Home Recording Studio Essentials

Two years ago, my "home recording studio" consisted of two things: a 13" Macbook and a $12 Logitech microphone.  Though it wasn't fancy, it did the job, considering I was simply recording music therapy songs for the students at my school.  But the more songs I wrote and the more interested I became in home recording, the more sophisticated my setup became. 

Now that I sell my self-recorded music (in addition, of course, to my studio album) both in my own store and on larger platforms like Songs For Teaching, I have a much higher standard of quality.  That comes with a need for higher-quality equipment, which is the topic of today's post.  The picture above gives you an overview of my home studio, but I'm going to break it down for you even further.  Let's go!
The #1 most important component in my setup is my computer.  My 15" Macbook Pro powers the software I use, which is Garageband.  This program is included with the price of the computer, and for entry-level software, it is really quite powerful.  Although I'm sure there are great recording programs for PC, I am most decidedly a "Mac person" and simply love the intuitive interface, ease of use, and integration of Garageband with iTunes.

Pictured on the right is my M-Audio USB MobilePre Preamp, which I use to record my acoustic-electric guitar and monitor my sound input.  I wrote a detailed post about the preamp earlier this year.  The Sennheiser headphones I use are awesome; they cover my ears completely, are crystal-clear, and have a long coiled cord that reaches from one end of my studio to the other.      
This 24" Dell HD monitor was a birthday gift from my husband, and for someone who spends so much time in front of the computer, it has truly been a game-changer.  The wide screen view is especially useful for Garageband; when I'm tracking instruments and vocals, it's nice to be able to see big chunks of audio at a time.  The monitor is connected to my computer with an HDMI cable and adapter.

Next is my M-Audio midi keyboard, which I use to record keyboard and other instrument sounds.  It connects via a USB cable, so basically, all I have to do is plug in (Garageband immediately recognizes the MIDI input) and then I'm ready to play.  I have a super duper deluxe model at school, which has so many features I haven't even learned half of them yet.  That will be a project in itself when school starts! 
The piece of equipment that I've had the longest (December of 2008) and that I recommend to anyone who asks is my Blue Snowball USB Microphone.  I get lots and lots of emails from people wanting to know what I use to record my vocals, and I delight in telling them that it's a simple USB mic that costs less than $100.  I have a ringer shockmount attached as well as a pop filter.

My speakers are relatively new, and I'm head over heels about them.  These Logitech Omnidirectional USB Speakers are inexpensive, loud, and high-quality.  They also look really nice!  Although I listen to all of my recordings through headphones, I also want to make sure they sound good through speakers, since that is how most other people will be listening to the songs. 

If you've been keeping track, you've noticed that 4 of the pieces of equipment I've covered connect via a USB port.  Any Mac user knows that the computer only offers 2 USB ports, which is why I use a Rocketfish USB Hub to power my entire studio without plugging and unplugging anything.  It only takes up one USB port on my computer, and the best part is that it has a suction cup, so I can attach it to the backside of my desk in order to hide the spaghetti factory of wires and cords.

Two last pieces of equipment to mention, and then I promise I'll end this insanely long post :)  These are crucial if you use an external monitor: the Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse.  As you can see in the first picture, I record my vocals relatively far away from my computer and monitor, so instead of walking back and forth in between takes, I can bring my keyboard and mouse over to control things remotely.

So there you have it: the Listen & Learn home recording studio.  There are definitely things I'd like to add to it over time, but for now, I'm quite happy with it.  I'm also more than happy to answer any questions you might have about the equipment I've mentioned, or just home recording in general.  Let's tackle them in the comments!

Kids With Cats: This Song is For You

Writing a song about dogs came quite naturally to me, since I'm a dog owner and have always considered myself to be a "dog person".  But I have nothing against cats (that's my mom's cat, Izzy, in the picture) and since many of you let me know that you'd like a feline version of the song, I was happy to oblige! 



C - A - T, my C - A - T,
My cat’s a part of my family.
She has such soft and pretty fur,
I love to hear her meow and purr.
C - A - T, my C - A - T,
My cat’s a part of my family.

People ask me questions, like
“What’s your cat’s name?”
And this is what I say: __________
They also want to know,
“What kind of cat do you have?”
So I answer in this way: __________

C - A - T, my C - A - T,
My cat’s a part of my family.
I give her water, food, and toys,
Luckily, she doesn’t make much noise.
C - A - T, my C - A - T,
My cat’s a part of my family.

People ask me questions, like
“How old is your cat?”
And this is what I say: __________
They also want to know,
“Can I pet your cat?”
So I answer in this way: __________

C - A - T, my C - A - T,
My cat’s a part of my family.
She likes to chase her toy mouse,
‘Round and ‘round and ‘round the house.
C - A - T, my C - A - T,
My cat’s a part of my family.

