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Listen and Learn Music: January 2010

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Sunday Singalong: The Leaves on the Trees



You can find the original post of this song, including lyrics, here.

Tonight's edition of "Sunday Singalong" goes out to a very special fan of mine: hi, Matthew! Matthew's mom emailed me last week and told me that although her son has many Listen & Learn favorites, he responds to this particular tune with excitement and anticipation as I speed up faster and faster. He's not the only one; this is a favorite among my own students for the very same reason! Matthew will receive a free download of the Listen & Learn album of his choice, and you can have the same if I select your song suggestion to be featured in an upcoming "Sunday Singalong" video. It could be one of my own songs or a cover, so be creative.  Just leave a comment or email me with your suggestion.

How was your weekend?  Mine was full of music, so of course it was wonderful :)  I spent most of Saturday preparing some new songs and rehearsing for a show I played last night, which went very well.  I was extremely surprised (and thrilled!) by the turnout...not only was my regular cheering section in attendance, but some friends from out of town, church, work, and even a few parents of my students were there, too!  It was a blast.  The music-making continued today when my friend Cory came over to record with me (more on that soon).  A few hours of sleep, and I'll be ready to take on a new week!

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Friday, January 29, 2010

Friday Fave: The Most Caring Radio Station


Last November, I had the amazing opportunity of participating in 103.7 WDBR's annual radiothon, which benefits The St. Johns Children's Hospital and Children's Miracle Network.  I wrote and recorded two songs based on the stories of parents and children whose lives were saved by these organizations, and the songs were played on-air throughout the weekend.  Needless to say, it was a huge thrill.

The radiothon raised over $90,000 last year, and now they have opportunity to go into 2010's radiothon with a $50,000 head start. Foresters™ is partnering with Children's Miracle Network to find North America's Most Caring Radio Station, and WDBR is in the running!  They are currently in 16th place, so they have until February 5 to take the lead.  The great news is that you can help, and it only takes a minute.

Just go to the contest website and click the "Vote Now" button.  You'll be asked to register your email address, and then you're ready to vote.  Search by city and state (Springfield, IL) and then cast your votes for:

103.7 Today's Hit Music

Bookmark that page so you can go back and vote each day (make sure to use up all 10 votes per day).  I've been listening to WDBR for as long as I can remember, and I may be a little biased, but I know for sure that not only do they deserve this title, but so do the children who will reap the benefits of the reward.  For more information about WBDR, click here.  And go vote!

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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Do the Clock Rock!


My students and I have been rocking out all month to this song (which can be found on the pages of my Listen & Learn Songbook, by the way!) and this blog post is definitely past due. Telling time is another one of those skills that every child must learn, and I have come across (and put into use) a fair share of songs meant to teach just that.

The song I wrote is about as simple as it gets. It's a stepping stone to the more complicated aspects of reading the clock, which I'll get to in my next tick-tock tune :) For now, we focus on the numbers and use simple choreography (arm motions mimicking the hands of the clock) to show how they are situated. By now, the classroom staff at The Hope Institute are experts at it!

<a href="http://listenandlearn.bandcamp.com/track/the-clock-rock">The Clock Rock by Listen &amp; Learn Music</a>
Sheet Music: $1
Add to Cart

Doo-doot, doo, do the clock rock,
Rockin’ all day and night,
Doo-doot, doo, do the clock rock.
Round and round, with all our might.

Start at the top, that’s twelve AM.
One, two, three, four, five,
Six at the bottom,
Seven, eight, nine, ten,
Eleven and then,
We’ve made it back to twelve again!

CHORUS

Start at the top, that’s twelve PM.
One, two, three, four, five,
Six at the bottom,
Seven, eight, nine, ten,
Eleven and then,
We’ve made it back to twelve again!

CHORUS

Many of the classrooms at my school have those plastic or cardboard clocks with movable arms, which come in very handy when we sing this song.  The rest of the time, I draw my own clocks, or just use hand motions - my students LOVE doing the "Clock Rock" dance - to emphasize the information presented in this song.  The more fun you make it, the more effective a teaching tool it will be!

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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Link & Learn: Marvelous Music


One of the benefits of writing this blog is having the opportunity to share links to sites that I find interesting, educational, or just plain fun.  I'm going to make an effort to do more of this in 2010, so be on the lookout for that silver surfer, the official mascot of my new feature, "Link & Learn" (a play on my blog's title, if you didn't get that!).

