Goodbye, 2008!

For those of you who have been checking in throughout the last week and a half, I have two words for you: I'm sorry :( I said I'd be blogging as usual, but I did not uphold that promise...it has just been a blur of activity and time spent with family and friends. Unfortunately, Listen & Learn had to suffer, but I am ready for a fresh start with the advent of 2009.

It's hard to believe that 2008 is ending. It's been a great year, full of BIG events. I got married, which meant inheriting a new last name, a wonderful family, and a few days later, a brand new nephew named Mason. I'll always remember 2008 as a year of new beginnings, but I am excited to see what 2009 has to bring.

And though I don't have an original song to help say goodbye to 2008, here's a tongue-in-cheek recap of this year in the news, set to music:



Have fun tonight, and be safe. Come by tomorrow for a brand new song that you and your kids can sing for the next 365 days. Cheers!

Ten Twinking Trees

Good morning everybody. It's Monday, and we're only a few days away from Christmas! It's hard to believe, isn't it? Today is my last day of school before a two-week break, but don't worry, I'll still be updating my blog as usual. I have a full day of classes, a dentist appointment, and a graduation ceremony to sing, so let's get to it. Today's song is called "Ten Twinkling Trees" and here it is:


Sheet Music: $1


Ten twinkling trees, standing strong and tall,
Which twinkling tree is the best of all?
Not this one here, for it’s not made of pine,
Let’s look at the other nine.

Nine twinkling trees, standing strong and tall,
Which twinkling tree is the best of all?
Not this one here, for it’s trunk’s not straight,
Let’s look at the other eight.

Eight twinkling trees, standing strong and tall,
Which twinkling tree is the best of all?
Not this one here, for it doesn’t point to heaven,
Let’s look at the other seven.

Seven twinkling trees, standing strong and tall,
Which twinkling tree is the best of all?
Not this one here, for there’s too much to fix,
Let’s look at the other six.

Six twinkling trees, standing strong and tall,
Which twinkling tree is the best of all?
Not this one here, for it didn’t thrive,
Let’s look at the other five.

Five twinkling trees, standing strong and tall,
Which twinkling tree is the best of all?

Not this one here, for it came from a store,
Let’s look at the other four.

Four twinkling trees, standing strong and tall,
Which twinkling tree is the best of all?
Not this one here, for it’s too big for me,
Let’s look at the other three.

Three twinkling trees, standing strong and tall,
Which twinkling tree is the best of all?
Not this one here, for its branches are few,
Let’s look at the other two.

Two twinkling trees, standing strong and tall,
Which twinkling tree is the best of all?
Not this one here, for it’s brighter than the sun,
Let’s look at the other one.

One twinkling tree, standing strong and tall,
It surely must be the best of all.
With branches full, and sized just right,
I’ll take it home and trim it tonight.

My own Christmas tree is trimmed and most of my presents are wrapped and waiting beneath it, though I still have a few last-minute items to add. These next couple of days will be hectic, but I love this time of year!

Friday Fave: James Taylor at Christmas

Today is Friday! For many of you who work or teach in a school, this is probably your last day before the holiday break. If that's you, hooray! My school has one more day in session (Monday) before a two-week break, and as much as I love it here, I have to say that the vacation will be nice.

I've said it many times, and I'll say it again: I love Christmas music. And when it comes to the sounds of the season, I'm not biased at all - I will listen to anything the all-Christmas radio stations play. But of course I do have my favorites...the aforementioned Carpenters' Christmas Portrait, Bette Midler's Cool Yule, Christmas With the Rat Pack, and today's featured Friday Fave, James Taylor at Christmas.

James Taylor is a music legend, and one of my very favorites any day of the year. "Your Smiling Face" makes my heart happy every time I hear it, as do most of his songs (except "Fire and Rain", which makes me a little teary). So when I discovered his Christmas CD a couple years ago, I just had to add it to my collection. It's soulful, jazzy, and just plain good...the kind of music that makes you want to curl up in a cozy chair in front of the fire with a big mug of hot chocolate.

My go-to track (which I included on a compilation holiday CD I made for all my students this year) is "Go Tell it On the Mountain". It makes me feel warm and fuzzy every time I hear it, and I love the gospel choir that accompanies him. To listen to a sample of this song and all the others, go here.

That's all, folks. Today is a double-post day, so stay tuned for another song that will be sure to get your kids talking...about Christmas!