I used Izzy as an example in this version, but just as was offered when I posted "My D-O-G", I'll record a special version for your family's cat if this is a song your child might enjoy.  All you have to do is send me an email, and be sure to include your answers to the questions asked in the song!

"Time to Sing Hello" Hits the Airwaves

Yesterday I got into my car, headed to the grocery store, when I heard a familiar voice on the radio. It was mine! The interview that I had recorded earlier in the week aired throughout the weekend on 5 different local stations, and I got lucky enough to catch it on my favorite one (WDBR, for local readers).

This is the second time that I've been a guest on Bob Murray's Focus program, and I was super excited to be invited back.  I had the opportunity to talk more about my work as a music therapist, the new album, and even share two of the songs from it.


Please excuse the wavering in my voice during that last song...the interview was recorded very early in the morning :) Thanks for sticking around to listen, and if you have any questions for me that I didn't cover in the interview, feel free to ask them in the comments!

Sunday Singalong: You Are My Sunshine

Happy Sunday! Singing this song (in any one of its many forms) always puts a smile on my face. Good thing, because I sing the calendar version in almost every music therapy session, both at school and in my private practice. People always ask me if I get tired of singing the same songs over and over, and while the answer is sometimes yes, this song does not fall into that category.

It does, however, fall into the category of the ever-popular "piggyback" song, which involves taking a familiar song and changing the lyrics, but keeping the melody the same. It's a common practice among music therapists and educators, and although I enjoy composing my own melodies, piggybacking does come in handy from time to time.

If you search the Listen & Learn archives, you'll actually find quite a few. What are your favorite songs to piggyback on? Please share them in the comments!

Friday Fave: A New Officemate

Last Tuesday was a sad day in the Music Therapy Connections office/studio.  It was the day I laid to rest a sturdy old workhorse, my HP DeskJet 940c printer.  I've had this printer since my first day of college (all the way back in 2001), and it has sat on 4 different desks in 4 different cities since then.  Not bad, considering I've been through 4 laptops in that time!

I owe my deceased DeskJet for all of my PECS cards, homemade visual aides, printed sheet music, and so much more.  It worked hard right up until judgment day, when despite trying several new ink cartridges, it spewed out blank paper.  Could it have been resuscitated? Probably.  But I knew it was time to let go.

The HP OfficeJet Pro Wireless 8000 and I got off to a rocky start.  But thanks to the intervention of a very sweet HP technical support person, our relationship was mended and now we're working in harmony.  Its wireless capabilities, 2-sided printing (save the rainforest!), and high quality printing have all but made up for the loss of old DeskJet.

But this isn't the only new officemate around here.  Last month, I added a couple that I still haven't gotten around to posting.  I will do that soon.  In the meantime, have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend.  See you back here in a couple of days for my new "Sunday Singalong" video!

www.RachelRambach.com

Many of you already know this, but Listen & Learn isn't my only website. I also have a personal website and blog where I post cover songs, originals, and general musings. I don't update it all that often, but I did yesterday and thought I'd share the link with you.

As much as I love posting here at Listen & Learn, It's nice to have a place to go and write about topics other than music therapy and children's music.  Writing more adult-ish music and playing gigs in my city is just a hobby for me, but I really enjoy it.  So if you're interested, check it out; I'm on my way there now to post a new video :)

A Sweet Singable Story

Last month's inaugural Singable Story garnered quite a few comments and requests for more singable story ideas, so I'm excited to be back with another one today.  Good Night, Sweet Butterflies, written by Dawn Bentley, combines sensory input through touch (the butterflies on each page are 3-D and glittery, no less), sight (bright colors spill off of every page) and sound (well, assuming it is read or sung out loud).

I recorded this singable story for one of my music therapy groups yesterday, and rather than pre-compose the melody, I improvised the entire thing.  I love that the music is calm and soothing, just like the story itself.        


And here is the guitar part by itself, which I hate to admit is not my playing.  I have Garageband to thank for this lovely acoustic picking!  You can download this one for free if you'd like. 


I purchased quite a few new children's books earlier this summer, all of which lend themselves nicely to being sung. Slowly but surely, I'll be sharing more of those (plus some oldies but goodies). For now, enjoy this sweet, lullaby-like story and have fun making it your own!

Today at Listen & Learn Music Plus!

I received so much positive feedback from readers about "My D-O-G" that it was the obvious choice for this week's lead sheet download.  It's also being featured as the free song download of the week at Listen & Learn Music Plus! Both are now available to all subscribers...learn about becoming one today!

Sunday Singalong: Little Fishes

It's true, I am wearing my swimsuit underneath my clothes and not one stitch of makeup, but I had a window of opportunity (read: absent puppy and hubby) in which to record this video, and I took advantage of it!

