday, November 14, 2008

Friday Fave: Kristin Chenoweth

You may or may not have heard of this Broadway-turned-TV star, depending on if you're a fan of Wicked or the television show Pushing Daisies (her most well-known endeavors). I actually became aware of her almost ten years ago, when she starred as Sally Brown in the Broadway production of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown. Since then, she has gone on to star in the made-for-TV versions of Annie and The Music Man, and she's also done a couple movies, including RV and the upcoming Four Christmases.

Kristin has made several solo albums, including her latest, a Christmas CD called A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas. I am a huge sucker for holiday tunes, so of course I had to buy it, and I'm very glad I did. Her voice really is amazing. Check out this video of her singing one of her best and most impressive songs, "The Girl in 14G".


I spent about thirty minutes watching videos of her performances on YouTube - she is so talented! A few of my other favorites are here, here, and here.

Well that does it for this week's Friday Fave. I will be absent over the weekend (I'm off to Orlando as you read this!) but be sure to check back in on Monday. Have a great Friday, and a wonderful weekend!

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Thursday, November 13, 2008

More Color Songs

Recently, a staff member at my school shared with me the color songs that her son was learning in kindergarten. They were so cute and easy to sing that I just had to pass them along to you - they are perfect for preschool and primary grades, and the best part is that anyone can sing them!

I wish I could give credit to the author of these simple but effective tunes...if anyone has this info, please let me know!

BLUE

tune: "The Farmer in the Dell"

B-l-u-e spells blue,
B-l-u-e spells blue.
Hi! Ho! Did you know?
B-l-u-e spells blue.
The big sky is blue.
The ocean is too.
Hi! Ho! Did you know?
B-l-u-e spells blue.

BROWN

tune: "Bingo"

There is a color we all know.
Can you guess what it is?
B-r-o-w-n, b-r-o-w-n, b-r-o-w-n,
That’s how you spell brown.
Teddy bears and squirrels are brown.
Autumn leaves are too.
Chocolate candy’s always brown.
Chocolate cake is always brown.
Chocolate milk is always brown.
I like brown, don’t you?

GREEN

tune: "Row Your Boat"

G-r-e-e-n, g-r-e-e-n,
I know how to spell green,
G-r-e-e-n!
Caterpillars are green,
And grasshoppers too.
I know how to spell green,
G-r-e-e-n!

ORANGE

tune: "Ten Little Indians"

O-r-a-n-g-e, o-r-a-n-g-e,
O-r-a-n-g-e, orange is what that spells.
Jack-o-lanterns are always orange,
Carrots are always orange,
Oranges are always orange.
O-r-a-n-g-e.

PURPLE

tune: "Camptown Races"

P-u-r-p-l-e
Purple, Purple
P-u-r-p-l-e
Purple’s what that spells.
Purple grapes on the vine,
Purple Kool-Aid’s fine.
P-u-r-p-l-e
Purple’s what that spells.

RED

tune: "Are You Sleeping?"

R-e-d, red
R-e-d, red
I can spell red.
I can spell red.
Firetrucks are red.
Stop signs are red, too.
R-e-d, r-e-d.

YELLOW

tune: "If You're Happy and you Know It"

Y-e-l-l-o-w spells yellow,
Y-e-l-l-o-w spells yellow.
Like the early morning sun,
When the day has just begun,
Y-e-l-l-o-w spells yellow.
Daffodils and baby ducks are yellow,
Lemonade and scrambled eggs are yellow.
I like the smiley face that’s yellow,
He is such a happy fellow.
Y-e-l-l-o-w spells yellow.

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Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Chilly Day

Hey there, everyone! I hope you are all doing well on this Wednesday - though it feels like another Monday to me after the Veteran's Day holiday. It's a short week, as I'll be heading to Orlando on Friday for my friend Vanessa's wedding. But for now, I thought I'd share another weather song with you.

The weather here in the midwest is completely unpredictable, and in the last week and a half, we've had 70 degree days, 40 degree days, and everything in between. Today it's a little above average for (almost) mid-November, so it's the perfect time to post "Chilly Day." It goes like this:



I had to wear my jacket when I went outside today
I’ll have to wear it at recess if I go outside to play
Because it’s chilly, it’s chilly,
The air outside is chilly
It’s chilly, it’s chilly,
It’s chilly out today.

It’s fall and that is why the nice warm weather’s gone away
The temperature is lower and the cold is here to stay
That’s why it’s chilly, it’s chilly,
The air outside is chilly
It’s chilly, it’s chilly,
It’s chilly out today.

So bundle up when you go outside and do not catch a cold,
Zip up your jacket nice and warm, well this is what I’m told.
Because it’s chilly, it’s chilly,
The air outside is chilly
It’s chilly, it’s chilly,
It’s chilly out today.

I'm off to a Bulldog Pep Rally, where I'll be singing the now-famous Hope School Fight Song. Enjoy your afternoon, and see you tomorrow!