If You Could Give a Gift This Christmas

As we inch closer and closer to Christmas break, everyone (including staff!) is getting antsy. It seems that all my students want to talk about are the holidays, which is fine with me. It gives me a perfect excuse to utilize all the great songs I've come across and/or written.

The kids love to tell me what they want for Christmas, and tomorrow I'll share a song with you that encourages them do exactly that. But a week later, as I was planning their music therapy session, I had an idea. Rather than tell me about what they asked for, I wanted to hear what they would give to others if money was no issue. Here's what I came up with:


Sheet Music: $1


If you could give a gift this Christmas,
No matter how much it cost to buy,
You could give it to your family or friend,
What would you choose, tell us who and why.

It doesn't have to be from a store,
A gift from the heart means so much more.
You could make it yourself or do something nice.
Not all gifts have a price.

If you could give a gift this Christmas,
No matter how much it cost to buy,
You could give it to your family or friend,
What would you choose, tell us who and why.

After each chorus, I called on a student and asked him/her to choose a recipient and share what they could give to this person, and for what reason. The answers I got were all over the board, ranging from giving a fellow classmate a new video game (which made that student very happy!) to buying a new house for his/her mom or dad. My students took this exercise seriously, and it really did show another side of them.

Sometimes it's hard for kids to remember that the holidays are about more than getting presents, but really all they need is a simple reminder.

The Other Eight Reindeer

Good Wednesday morning! I hope you're all surviving the elements out there...mine include ice, snow, and more ice, not to mention freezing cold temperatures. 'Tis the season for snow days, shoveling, and lots and lots of lesson cancellations :(

Today's topic is reindeer. We all know and love Rudolph, because after all, he is the most famous reindeer of all. I sang "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" with my students last year more times than I care to count, so this year I decided to change things up a bit. The result was "The Other Eight Reindeer", an ode to Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen. This song confuses everyone upon first listen, because I purposely wrote the first line to sound like the original "Rudolph" song. Most people get a kick out of it, though!


Sheet Music: $1


Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer lights the way,
Rudolph leads the pack when Santa flies his sleigh,
But Rudolph’s not the only one, he needs a little help to get the big job done,
What I’m talking about is clear: the other eight reindeer.

Next in line is Dasher, Dasher, fly away,
Now there are seven more, helping guide the sleigh.
Next in line is Dancer, Dancer, fly away,
Now there are six more, helping guide the sleigh.
Next in line is Prancer, Prancer, fly away,
Now there are five more, helping guide the sleigh.
Next in line is Vixen, Vixen, fly away,
Now there are four more, helping guide the sleigh.
Next in line is Comet, Comet, fly away,
Now there are three more, helping guide the sleigh.
Next in line is Cupid, Cupid, fly away,
Now there are two more, helping guide the sleigh.
Next in line is Donner, Donner, fly away,
Now there is one more, helping guide the sleigh.
Last in line is Blitzen, Blizten, fly away,
Now there are no more, helping guide the sleigh.

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer lights the way,
Rudolph leads the pack when Santa flies his sleigh,
But Rudolph’s not the only one, he needs a little help to get this big job done,
What I’m talking about is clear: the other eight reindeer.

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen,
Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen,
Reindeer. The other eight reindeer.
The other eight reindeer.
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer needs some help.

I hope you and your students enjoy this tune just as much as we have. Oh, and it's ok to sing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" every once in a while, too!

A Big Dose of Holiday Spirit

You can't help but feel just a little bit happier and full of Christmas cheer after watching this video. These kids are talented!

Hope everyone had a nice weekend. I've been fighting a nasty cold and tough case of laryngitis since Friday, so I haven't been able to record the new Christmas songs I'm planning to post over the next two weeks. With any luck I'll be feeling better soon, so stayed tuned!

Friday Fave: White Christmas

It's Friday, and you know what that means! But first I'm going to share an unprecedented Friday Worst: Laryngitis. This is perhaps the most frustrating predicament for any music therapist, teacher, or anyone who needs a voice to do his/her job. And I must be a glutton for punishment, because I get a pretty severe case of laryngitis at least once a year, rendering me pretty much useless when it comes to my work.

But I must press on, so here I am, sharing with you today's Friday Fave: White Christmas. I'm referring to the 1954 film starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera Ellen, and most notably, the music of Irving Berlin. It has been one of my favorites since I was little, and it is just as much a holiday necessity as putting up a Christmas tree in my house.