Today's link is to a blog written by my friend Sandie, who is an avid reader and supporter of Listen & Learn Music.  Her son Matthew was born with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum, a congenital defect in which a child is missing his or her corpus callosum (the pathway in the brain connecting the two hemispheres).  In her blog, Agenesis Corpus Callosum, Sandie shares helpful information for other parents with children who have ACC, and a topic she comes back to time and again is music.

Her most recent post is Marvelous Music, and wow, is it comprehensive!  She shares background information about music therapy, as well as Matthew's experiences in music therapy and the many ways in which he has benefited.  She also posts excerpts written by other parents in a discussion about music and ACC.  Pictures, videos, and links to music resources supplement the personal stories and information.

So please go check out Sandie's blog, and as always, you are encouraged to fill me in on helpful links you've come across on your own.

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Sunday, January 24, 2010

Sunday Singalong: Brand New

I had every intention of recording a new video for this week's edition of Sunday Singalong, and then life got in the way.  I spent most of last week/the weekend working on an upcoming project (to be announced at a later date!) and preparing for a new Church Mice session, which began today.  Throw in a hospital visit with our friends' new baby and too many loads of laundry to count, and I'm exhausted!  An understatement, really.

Now that I've gotten all of my excuses out in the open, we can move on to tonight's video.  It's an oldie (July 2009) and a bit of a departure from the usual Listen & Learn fare.  This song falls under the OTHER category of music (geared more towards you than your child) I write, which you can hear more of here.



You can download the album Brand New for free, by the way :)

If you have a song request or suggestion for next week's Sunday Singalong, let me know! It could be a Listen & Learn original or cover, and if I choose your suggested song, you get a free album download of your choice. 

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Friday, January 22, 2010

Friday Fave: Music Therapy in Arizona


You may be wondering why I'm featuring music therapy in Arizona today, when I live clear across the country in Illinois.  Well here's the thing: one of the main reasons I write this blog is because my readers (YOU!) continue to provide such positive feedback and support.  It is the very least I can do to give that back to you, and that's what today's Friday Fave is all about.

One reader in particular is a music therapist like me, originally from Illinois, who is currently doing all that she can to advocate for music therapy in her state of Arizona.  Like many other states, Alison and her colleagues are faced with incredible budget cuts that would deprive them of a sustainable income.  Alison explained the situation in an email to me, and this is what she had to say:

Arizona has fallen on hard times as most states have but they are constantly targetting music therapy. In February of last year the state tried to give music therapists a pay cut of 55% which is not a sustainable income. Sadly we would all make more money giving piano lessons at that rate. Other therapies were given a ten percent cut and as I recall AMTA sued the state for discriminatory cuts and managed to get us an equal 10 percent cut. On Monday Arizona state legislators are voting on more budget cuts which would cut music therapy down 50% again if passed according to DDD's proposed budget cuts plan. We are having a push here to educate all of our legislators as well as workers at the Department of Developmental Disabilities. We have been fighting an uphill battle in Arizona for almost a year now but seeing results in our clients is well worth it.

Alison wrote back a few days later with this unfortunate news:

We found out Friday night that the cuts passed and music therapy has been cut by 50% and other therapies 10%. It is very sad. I have many higher functioning clients with autism who become upset and cry when I tell them I am going out of town next week but will see them in two weeks. I can't imagine how they will feel when I tell them that this will be the last time they will see me.

We were asked last week to collect some data from our clients; how many clients were funded by the state, how many had speech/communication goals, how many received speech therapy, and how many received no other therapies. My clients have been the most grateful and appreciative of any I have had the pleasure of working with. Some were on waiting lists for music therapy up to 7 years and finally started receiving it once I moved here. I have 35 clients that I see in home on a 1:1 basis and of those 20 have a speech related goal, 21 do not receive speech therapy, and 15 do not receive any other therapies. It's so unfair to the kids. Many of the therapists are going to try to do private pay but I know that isn't a viable option for most of my families. I just hate to see these kids left without any services. My youngest clients are the ones who do receive Speech and OT but I know they will be dropped once they require after school hours as most of my after school hour kids do not receive these therapies.

