Spring Snow

When the forecast called for snow this weekend, I laughed it off. After all, it's spring...right? It rained all day long on Saturday, and by late evening the temperature had dropped considerably. Maybe the weatherman was right after all? Sure enough, when I woke up early on Sunday morning, I looked outside to see approximately four inches of snow covering the ground. So in honor of Illinois' freak spring snowfall, I'd like to share my snowy day song (one that I thought I wouldn't have to think about for at least eight more months).



Snowflakes, snowflakes, float to the ground.
Here they come without a sound.
Big and small, down they fall,
It’s a snowy, snowy day.

See the ground, all covered in white,
Can you feel the cold air’s bite?
Making snowmen, snow angels too,
Snow is falling, yes it’s true.

Snowflakes, snowflakes, float to the ground.
Here they come without a sound.
Big and small, down they fall,
It’s a snowy, snowy day.

Make a snowball with your hands,
Toss it up and see where it lands.
Soft and powdery, white as glue,
Snow is falling, yes it’s true.

Luckily, most of the snow has melted and the high today is 60 degrees. My spring break starts next Monday, so I'm crossing my fingers in the hopes that this weekend was meant to balance out a perfect week of sunshine and 70 degree temps. I have other weather songs, ones about warm weather and fun in the sun, that I'd really like to get to. Have a great Monday, everyone :)

Friday Fave: My Piano

Can I tell you a story? It's about a girl and her piano. The piano came long before the girl did...it belonged to her mother, and what a prized posession it was. The piano was the centerpiece of the living room, and a source of endless entertainment for the girl even when she was very little. When she turned five, her mother asked her if she'd like to take piano lessons. Of course she said yes, and so she began her first of many, many years learning to play.

The girl had lots of different piano teachers. First a whole slew at the music store in the mall, then a nun named Sister James Marie throughout junior high and high school. But while her teachers changed, she came home and practiced on that same piano. She didn't practice as much as she should have, but she did the best she could. After all, she was a very busy girl.

When the girl's mother turned 40, her family threw her a surprise party. But the biggest surprise was a baby grand piano, which sat front and center in the living room. The old piano still had a spot in that room, but it was mostly ignored. When the girl's parents moved to a new house, the big shiny one had it's own room upstairs while the old piano was relegated to the basement. There it stayed for several years, collecting dust.

By now, the girl was all grown up. She and her husband bought a new house, which had a room perfect for her teaching studio. All it needed was a piano. So all the men in the girl's family got together and rescued that old piano from the basement, lugging it up a flight of stairs, out the door, onto a truck, and finally into the room where it will live from now on.

And that is the story of this girl and her piano. It's amazing to me that the very same instrument I once banged on as a toddler will be used to teach countless other children how to play. I love my piano.

The New Digs

I've talked about it enough, so I thought it would only be fair to share with you - my lovely readers - the place where I'll be doing most of my composing, recording, and blogging. I still have some work left to do (I'm waiting on an area rug and there are pictures to be hung) but here are just a few snapshots to give you an idea of what's going on in my office/studio.

I promise, I don't usually blog in the dark...

The piano I've played since childhood.

Oh, just brushing up on my Mozart.

Daydreaming about Broadway shows in New York City.

Deciding which instrument I feel like playing.

Bookshelf # 1, organized by category.

Bookshelf # 2

Bookshelf # 3 (and Tink!)

A couple of accomplishments, waiting for wall space :)

So there you have it: a sneak peak into my new favorite spot. I have a feeling I'll be spending most of my time in this room, and that is okay by me! I have yet to reveal the best parts, so stay tuned...

Eat Your Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Growing up, I despised breakfast. I didn't like eating in the morning, and I could hardly stand most breakfast foods. It wasn't until high school that I willingly ate breakfast, which usually consisted of a granola bar and Capri Sun during my first-hour latin class. Now I'll eat just about any breakfast food (though I am very particular about my eggs), and it is a required meal if I want to have a productive morning.

I know I wasn't the only kid in the world who wasn't a breakfast eater. You probably know a few, yourself...or maybe a kid who doesn't like to eat lunch or dinner. Children can be very picky when it comes to mealtime, which is what today's song is all about.



Eat you breakfast lunch and dinner.
And you're sure to be a winner.
These three meals keep your body strong,
Morning, noon, and night – the whole day long.

Breakfast comes first, it's how we start the day.
Have it before school or goin’ outside to play.
Eggs and bacon, pancakes too,
Orange juice and milk are good for you.
Breakfast is the first meal of the day.

Lunch comes next, it gives us energy.
For learning, or running, or climbing up a tree.
A sandwich, crackers with some cheese.
And a juice box if you please,
Lunch is the second meal of the day.

Dinner is last, it's what we eat at night.
When our day is through, let’s have a bite
Of chicken and a vegetable,
Dessert if you are not too full,
Dinner is the third meal of the day.