If you haven't checked out the music of Genevieve Jereb, you really should.  I just love her Australian accent, and the songs are so much fun - not to mention, purposeful.  I use "Little Fishes" all the time, and this song can go on for literally 10 minutes in a big group.

As I mentioned, using pictures to stimulate participation is a great way for kids who need a little extra help.  You could either hold them up yourself and have the students name the creature that is pictured, or have each child hold a picture, and name the creature (or point to the student) so that he or she holds up the picture when it's his or her turn.  You could even use this as an art project opportunity, and have the students create the pictures themselves.

Remember, if you have a song suggestion (one of mine or otherwise) for a "Sunday Singalong" video, let me know!  If I use your suggested song, you get a free custom CD.

Friday Fave: The 7 Link Challenge

Earlier this week, Darren Rowse of ProBlogger (an awesome resource for anyone who blogs) posed a challenge: publish a list of 7 links to posts that you and others have written that respond to 7 specific categories.

1. Your first post
2. A post you enjoyed writing the most
3. A post which had a great discussion
4. A post on someone else’s blog that you wish you’d written
5. Your most helpful post
6. A post with a title that you are proud of
7. A post that you wish more people had read

Since I started Listen & Learn back in September of 2008 (almost two years ago!) and have written over 450 posts, choosing just 7 will indeed be a challenge.  But I always enjoy going back and reading through the archives, so this should be a fun project!

1. First post:  An Introduction
Luckily, this one was easy :)  I posted my first blog entry on September 4, 2008, not knowing exactly what I was doing or having a clear goal.  I've learned a lot since then!

2. Post I enjoyed writing the most:  The Best Birthday Gift Ever
This post came exactly one year later, on Listen & Learn's first birthday.  That was the day I reached my Kickstarter fundraising goal of $2,000, which I later used to record my first studio album.  Needless to say, I had a huge smile on my face as I typed each and every word.

3. Post which had a great discussion:  
Halloween Song Topic Contest
Last fall, I asked my readers to suggest topics for a new Halloween-themed song.  They came up with some extremely creative ideas, which they shared not only in the blog comments, but also via email, Facebook, and Twitter.  The winning topics inspired the songs Patrick & Polly Pumpkin, All the Candy I'll Eat, and Costumes on Parade. 

4. Post on someone else's blog I wish I'd written:  
Black Eyed Peas + Boomwhackers
My friend and fellow music therapist Kat Fulton is an amazing percussionist, and in her blog post, she shared a video she created for her boomwhackers-only version of "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas.  The song and video were simply awesome, and although I wish I'd come up with them and the corresponding post, I'll leave the heavy duty percussion to Kat!

5. Most helpful post: Safety Comes First
From time to time, a reader emails me with a request for a song on a specific subject.  Although I can't honor each and every request because of my busy schedule, I sure do try!  This particular song post stemmed from one of those email readers, and not only did it fulfill her need, but quite a few others were able to benefit from it, as well.  (Okay, I had to include a runner-up: 1 Cool Bass Line = 2 Singable Stories.)

6. Post with a title I'm proud of: 
Publicity, Performance, and Praise, Oh My!
You know while trying to answer this one?  That I am not very creative when it comes to writing blog post titles.  Usually, I'll use the title of the song I'm posting or keep it short and to the point.  The title of the post I chose was inspired, of course, by The Wizard of Oz  (one of my favorite movies of all time). 

7. Post I wish more people had read: Taming the Tidal Wave
This particular post doesn't necessarily fit in with my regular subject matter, which is probably why it didn't receive much feedback.  I wrote it last winter, when I was juggling too much on my plate and feeling completely stressed.  I know that other music therapists, and everyone else, for that matter, have been in similar situations, and the strategies I listed might just be as helpful to them as they were to me. 

Listen & Learn has definitely grown up a lot since that first post I linked to in #1, and I have a feeling that if I were to do the same challenge a year from now, I would have new links to share for almost every category.  I would love to see some of my fellow blogger friends follow suit...how 'bout it? 

D-O-G, My D-O-G

That's my D-O-G, Sadie, but believe it or not, she actually wasn't the inspiration for this song!  Just yesterday during my last group music therapy session at The Autism Program, one of my students asked me if I had a dog.  I saw this as an opportunity to start a conversation, so I used an adaptation of Cathy Bollinger's song "I Like Movies, So Do You" (replacing movies with pets) to encourage my students to discuss their own pets or favorite types of animals. 

Almost every student in the group had a dog, so I asked questions like "What is your dog's name?" and "What kind of dog do you have?" and so on.  Most could answer the first one, but some of the other questions were a bit trickier for them.  So I came up with this song, which has these questions and more built right in. 