Because I've seen the movie more times than I can count, I can sing along with every song and even recite most of the lines. My favorites songs include "Sisters", "Snow", "Blue Skies", and of course, the title song, "White Christmas". I recently purchased the sheet music collection so now I can play and sing the tunes.
The greatest thing about this movie is that the whole family can watch and enjoy it. I watched it with my family growing up, and when Zach and I start a family, it will no doubt become a tradition for us.
I hope you've enjoyed this week's edition of Friday's Fave...now go out and sing some Christmas carols, because I sure can't!

Clap, Stomp, and Spread Christmas Cheer

There's no doubt that the Christmas spirit is alive and well at the Hope Institute, at least during music therapy. One of the songs I've included in my December activities is a play on "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", which I found at the great site Preschool Education. It incorporates movement, following directions, and singing; in my opinion, that is the trifecta of elements that makes a great children's song.



Let's all do a little clapping,
Let's all do a little clapping,
Let's all do a little clapping,
And spread Christmas cheer.

Tapping (knees)
Stomping (feet)
Stretching (arms)
Nodding (head)

We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
We wish you a Merry Christmas,
And a Happy New Year!

I ask my students for other movement suggestions, and some of my more active kids love to jump, skip, and run in place. Other ideas are snapping fingers, whistling, and clicking the tongue. Be creative! Also, I always ask everyone to sing with me during the last verse. It is a great way to end the music session, because it's a familiar song that makes everyone feel good.

Do You Hear the Reindeer Tapping on the Roof?

I wrote this song specifically as a rhythm sticks activity, but it's so darn catchy that it works perfectly fine all on its own. This is the first of two reindeer songs that I've written this month, so stay tuned for the other one in the next couple of weeks.



Do you hear the reindeer tapping on the roof?
Tap tap tap tap tapping on the roof.
Do you hear the reindeer tapping on the roof?
Tap tap tap tap tap.

Dasher and Dancer are tapping on the roof,
Tap tap tippy tippy tap.
Prancer and Vixen are tapping on the roof,
Tap tap tap tap tap.

Comet and Cupid are tapping on the roof,
Tap tap tippy tippy tap.
Donner and Blitzen are tapping on the roof,
Tap tap tap tap tap.

Here comes Rudolph tapping on the roof,
Tap tap tap tap tap.
Good old Rudolph is tapping on the roof,
Tap tap tap tap tap.

Do you hear the reindeer tapping on the roof?
Tap tap tap tap tapping on the roof.
Do you hear the reindeer tapping on the roof?
Tap tap tap tap tap.

I will admit that when I recorded this, I inadvertently left out Comet and Cupid, but I posted the lyrics as they should be sung. Sorry for that!

Another idea for this song is that instead of naming the reindeer during the verses, you can sing:

I hear "Susie" tapping on her sticks,
Tap tap tippy tippy tap,
I hear "Bobby" tapping on his sticks,
Tap tap tap tap tap.

And name each child in the group. I do this with my younger kids, and they love hearing their names sung.

Well, back to work. I'm working on January songs, and for some reason it's just not as fun of a month as November and December. This is where my creativity really needs to kick in...I don't have the convenience of major holidays to inspire me :)

Ten Little Candy Canes

It's counting time again! You probably have lots of these peppermint treats around the house or in your classroom, so go ahead and use them as a teaching tool while you sing this counting song with your students.



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

1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
Again!
1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

How many candy canes?
Ten little candy canes,
All lined up in a row.

Before I sign off, I'd like to ask for some feedback from you: what are your favorite Christmas songs to sing with your child or students? I'm especially interested in hearing about unique and original songs, even if they are simple as can be. Sometimes keeping it simple is best, especially when it comes to kids!

Friday Fave: The Carpenters' "A Christmas Portrait"

The Carpenters may have been before my time, but I have fully embraced their music thanks to my dad, a big fan himself. As I mentioned last week, one of my holiday traditions is listening to the album A Christmas Portrait, which the Carpenters released in 1978. I first heard the album as a freshman in high school, and I remember borrowing my dad's copy of the CD and practically wearing it out that year. Now I have my own copy, and it remains my very favorite Christmas music ever.

This is one of the few CDs I can listen to over and over and never get bored...in fact, it's been in my car CD player for the past three weeks. Richard's arrangements are lush and beautiful, and Karen's voice is stunning, really. Though I enjoy every song on the album, my favorite is "Sleigh Ride".