Eat you breakfast lunch and dinner.
And you're sure to be a winner.
These three meals keep your body strong,
Morning, noon, and night – the whole day long.

You can always replace the foods I included with whatever your child likes to eat - it's okay if it doesn't rhyme! Speaking of breakfast, lunch and dinner, I need to plan my grocery list for the rest of the week. Have a great Tuesday!

Friday Fave: The First Day of Spring!

I must start this Friday post with an apology - I've been a bad blogger this week :( But I promise I have a good excuse; I have been moving all week, and that has used up almost all of my energy. Actually, there's no "almost" about it...I am completely drained, both mentally and physically. But today is a very important day, and I just couldn't stay away any longer.

SPRING!! Raise your hand if you have been counting down the days until its arrival (my hand is high in the air). Even though it's pretty chilly outside this morning, the sun is shining and the promise of consistent warm weather is palpable. Most exciting of all is that I finally get to sing my "spring" song, which goes like this:



Winter’s gone away,
Spring is in the air!
Winter’s gone away,
Spring is in the air!
Winter’s gone away,
Spring is in the air!
Winter’s gone, let’s go outside, it is spring!

Flowers start to grow,
Spring is in the air!
Flowers start to grow,
Spring is in the air!
Flowers start to grow,
Spring is in the air!
Flowers grow, no more snow, it is spring!

Warm and sunny days,
Spring is in the air!
Warm and sunny days,
Spring is in the air!
Warm and sunny days,
Spring is in the air!
Warm days, sun’s rays, spring is here!

In more moving news (I know, you're probably sick of hearing about it by now), we spent our first night in the new house last night! Most of the boxes are unpacked, and our new furniture will be arriving today along with direcTV. It is finally beginning to feel like our home. I will try to post some pictures this weekend, so until then, happy Friday and happy Spring!

Cleaning Up

Good morning! It's Monday, but hey, we'll make the best of it :) I had a wonderful trip to Chicago - the parade was packed with people but the weather and the atmosphere definitely made it worthwhile. It was so nice to spend time with our friends, and my husband's awards banquet was super fun as usual. We returned last night, and after a whirlwind weekend it was a little difficult getting back into the groove.

Today's song is another new one, and this time we're singing about cleaning up. I know this is certainly not most kids' favorite activity, but a song can make just about anything reasonably enjoyable. I wrote this song so that you can add verses to cater to the specific clean-up task being tackled. I included just a couple sample verses (picking up toys and clearing away dishes) but feel free to make changes as needed.


Sheet Music: $1


Clean up time, clean up time,
Lend a hand and sing this rhyme.
Clean up time, so do your part,
Ready, get set, now start!

Clean up your toys, put ‘em away.
Put ‘em away, oh put ‘em away.
Put ‘em away, where they belong,
Cleaning up is the name of this song.

CHORUS

Clear away your dishes, take ‘em away,
Take ‘em away, oh take ‘em away.
Take ‘em away, where they belong,
Cleaning up is the name of this song.

Clean up time, clean up time,
You lent a hand and sang this rhyme,.
Clean up time, your part is done,
Cleaning up can be such fun.

Do you know any other clean-up songs? They come in so handy for my students when it's time to put away instruments or other materials used in music therapy sessions.

Friday Fave: My New House!

Okay, okay...I know this is not music-related, but it's hard to think about much else right now! After our closing yesterday (which went very smoothly), we went straight to our new house and began unloading box after box of stuff. I finally got to open all of our wedding gifts and put them away in the kitchen, and it was so much fun! A little overwhelming, but luckily we had the help of our wonderful parents.

Today the painters are coming to repaint all of the bedrooms and my new office, and then next week we are getting a brand-new kitchen floor. Next Saturday, all of our new furniture will be delivered and we will finish moving our stuff in, and we will spend the first night in our new house! I can't wait.

As for this weekend, Zach and I are taking off for a fun trip to Chicago, where we will meet up with friends, go to the St. Patty's Day parade, and attend his company's annual awards banquet. It should be a blast. I hope you all have a great weekend, and see you back here on Monday!

Jermaine

There's a student at Hope named Jermaine. Jermaine is probably the most enthusiastic student I see all week, both at school and in private practice. In fact, his clapping was so enthusiastic that his teachers asked him to tap his knees instead, so that his peers weren't distracted during music therapy.

Jermaine absolutely loves music, and over the last two years I have made him countless CDs of my songs. He knows all of them by heart, and will often request the songs by name. Today he asked me to sing the song "I Will be Your Friend", which I hadn't sung or even thought about in months and months. But another student echoed his request, so I began singing the song. I got through the first verse, and then completely blanked on the second verse. Jermaine was there to save the day - he took over as lead singer, and belted out the second and third verses.