We are fighting right now for recognition as a therapy and not just as habilitation with a music component (which is what the state of AZ has us listed as). So any letters from music therapists across the country could help us with this.

This is such an awful situation not only for music therapists, but also for the clients who will most likely have their services terminated due to these budget cuts.  Alison is not the first person I've talked to who is effected by the cuts, and sadly, she won't be the last.  As she wrote above, you can  help by writing a letter in support of music therapy recognition in her state, no matter where you live.  You can even use the letter she wrote as a template:

Alison's Letter

You can email me with your letters in support of music therapy recognition in Arizona, and I will make sure they get into the right hands.  Or, you can contact Alison directly.

The music therapy community is small in comparison with other fields, which is why it is so important to support one another.  You, as a reader, support music therapy just by visiting Listen & Learn Music, and for that I thank you!

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Thursday, January 21, 2010

Put the Scarf on Your...


One of the go-to items in my "bag of tricks" is the scarf.  I have a whole rainbow of them (which you can find here) in the bottom drawer of my studio's supply chest, and my students usually raid it before our music therapy session is through.  I love incorporating scarf activities into my session plans because they are so versatile and fun.  Just a few of the goal areas I can target include colors, gross and fine motor skills, imitation, following directions, and, in the case of today's subject, body parts.

Many times, I will get out the scarves and let my students move freely to preferred music as positive reinforcement.  In fact, I used this technique last night with a little girl who needs extra incentive to follow the given schedule, and it worked quite nicely!  We finished all of the items on the schedule, and then had a lovely time dancing with scarves to "You Are the Music in Me" from High School Musical 2.

But I also like to use the scarves in structured activities, which is the reason I came up with the song below.  It  combines movement and body part identification, and you could easily replace the scarf with an instrument, like a shaker or tambourine.

<a href="http://listenandlearn.bandcamp.com/track/put-the-scarf-on-your">Put the Scarf on Your... by Listen &amp; Learn Music</a>
Sheet Music: $1
Add to Cart

Put the scarf on your head, like this.
Put the scarf on your head, like that.
Put the scarf on your head,
Whether it’s purple, blue or red.
Oh, put the scarf on your head.

Put the scarf on your shoulder, like this.
Put the scarf on your shoulder, like that.
Put the scarf on your shoulder,
Well, at least it’s not a boulder.
Oh, put the scarf on your shoulder.

Put the scarf on your arm, like this.
Put the scarf on your arm, like that.
Put the scarf on your arm,
‘Cause what’s the harm?
Oh, put the scarf on your arm.

Put the scarf on your lap, like this.
Put the scarf on your lap, like that.
Put the scarf on your lap,
It’s such a snap.
Oh, put the scarf on your lap.

Put the scarf on your knee, like this.
Put the scarf on your knee, like that.
Put the scarf on your knee,
That’s where it ought to be.
Oh, put the scarf on your knee.

Put the scarf on your toes, like this.
Put the scarf on your toes, like that.
Put the scarf on your toes,
Yes, this is where it goes.
Oh, put the scarf on your toes.

This song works its way from head to toe, though you could mix up the order of verses any way you want, or even better, write your own verses to add extra body parts. You could also turn this into an object identification activity by instructing the student to put the scarf on different items in the room. How else might you modify this song?

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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Today at Listen & Learn Music Plus!

Photobucket
With all of the winter weather we've experienced in the Midwest lately, I've been getting lots of mileage out of my "Snowy Day" song.  Well now, so can my readers at Listen & Learn Music Plus! The lead sheet for this tune, complete with lyrics and chords, as well as the mp3 download are available to subscribers...learn about becoming one today!

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Catching Up

I'm back from the Big Apple and thoroughly ashamed to have neglected Listen & Learn for an entire week!  I honestly can't remember the last time I went so long between posts, and I feel a bit like a failed blogger :(  The truth is, I was already behind schedule before my trip, and being away for four days didn't help that situation very much.  I have several projects in the works, as well as new responsibilities both at school and in my private practice, which means I have a LOT of catching up to do.