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Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Ten Little Turkeys

I've been trying to hold off posting my Thanksgiving-themed songs, but I can no longer resist! My students and I have been singing about Turkey Day for a week now, and I know that lots of teachers and music therapists out there are probably looking for such songs right about now. So the first song I'll share with you is called "Ten Little Turkeys." I found the lyrics over at Preschool Education, though I made a few tweaks, and I set them to my own original melody.



Ten little turkeys sat in their pen,
"Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen.
One little turkey ran away in a line,
And when he was gone, there were nine.

Nine little turkeys sat in their pen,
"Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen.
One little turkey flew out of the gate,
And when he was gone, there were eight.

Eight little turkeys sat in their pen,
"Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen.
One little turkey flew up towards heaven,
And when he was gone, there were seven.

Seven little turkeys sat in their pen,
"Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen.
One little turkey hid with the chicks,
And when he was gone, there were six.

Six little turkeys sat in their pen,
"Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen.
One little turkey took a dive,
And when he was gone, there were five.

Five little turkeys sat in their pen,
"Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen.
One little turkey hopped out of the door,
And when he was gone, there were four.

Four little turkeys sat in their pen,
"Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen.
One little turkey climbed a tree,
And when he was gone, there were three.

Three little turkeys sat in their pen,
"Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen.
One little turkey flapped his wings and flew,
And when he was gone, there were two.

Two little turkeys sat in their pen,
"Hide, turkeys, hide!" said the little red hen.
One little turkey sped off in a run,
And when he was gone, there was one.

One little turkey sat in his pen,
"Hide, turkey, hide!" said the little red hen.
The last little turkey flew up towards the sun,
And when he was gone, there were none!

I like to pause at the end of each verse and let the kids fill in the number - they love to keep track of how many turkeys are left and show me using their fingers. Stay tuned for several more turkey songs before the month is over!

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Monday, November 10, 2008

Tap Tap Your Rhythm Sticks


Kids love rhythm sticks, and with good reason: they are loud, and they get to hit them together. It doesn't get much better than that when it comes to instruments. I use the 8" Basic Beat sticks, which you can find at West Music, but there are lots of others out there from which to choose.

Playing rhythm sticks is not only fun, but they are a good tool to use when addressing skills such as discrimination of loud, soft, fast, and slow. I put all of the above to work in this rhythm stick song:


Sheet Music: $1
Add to Cart

Tap tap, your rhythm sticks
Oh 1, 2, 3,
Tap tap, your rhythm sticks
Oh tap along with me.
We’ll tap and tap, and tap some more,
We’ll tap until we hit the floor,
So tap tap, your rhythm sticks with me,
Oooh-wee!

Now you’re gonna tap tap, your rhythm sticks so soft,
Shh, shh!
Tap tap, your rhythm sticks so soft,
Shh, shh!
We’ll tap and tap so softly now,
No worries ‘cause we all know how,
So tap tap your rhythm sticks so soft,
Shh, shh!

Now you’re gonna tap tap, your rhythm sticks so loud,
Mmm, hmm!
Tap tap, your rhythm sticks so loud,
Mmm, hmm!
We’ll tap and tap so loudly now,
No worries ‘cause we all know how,
So tap tap your rhythm sticks so loud,
Mmm, hmm!

Tap tap, your rhythm sticks
Oh 1, 2, 3,
Tap tap, your rhythm sticks
Oh tap along with me.
We’ll tap and tap, and tap some more,
We’ll tap until we hit the floor,
So tap tap, your rhythm sticks with me,
Oooh-wee!

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Saturday, November 8, 2008

Songs for Teaching

Over the last few days, I have had the pleasure of conversing with the wonderful people at Songs For Teaching, a one-stop website for educational children's songs, lyrics, sound clips, and teaching suggestions. After taking full advantage of this resource over the last couple of years, I now have the opportunity to make my own songs available for listening and downloading. The wheels are in motion, but I'll save the details until it's a done deal. In the meantime, check out the website, and enjoy your Saturday night!

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Friday, November 7, 2008

Friday Fave: Wedding Music

Zach and I have dubbed November as "Wedding Month" due to the fact that we'll be spending the next two weekends traveling the country for the nuptials of our friends and family. Next Friday we'll be jet-setting to Orlando for the wedding of my friend (and former bridesmaid) Vanessa and her fiance Luis. Then the following weekend, we'll head to Connecticut to participate in the wedding of Zach's brother Rob and his fiance Shannon.

I'm extremely excited about both events - I love weddings! And one of my favorite aspects of the special day is (no surprises here) the music. I love it all: the instrumental (Pachelbel's Canon in D, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desire, The Wedding March), the vocal (Ave Maria, The Prayer, Sunrise, Sunset), and of course the dancing (American Pie, Sweet Caroline, and Hey Ya! are always fun).

I am singing at both of the weddings we'll be attending this month, and both brides have discovered that choosing the selections isn't as easy as one might assume. I got married last summer (08/08/08 to be exact) so I know firsthand that planning the music can be an overwhelming responsibility. Luckily, I had a wonderful advisor (aka my mom) who not only helped choose the music, but actually wrote one of the songs that was performed at the ceremony. She named it "Child of Mine" and asked my good friend and bridesmaid, Victoria, to sing it at the wedding. Listen to a recording of it (sung by me!) below:



Isn't it beautiful? It was such a special and amazing day, and hearing a song written especially for me by my mom made it even that much more spectacular.