When the song was through, Jermaine raised his hand. I called on him. "Yes, Jermaine. Do you have a question?" (He will often ask me questions in between songs.) He replied, "Miss Rachel, you encourage my heart every time you sing."

Actually, it's the other way around...do I really need to explain why I love my job?

Ten Little Shamrocks

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner, so today I thought we'd count shamrocks. If you're a regular here at Listen & Learn, you should be very familiar with this tune by now. But if you're new, welcome! Won't take you long to catch on to this simple tune. It's counting time, so off we go:



Counting time, it's counting time,
So let's all sing this simple rhyme.
Ten little shamrocks 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 shamrocks?
Ten little shamrocks.
All lined up in a row.

My husband and I will be in Chicago over the weekend for his company's awards banquet, which means we'll also be able to catch the St. Patrick's Day Parade. It should be a fun day! In the meantime, this is quite a busy week and I have lots to do, so goodbye for now :)

Boys and Girls: We're All Equal

Did you know that March is Women's History Month? Well I didn't, until a teacher brought it to my attention at the end of February. I did a little research, and discovered that Women's History Month traces its roots back to the first International Women's Day, which was celebrated in 1911. In 1981, Congress passed a resolution making Women's History Week a national holiday.

So that is the background for today's tune, "Boys and Girls". I wanted to write a song that conveyed the general message of Women's History Month yet could still be understood by my students. "Boys and Girls" teaches that we all have equal rights, and that we can do many of the same things.



If you’re a boy, or you’re a girl,
Then you should know that we’re all equal.
There are certain things about us that are different, it’s true,
But our rights are the same, for both me and you.

Girls can wear pants, boys can too.
Boys can wear hats, girls can too.
Girls can wear sandals, boys can too.
Boys can wear sneakers, girls can too.
There are certain things about us that are different, it’s true,
But our rights are the same, both me and you.

Girls can be teachers, boys can too.
Boys can be pilots, girls can too.
Girls can be doctors, boys can too.
Boys can be nurses, girls can too.
There are certain things about us that are different, it’s true,
But our rights are the same, both me and you.

Girls can go to school, boys can too.
Boys can go to work, girls can too.
Girls can cast a vote, boys can too.
Boys can cook dinner, girls can too.
There are certain things about us that are different, it’s true,
But our rights are the same, both me and you.

If you’re a boy, or you’re a girl,
Then you should know that we’re all equal.
There are certain things about us that are different, it’s true,
But our rights are the same, for both me and you.

Maybe next year I'll write a song that goes a little bit more in depth with this topic. Another song to check out is Sufferin' Til Suffrage (a School House Rock favorite). Enjoy, and happy Women's History Month!

Friday Fave: Playlist.com

Good morning, everyone! I hope you are well on this beautiful Friday. It's been another short week, and amazingly it is already time for Friday Faves. As always, I am very excited about today's feature, website I discovered a couple weeks ago and have been a little addicted to ever since. Playlist.com allows you to search among millions of songs and then add your favorites to a playlist. You can make as many playlists as you want- I think I'm up to four or five by now - and then you can either listen to them on the site or embed them on other sites such as Facebook, MySpace, or even your blog. Which is exactly what I've done below:

This is just a little mix I put together especially for this Friday Fave post. All are songs that make me happy just by listening to them. It is really amazing how vast of a selection Playlist.com has to offer; I could spend hours discovering new tunes and rediscovering old favorites. So if you haven't already, go check it out!

Have a fabulous Friday, and an even better weekend. I'm off to write a new tune before my first music therapy session begins!

Be Still, My Heart

If my heart was filled with one more ounce of pride this morning, it would have burst all over the Senior 1 classroom. I know, I know, not a good image...but it's true! The warm weather must have gotten to everyone in that room, including me, because the overall mood during music therapy was positively giddy. And that translated into an amazing session during which the staff and students enthusiastically participated in each activity, singing so loud I could barely hear myself (quite a feat).

I really do have the best job in the world. I get paid to write songs for my students, work with them each week, and cheer them on as they reach their goals. While I appreciate this every day, it really hit home this morning when I looked around and saw an entire classroom, adults and students alike, 100% engaged and having a great time.

Life is good.

What Else Do I Need?

If you live in the midwest, you are no stranger to the fact that the weather can fluctuate radically on a daily basis. We started the week in the 30s, and today and tomorrow we're expecting 60-degree temperatures. I'm definitely not complaining about the warm-up, but sometimes it's a little difficult to keep up!

Today I headed out the door with a light jacket on over my sweater, but I'm waiting for the day when I'll need sunscreen and sunglasses, just like the song says.


Sheet Music: $1


It’s sunny, it’s sunny,
What else do I need?
Sunscreen and some sunglasses too,
That is what I need.

It’s chilly, it’s chilly,
What else do I need?
Mittens and a jacket too,
That is what I need.