But before I tackle all of that, let me fill you in on my trip to NYC.  I can pretty much sum it up in one word: amazing.  Just being there is a thrill, and we took full advantage of our short time in the city that never sleeps.  We ate lunch at Pershing Square Cafe, dinner at Basso 56, and ordered deli sandwiches from Rupert (of The Late Show with David Letterman fame).  When we weren't eating, we were walking around the city - Rockefeller Center, Times Square, and Grand Central Station were just a few stops we made - and seeing a Broadway show!  My wonderful husband waited in line at the TKTS stand long enough to score tickets to Memphis, a new Broadway musical that definitely lived up to all the hype.  We had some of our favorite friends right there with us, including my best friend (and NYC resident) Katie and her fiance, Justin: 


On Friday, we packed up our rental car and headed to New Jersey, where we took part in the wedding festivities of our friends Dustin & Kristin.  I don't have nearly enough time to paint an accurate picture of this beautiful affair, so it's a good thing I took almost 200 photos!  We returned home late on Sunday night, and I spent my "day off" on Monday working on an exciting project (more later...I promise!).

I have a long list of topics to share with you in the coming days and weeks, so thank you for sticking around!  The emails I received from readers while I was out of town put a big smile on my face, and were a constant reminder for me to get in gear here at Listen & Learn.  So this is me...getting into gear...and telling you to come back tomorrow for a brand-new song.  See you then!

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Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Big Apple Bound!


New York City, that is.  Tomorrow, my husband and I will head east for a few days to attend a friend's wedding (Zach is a groomsman), but not before spending a couple days as tourists in the city.  My best friend lives there, so we're going to meet up with her, along with a few other friends who will also be in town for the wedding.  Any suggestions on which Broadway show to see while we're there?  Should I go with a tried-and-true favorite (like Mamma Mia, Wicked, or Bye Bye Birdie) or something I've never seen (like Avenue Q, Billy Elliot, or In the Heights)?  Please advise!

My first trip to NYC was, no joke, to sing at Carnegie Hall.  Granted, it was by no means a solo performance; rather, it was with a huge chorus performing the works of Morten Lauridsen.  That was back in the summer of 2004, and it was an amazing trip.  My mom and I went together, and we hit up all of the hot spots: the Empire State Building, Tavern on the Green, The Today Show, Times Square, two Broadway shows (Thoroughly Modern Millie and Chicago) and lots more.

So needless to say, I am extremely excited about going back to the Big Apple, as well as our friends' wedding.  I'm taking my computer with me (does that really surprise you?) so hopefully I will even fit in a blog update or two.  In the meantime, have a wonderful Wednesday!

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Monday, January 11, 2010

That Yellow Bus


Transitions from one place or activity to another are one of my students' biggest areas of struggle.  One particularly difficult transition that a majority of children face on a daily basis is getting on and off on the bus.  Student arrival and departure is quite an event at my school, especially for students who ride the bus.  Another therapist (from a different school, but who happens to be a family member!) told me about a student of hers who is having lots of trouble with bus transitions.  She asked me if I had a song dealing with this topic, and I replied that I didn't yet, but to give me a few days.

The song that resulted is uncomplicated and repetitive.  It covers each and every bus transition: getting on to go to school, getting off at school, getting back on after school is finished, and getting off at home.  Take a listen to "That Yellow Bus" and see what you think:

<a href="http://listenandlearn.bandcamp.com/track/that-yellow-bus">That Yellow Bus by Listen &amp; Learn Music</a>
Sheet Music: $1
Add to Cart

When it’s time to go to school,
This is what you gotta do:
Get, get, get on the bus!
Once you are inside,
You’re gonna take a ride:
Get, get, get on the bus!
Snap your fingers, tap your feet,
While you’re cruisin’ down the street,
In that yellow bus.

When you get to school,
This is what you gotta do:
Get, get, get off the bus!
To your class is where you’ll go,
This you already know:
Get, get, get off the bus!
Snap your fingers, tap your feet,
Your day is gonna be sweet,
Once you’re off that yellow bus.

When school is through,
This is what you gotta do:
Get, get, get on the bus!
Once you are inside,
You’re gonna take a ride:
Get, get, get on the bus!
Snap your fingers, tap your feet,
While you’re cruisin’ down the street,
In that yellow bus.

When you’re home from school,
This is what you gotta do:
Get, get, get off the bus!
In your house is where you’ll go,
This you already know:
Get, get, get off the bus!
Snap your fingers, tap your feet,
Your afternoon will be sweet,
Once you’re off that yellow bus.