Close runners-up are "Christmas Waltz", "It's Christmas Time" and "Merry Christmas, Darling". You can listen to snippets of all the songs here, courtesy of Amazon. And the next time you hear one of these songs while you're shopping at the mall or in your car listening to Christmas radio, think of me :)

That does it for this week's Friday Fave. I have a busy but fun weekend to look forward to, which includes leading music activities at my church's Breakfast with Santa and singing at the birthday party of one of my favorite three-year-olds, Samantha. Have a great weekend!

The Colors of the Season

I love this time of year. Everyone is in a good mood, and there's a sense of excitement and anticipation in the air, which makes even the extremely cold temperatures tolerable. When I was younger, my family used to drive around different neighborhoods and admire the Christmas lights and decorations, and I still enjoy doing so to this day.

There's no doubt an abundance of red and green in your home, at the mall, in your workplace, and all around your city, and that is what today's song is about.


Sheet Music: $1


Red and green are the colors of the season,
Red and green are the colors all around,
Red and green are the colors of the things we see,
All over the town.

We’ll start with red, R-E-D,
Red is the color of the things we see.
Like candy canes and berries and Santa’s clothes,
Poinsettias and drums and big red bows.

Red and green are the colors of the season,
Red and green are the colors all around,
Red and green are the colors of the things we see,
All over the town.

Next is green, G-R-E-E-N,
We see this color again and again.
Like Christmas trees and wreaths and mistletoe,
Wrapping paper, ornaments, and lights aglow.

Red and green are the colors of the season,
Red and green are the colors all around,
Red and green are the colors of the things we see,
All over the town.

You can make this song interactive by asking your students to identify objects in the classroom that are red and green, which - I can tell you from experience - kids love. Another idea: make pictures of each item in the song and have the children name them during the verses. Or insert your own red and green items to make the song unique.

Jingle All The Way

There really is no sweeter sound than that of a room full of kids shaking their bells like crazy and singing "Jingle Bells." Is it just me, or are Christmas songs the equivalent of jumbo pixie sticks? If that is true, then I am guilty of some serious sugar overloading.

The Year is 2008

Good morning! Today I have a song for you that will expire in less than a month...it's all about 2008, which will be over before we know it. But have no fear, I will be sharing a brand-new 2009 song with you in early January. So there are still a few weeks left to get some use out of this song, and I will be singing it up to the very last day before the holiday break. Here it is:



What's the year, my dear?
2008, you hear.
Oh, what's the year, my friend?
2008 from start to end.
For all 365 days, remember this date,
The year is 2008.

The year is made up of months.
The months are made up of weeks.
The weeks are made up of days.
The days are made up of minutes that are great,
The year is 2008.

What's the year, my dear?
2008, you hear.
Oh, what's the year, my friend?
2008 from start to end.
For all 365 days, remember this date,
The year is 2008.

As 2008 comes to a close, I can't help but to think about all the wonderful things that have happened in the past twelve months. From getting married, to traveling, to exciting new career opportunities, it has been a great year. But for now, celebrate it by singing this song and enjoy the days remaining. See you tomorrow!

The Last Month of the Year is December

There was no question when I woke up this morning that it was December. All I had to do was see the thin layer of snow on the ground, and my suspicions were later confirmed when I ventured outside and was covered in the white stuff myself. December is here, ladies and gentlemen, and winter is not far behind!

So to kick off this twelfth month, here is a song all about these festive thirty-one days. Enjoy!



The last month of the year is December
It is number twelve, this we know
There are thirty one days and then the year is new
In December there’s so much for us to do.

The last month of the year is December
The air is cold and it may even snow
We’ll start to see all sorts of decorations
In all the different places that we go.

CHORUS

The last month of the year is December
There are many holidays to celebrate.
Some of my friends have Hannukah and Kwanzaa
Learning about traditions is so great.

CHORUS

The last month of the year is December
And our friends and family will soon arrive.
There’ll be trees and lights and cookies and some presents
‘Cause Christmas comes on day twenty-five.

CHORUS

The last month of the year is December
New Year’s Eve is on day thirty-one
We’ll stay up late and count down to midnight
Oh, isn’t December lots of fun!

Today begins a brand new batch of seasonal songs at school and in my students' homes. I can't wait to share them all with you over the next few weeks. But for now, enjoy the first day of December and if your weather is anything like mine, be careful out there!