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Silly Sounds Hello

Hello, and happy Friday to you! I'd like to start the day with a greeting song: it's called "Silly Sounds Hello," and it targets consonants. This particular tune was written for a little boy named Rocco, who I worked with two years ago, so it was tailored to the consonant sounds he was struggling with at the time. However, you can change those words and sounds to fit the needs of any child, no matter how silly it might end up sounding (because after all, that's the point!). Take a listen:



I know a silly way to sing hello.
You can sing it to your friends,
And the people you know.
The words of this song are fun to say,
Won't you sing along with me today?

Hi, hi, pie pie pie.
Hi, hi, tie tie tie tie.
Hi, hi, my my my.
Hi to you.

Hello, no no no.
Hello, go go go go.
Hello, dough dough dough.
Hello to you.

Hey there, bear bear bear.
Hey there, fair fair fair fair.
Hey there, pear pear pear.
Hey there to you.

So there it is. Rocco loved singing this song because it was so silly and nonsensical, and by the year he had mastered most of these sounds. Progress is that much sweeter when you have fun making it.

I hope you've enjoyed this series of hello songs. And if you have any great ones up your sleeve, I'd love to hear about them! As always, thanks for reading, and come back later for "Friday Faves."

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Tuesday, November 4, 2008

You Can Vote However You Like

Just because your students aren't old enough to vote, that does not mean they don't understand or care about the election. In fact, the very opposite is true. In one of my classes this morning, the first question my students asked was, "who did you vote for, Miss Rachel?"

As I mentioned earlier today, my school held a mock-election and students were given the opportunity to cast their ballots for either Obama or McCain. Towards the end of the aforementioned music therapy session, the class wanted to sing about who they voted for. I agreed, and each student proudly shared their vote with their peers and me.

As the students in the following video will tell you, it's not about who you vote for - it's about letting your voice be heard and setting an example for the children who look to you as a role model. It's obvious that they are paying close attention!

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Sunday, November 2, 2008

Everyone is Doing the Maraca Rock

At least, they will be after hearing today's song! Maracas (and shakers in general) are a favorite instrument for most of my students, so I'm always looking for ways to incorporate them into music therapy. Maraca Rock does just that...and as a bonus, it also addresses an important skill: discrimination of space (high, low, back, forth).


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Maraca rock-a, rock-a, rock!
Maraca rock-a, rock-a, rock!
Got the rhythm shakin’ and the beat is quakin’
The maraca rock-a rock!

Rock your maracas way down low, maraca rock-a rock!
Way down low, rock them way down low, maraca rock-a rock!
Rock your maracas way up high, maraca rock-a rock!
Way up high, rock them way up high, maraca rock-a rock!

Maraca rock-a, rock-a, rock!
Maraca rock-a, rock-a, rock!
Got the rhythm shakin’ and the beat is quakin’
The maraca rock-a rock!

Rock your maracas back and forth, maraca rock-a rock!
Back and forth, rock them back and forth, maraca rock-a rock!
Rock your maracas all around, maraca rock-a rock!
All around, rock them all around, maraca rock-a rock!

Maraca rock-a, rock-a, rock!
Maraca rock-a, rock-a, rock!
Got the rhythm shakin’ and the beat is quakin’
The maraca rock-a rock!

The first Monday of each month is always exciting, because that is when I introduce all my new songs to my students (although I think sometimes the staff and parents look forward to it more than the students!). I also have a fun new book I will be sharing with you all in the coming days. Stay tuned!

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Saturday, November 1, 2008

November is Here

I hope you all had a fun and happy Halloween! Now that it's over, it's time to dive into November and all the fun things this month brings. I love Thanksgiving, and I'm excited about the songs I'll be posting in relation to it in the coming weeks. But before we get to those, first things first. Below is the November song...I hope you like it!



For thirty days November’s here
Let’s give thanks and show good cheer.
The days are short and the wind will blow
It’s the eleventh month I know.

For thirty days November’s here
And Election Day will come.
Grown-ups will go to cast their votes
There will be a celebration for some.

For thirty days November’s here
Let’s give thanks and show good cheer.
The days are short and the wind will blow
It’s the eleventh month I know.

For thirty days November’s here
And next comes Veteran’s Day
We’ll remember those who served
And home from school we’ll stay.

For thirty days November’s here
Let’s give thanks and show good cheer.
The days are short and the wind will blow
It’s the eleventh month I know.

For thirty days November’s here
And then comes Thanksgiving Day.
While we eat turkey and pumpkin pie
We’ll be thankful in our own way.

For thirty days November’s here
Let’s give thanks and show good cheer.
The days are short and the wind will blow
It’s the eleventh month I know.

Elections, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving...what a busy month! I hope it's off to a good start for you - see you tomorrow for some rockin' with maracas :)

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