This snappy little ditty is one that I think will come in handy for many of the students at my school and elsewhere. Plus, it's just fun! The therapist who requested it has two little boys, and she told me last night that they were dancing around the kitchen last night while they listened and sang along. Now that put a big smile on my face :)

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Sunday, January 10, 2010

Sunday Singalong: What Do You Do?



You can find the original post of this song, including lyrics, here.
 
Listen & Learn reader Erin Breedlove requested that I feature "What Do You Do?" as today's Sunday Singalong song, and since that is what I chose, Erin will receive a free album download of her choice.  Congrats, Erin!  Everyone else - send next week's requests (it could be a Listen & Learn original OR a cover of any song that could be used in a music therapy session) via email, or just leave a comment right here on the blog.

How was your weekend?  Mine has been a good mix of relaxation (Friday Night Lights is our new streaming Netflix fave), work-related stuff (IAMT board meeting and piano festival student applications) and fun (friend's wedding and out with friends).

Today is a big day in the Rambach household, because as I wrote yesterday, we are celebrating my husband's 27th birthday.  We are going out to dinner at a local Japanese restaurant, where you can sit at a hibachi grill with up to 16 people.  Tonight all of those seats will be filled with family, and I can't wait.  Yummy sushi and other Japanese goodies, here I come!

Enjoy your Sunday night, and I'll see you back here tomorrow for a brand-new song about a certain type of transportation. 

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Saturday, January 9, 2010

Birthday Boy


Somebody is turning 27 around here, and it's not me!  My husband, Zach, who is a whopping five months older than me, will be celebrating his birthday tomorrow, and the rest of the family and I will be there right along with him.

Although Zach and I have only been married for a year and a half, I've been by his side for six birthdays.  He takes the cake for giving the best gifts (birthday, Christmas, or otherwise) but I always tell him that I'm much easier to buy for than he is!  One of the best gifts he's ever given me (and there are lots from which to choose) was actually for our wedding, when we we were planning the playlist for the souvenir CD that would be given out to all 250+ guests. 

We had already decided that the song I wrote for him on Valentine's Day, Second Chance Dance, would be included, but what I really wanted was to record a song together for the CD.  After lots and lots of coaxing, he finally caved in.  We reworked the lyrics to the song "Anyone Else But You" (the one Ellen Page and Michael Cera sing at the end of the movie Juno).  Zach isn't a singer, or musical in any way aside from enjoying it, so I was pretty darn proud of the job he did on this song.  Needless to say, his friends and family were more than surprised when they heard it played during the picture slideshow my parents put together for our rehearsal dinner!

<a href="http://rachelrambach.bandcamp.com/track/anyone-else-but-you">Anyone Else But You by Rachel Rambach</a>

I will always treasure this recording, because it's most likely the only one I'll ever have of its kind. I couldn't be luckier to have such a wonderful, funny, supportive husband - he calls himself my #1 fan, though my mom begs to differ - and I hope his 27th year is his best yet!

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Friday, January 8, 2010

Friday Fave: Skype



The first time I Skyped (yes, this is a legitimate verb), it was with some of my family who live in Denver, including my 3-year-old niece and 1-year-old nephew.  It was so much fun; I got to hear Kaitlin sing some songs, and see how big Jacob had gotten since the last time they visited.  And the best part is that it was completely free.  Technology = amazing.

But it wasn't until recently that I used Skype for professional purposes, and now I'm hooked!  I met two of my good music therapy friends, Kimberly S. Moore and Michelle Erfurt, through the internet, and got to spend time with them in person at the AMTA national conference last November.  While we were in San Diego, we decided to "get together" monthly to bounce ideas off one another and just talk MT.  We had our first Skype meeting in December, and another one last night.  As a result, we're now working on an exciting project in which Skype will play an important role.

After last night's meeting with Kimberly and Michelle, I spent some time Skyping with a music therapy student in Georgia who found me by way of Twitter and has since connected with me on Facebook.  (Gotta love social networking.)  Erin writes a blog that recently turned its focus to music therapy, so we had a lot to chat about.

So many aspects of my personal and professional life rely on technology and the internet, which makes me wonder: how did people ever get by without it?!  If you browse through my previous Friday Faves, you'll notice that many of them are some piece or type of technology, from the iPhone, to Garageband, to my awesome microphone.  We're living in the digital age, and I'm loving every minute of it!