It’s raining, it’s raining,
What else do I need?
Umbrella, rain boots, and slicker too,
That is what I need.

It’s freezing, it’s freezing,
What else do I need?
A winter coat, scarf, hat, and gloves,
That is what I need.

Oh, and if you are wondering, the official countdown to spring is at 15 days. And coincidentally, the first day of spring is also moving day for me! This weekend is daylight savings time, meaning we'll lose an hour of sleep on Saturday night/Sunday morning. But hey, I will gladly lose that hour if it means more light at night. A sure sign that spring is in the air...hey, I feel a song coming on :)

My Address

If you've been reading my blog for the last month or so, then you already know that I am moving soon. I've had to tell people or write down my new address several times this week, and I keep mixing it up with my current address or just forgetting it altogether. I am not a forgetful person, but when something like your address is ingrained in your brain, it's hard to relearn that! But I'm trying. In fact, this is what inspired me to write the song below, which is all about addresses.


Sheet Music: $1


There's a number, and a street, and a city, and a state,
And a zipcode, I give,
When my family or friends or a teacher needs to know
The place where I live.
You put 'em all together and what do you get?
My address, I won't forget.

My street number is ________
My street name is __________
My city is _________________
In the state of ____________
My zipcode has five numbers, it's ____________
You put 'em all together, and what do you get?
My address, I won't forget.

There's a number, and a street, and a city, and a state,
And a zipcode, I give,
When my family or friends or a teacher needs to know
The place where I live.
You put 'em all together and what do you get?
My address, I won't forget.

Or at least, I'll try not to anymore! A week from tomorrow, we'll be signing the papers that make the house officially ours, and by then I think I will have my new address down pat. In the meantime, I have a busy day ahead full of classes and planning. Have a happy Wednesday!

The People I See

Meeting new people can be difficult, whether you are a young child or a full-fledged adult. I've been a shy person all my life, so I still struggle with this at times. But for a child with a disability, especially autism, a new person can be very overwhelming and even a little scary.

Today's song introduces a few of the people who are important in a child's life, and explains a little about what each person does. I made sure to include individuals who can be intimidating, and hopefully this tune can help ease any fears a child may have about seeing them. The key is for youngsters to see these people as friendly, helpful adults that they can trust.


Sheet Music: $1


I see all kinds of people, everywhere I go.
Some of them are new, and some of them I know.
I've learned about the kinds of things each person does for me,
So let me tell you all about the people that I see.

Police officers keep me safe, they usually dress in blue.
Firefighters wear red, and they protect me too.
When I am in trouble, they are the ones to call.
These are the people who help me, they look out for us all.

CHORUS

Teachers help me learn things, like how to read a book,
Math and science, spelling too, and even how to cook.
My principal and friends are other people at my school,
Where I have fun and work hard, 'cause being smart is cool.

CHORUS

Doctors are the people who keep my body strong,
I see them for my check-up, and when something is wrong.
The dentist cleans my teeth, and keeps cavities away,
By showing me how to brush and floss them everyday.

CHORUS

Speaking of meeting new people, I have had the pleasure of getting to know (albeit through email) Sandie and her son Matthew, who was born with born with agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC). You can read more about ACC and Matthew here. Thank you, Sandie, for sharing Listen & Learn with Matthew, and for making my job all the more worthwhile!

Ode to Joy...

...muppet style. A fellow music educator sent this to me via Facebook, and I just had to share it with you. Meep meep!

March is Here!

I have one word for this: hooray! The arrival of March makes me happy for several reasons, first and foremost being that we close on our new house in less than two weeks. I've been daydreaming about all the songs I'll write in my beautiful new home office, a space dedicated solely to music and music therapy (which of course includes this blog). I know a change of scenery will jumpstart my creativity :) But there are more March highlights: a weekend trip to Chicago for Zach's company banquet, a visit from my aunt, and the advent of Spring!

I was feeling happy last year when I wrote the "March" song, which I hope you like:



March is here, yes March is here,
The third month of the year.
Thirty one days march into spring,
And that is a wonderful thing.
Yes that is a wonderful thing.

St. Patrick’s Day will come around,
Find four-leaf clovers on the ground.
Leprechauns and rainbows too,
Clothes of green for me and you.

CHORUS

Get ready for the start of spring,
And all the fun that it will bring.
Soon enough we'll have spring break,
Let’s celebrate, for goodness sake!

CHORUS

March is here, yes March is here,
The third month of the year.
Thirty one days march into spring,
And that is a wonderful thing.
Yes that is a wonderful thing.

Singing this tune puts me in a great mood, and I hope hearing it does the same for you. What are your plans for this month? Are you as excited for spring as I am? Enjoy your Sunday afternoon...and if you're as lucky as I am, your day off tomorrow for Casmir Pulaski Day!