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Thursday, January 7, 2010

Now Offering Consultative Services

The greatest feeling in the world is opening an email from a parent who wants to share just how much his or her child enjoys listening to the songs on my website, and wishes I could be that child's music therapist.  Or opening an email from a teacher, explaining how he or she was able to adapt one of my songs or activities for use with his or her students in the classroom.  

That parent's wish can now become a reality, and that teacher no longer has to adapt my activities, because I am now available for consultative services!  These services range anywhere from goal-based, custom written songs to individualized relaxation music to visual aides for songs and activities, all of which will be discussed in detail during an initial consultation with me.

This initial consultation, via phone or video conference, will allow an opportunity for the parent or teacher to tell me all about his or her child or student(s) - needs, special considerations, likes, dislikes, etc. - and we'll just get to know each other a little better. Together we will decide which services are best suited for the child or student(s) and create an individualized plan.

Want to know more?  Please take the following three steps:

1. Download this PDF.
       It will explain each service in detail and provide pricing information.
       It will most likely answer any questions you still have.
       All it takes is an email. Questions welcome. Let's make this happen!  


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Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Currently Covering...


I found Little Miss Ann by way of iTunes last winter, and immediately fell in love with her song, "Clap For Love" from her CD of the same title.  I try to include at least one fun movement-focused tune in each music therapy session, and this one fits the bill perfectly.  The actions are simple, the language is straightforward and repetitive, and it is easily adapted to include additional or different movements, depending on the student or group with whom I'm working.  Not only do my music therapy students love it, but it has also been a hit with my Church Mice kids, all of whom are typically developing.

In fact, I make sure that all of the songs I write or cover would be appealing to any child, no matter what level of functioning, as well as the adults that accompany them.  If the parents, teachers and other caregivers have to listen to the same song over and over again, they might as well enjoy it...right?


How cute and fun is that?! That is why I think children's music artists like Little Miss Ann, Justin Roberts, Laurie Berkner, etc. are so popular: they most definitely appeal to their target demographic, but adults like it, too.  And that is what I always strive for with each new tune.  I want to make sure it addresses the targeted goals and objectives properly, and I want it to be universally likable. Hopefully I'm achieving these two goals, at least, most of the time!

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Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Making Friends: A Step-by-Step Song


One of my favorite things about the holidays was getting to see all my friends who grew up with me in Springfield, but now live far away.  Katie (middle) and I have been friends since we got our identical winter coats mixed up after a show choir performance in the 8th grade.  She was my maid of honor in my wedding, and  she asked me to be hers following her recent engagement.  Jill (right) and I became friends way back in the 5th grade, when we were in a school performance of The Wizard of Oz together.  We were also in each other's weddings.

These friendships came easily, but for many children, making friends can be a difficult and overwhelming experience.  Most of my students are diagnosed with autism, and social skills are a major area of focus in the classroom and in music therapy.  One of the teachers at my school asked me to write a song about making friends, and why having friends is important.  I kept it basic, using language my students can comprehend, though it can be easily adapted for individual children and social situations.

<a href="http://listenandlearn.bandcamp.com/track/making-friends">Making Friends by Listen &amp; Learn Music</a>
Sheet Music: $1
Add to Cart

Step one: wear a smile.
Step two: say hello.
Step three: introduce yourself,
To someone you wanna get to know.
Step four: have a conversation,
Ask a question or two.
Making friends can be so simple,
All you have to do is just be you.

You gotta have friends to make you laugh,
Help you feel better when you are sad.
You gotta have friends to make you smile,
Help you feel calm when you are mad.
You gotta have friends so don’t be shy,
Go out and give it a try,
Anyone would be lucky, ooh-ooh,
To have a friend like you.

REPEAT ALL

I emphasized the importance of "being yourself" because many times, children in general, like adults, try to change certain aspects of themselves - be it their behavior, appearance, mannerisms, etc. - in order to fit in or befriend someone.  Self-esteem is a value that should be encouraged at any given opportunity, and this song is just another one of those opportunities.

This particular tune lends itself to role-playing, either between the student and therapist/teacher/parent or between two or more students.  Work together to establish comfortable conversation starters, appropriate dialogue, and body langauge.  If you were to write a song on this topic, what steps would you add?  If you've taught social skills and have any tricks up your sleeve, I'd love to hear about them.

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Sunday, January 3, 2010

Sunday Singalong: Time to Sing Hello

You might remember that my New Year's resolution is to do more of what I've already been doing in terms of blogging, projects, and music therapy - to step it up a notch, if you will.  There's no time like the present to get started, so I'm excited to introduce a new weekly feature here at Listen & Learn Music.

Each week, I will choose a song to sing and play for my "Sunday Singalong" video (which will also be posted on my YouTube channel).  Most of the time it will be one of my own songs, though I am open to sharing covers, as long as it is something I might use in a music therapy session.  I'll be open to suggestions throughout the week, which you can submit via the comments section of my blog or email.  If I choose the song you suggest, you get a free download of any Listen & Learn album. 

I thought it would be appropriate to feature a hello song as my first "Sunday Singalong" installment, so without further ado, here you go!


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What are your thoughts on the new feature?  I'm still a novice at making videos, but I figure this will give me a good excuse to improve my technique.  It will also give me a reason to borrow the Ultra HD Flip Camcorder I gave my mom for Christmas!  So send your feedback my way, and enjoy the last few hours of the weekend.

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Saturday, January 2, 2010

Today at Listen & Learn Music Plus!

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I've been busy practicing the "2010" song for my students, and now, so can my readers at Listen & Learn Music Plus! The lead sheet for this song, complete with lyrics and chords, as well as the mp3 download are available to subscribers...learn about becoming one today!

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January Brings a Brand New Year

The first full month of winter is upon us, and it's going to be a busy one. School is back in session on Monday, followed by a trip to the Windy City for a meeting and a few days in the Big Apple for a friend's wedding. Not to mention several family birthdays, including Zach's 27th next weekend.

Aside from travel and birthday celebrations, this month's theme is organization. I got a jump on that this morning, taking down and packing away all of my holiday decorations, and my next stop is Barnes & Noble for a 2010 planner. As much as I love and depend upon my iPhone, there's a certain satisfaction gained in writing down (and crossing off) items on paper. What are your plans and goals for January? Give it a thought while you listen to this month's theme song:



January brings a brand new year
The holidays are over and winter’s here.
Thirty-one days of snow and cold,
We’ll find out what this year will hold.

January brings a brand new year
Which starts on New Years Day
Celebrations and parties too
“Happy New Year,” we all say.

January brings a brand new year
The holidays are over and winter’s here.
Thirty-one days of snow and cold,
We’ll find out what this year will hold.

January brings a brand new year
Let’s make a resolution.
To try our best, be nice to friends,
And help to stop pollution.

January brings a brand new year
The holidays are over and winter’s here.
Thirty-one days of snow and cold,
We’ll find out what this year will hold.

January brings a brand new year
And special days to plan.
Martin Luther King Junior’s birthday
Remember this great man.

January brings a brand new year
The holidays are over and winter’s here.
Thirty-one days of snow and cold,
We’ll find out what this year will hold.

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Friday, January 1, 2010

2010: Let the New Year Begin

I hope your New Year's celebration was a good one! We went out for a great dinner, stopped by our neighbors' party, and rang in 2010 in downtown Springfield. I'm soaking up the last few days of vacation before it's time to go back to school on Monday, which means spending the first day of the new year on the couch, watching a 30 Rock marathon and, of course, blogging.

Before I get to my new year's resolutions, I have a brand new song to share with you. I'll be singing this one with my students for the next 365 days, so hopefully they'll like it as much as the 2009 song. See what you think:

<a href="http://listenandlearn.bandcamp.com/track/2010">2010 by Listen &amp; Learn Music</a>

If you ask me, what’s the year,
This is what you’re gonna hear:
I’ll tell you again and again, it’s two thousand and ten!
From the beginning to the very end,
Sing along with me, my friend.
The year is two thousand and ten!

For twelve whole months,
That’s fifty-two weeks.
Three hundred and sixty-five days.
From New Year’s Day
To New Year’s Eve,
Is how long this year stays.

If you ask me, what’s the year,
This is what you’re gonna hear:
I’ll tell you again and again, it’s two thousand and ten!
From the beginning to the very end,
Sing along with me, my friend.
The year is two thousand and ten!

And for my new year's resolutions? I only have one, and it's simple: do more of what I'm already doing. That means more songs, more blogging, more projects, more services for my students...you get the picture. What about you? What are your goals for 2010?

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