D – O – G, my D – O – G,
My dog’s a part of my family.
I take her for walks, we run and play,
She’s by my side, every single day.
D – O – G, my D – O – G,
My dog’s a part of my family.

People ask me questions, like
“What’s your dog’s name?”
And this is what I say: __________
They also want to know:
“What kind of dog do you have?”
So I answer in this way: __________

D – O – G, my D – O – G,
My dog’s a part of my family.
I give her water, food, and toys,
When she barks, she makes so much noise.
D – O – G, my D – O – G,
My dog’s a part of my family.

People ask me questions, like
“How old is your dog?”
And this is what I say: __________
They also want to know:
“Can I pet your dog?”
So I answer in this way: __________

D – O – G, my D – O – G,
My dog’s a part of my family.
I teach her tricks like how to shake,
We take her swimming in the lake,
D – O – G, my D – O – G,
My dog’s a part of my family.

Notice that I fill in the answers to each question using Sadie as an example.  But if this is a song that might be useful for your child or student, let me know and I will send you two versions: one with the answers left blank, and one with answers pertaining to your specific dog (just make sure you provide those answers in your email). 

I think I almost have to write the song "My C-A-T" so that I don't leave out all the cat owners who are reading this right now!  Look for that one soon :) 

Release Party Recap

I work with students of all ages and abilities both in my studio and at school, so to have many of them gathered in one place, all participating and having fun, was a joy to see. The CD Release Party was a huge success, based on the feedback I've received from parents as well as my own assessment - I know I had a great time!


Many of the children came right up to the front of the room, where they sang and danced along with me. A few opted to sit in the audience with their moms and dads, which was just fine, too!


We managed to get a good number of kids into this group shot, though let me tell you, it was a challenge :) I just love this picture, especially the little waves a few of the kids are giving.


Nathaniel is a piano student of mine, and he marched right up to me afterwards to ask for a picture. His little sister, also named Rachel, was at home napping, but their mom has reported that she is a big fan of the CD.

My father-in-law (an avid photographer) took these pictures and many more, all of which can be found here.  Funny enough, he can be seen in action during almost all of the videos from the performance, along with my husband, who was also taking pictures.  I'll have more videos up on my YouTube channel soon, but here's one to give you a taste:



Personally, my favorite moment from this video is when my mom (who is manning the video camera) zooms in on my brother, the sound guy. Doesn't he just look thrilled? Ha! Needless to say, my family was a huge help that day, from setting up/tearing down to serving refreshments to capturing the entire event on film. 

So to recap this recap, visit my photo album to see the rest of the pictures and stay tuned to my YouTube channel for more videos from the performance.  Oh, and most importantly: if you haven't already downloaded or ordered the CD, go do it!  The download is free, or you can name your price if you wish to contribute toward my next studio album.  Thank you SO much to those of you who have already done so...I hope you're enjoying it! 

Sunday Singalong: CD Release Edition

Today is a big day! I'm throwing a CD release party this afternoon, because what better way to celebrate than surrounded by my friends, family, coworkers, and students? I'm kicking off the celebration with an interactive performance of the songs from the album, followed by refreshments and merriment. And of course, I'll have plenty of CDs and download cards on hand.

But I couldn't let the party preparations get in the way of creating this week's "Sunday Singalong" video! I actually recorded this on Friday morning, before the chaos began...and thank goodness I did. Watch as I talk a little about the CD and then do an acoustic version of "The Feelings in My Heart".



My husband is going to record the live performance this afternoon, so look for new videos this week. Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing in the "happiness" and "excitement" with me. Oh, and don't forget to visit Time to Sing Hello and download the album!

It's finally here! Well, actually it's here:

www.TimeToSingHello.com 

Follow the link to read all about it and download the album.  It's free, or you can choose to pay what you wish.  
No more waiting...go, go, go!

Friday Fave: My First Review!

When I mailed out the preorders of my new CD on Tuesday, I expected for them to arrive either today or tomorrow, which is the official release day.  So I was incredibly surprised when I received an email from one preorder customer last night, telling me that her copy had arrived on Thursday!

It is so fitting that my first review comes from Sandie, a Listen & Learn reader who has also become a friend and great source of encouragement over the last year or so.  Sandie is a mother to Matthew, who was born with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum (ACC).  Matthew absolutely loves music and has a growing collection of Listen & Learn CDs at home.  You can read more about Matthew at Sandie's wonderful blog.

Her email was as follows:

Hi Rachel,

Yesterday we took a day trip to the beach...about 90 minutes away from where we live. On the way to the beach we played some of your CDs in the car. Matthew still really likes listening to your songs. They are just so much fun.

Today (back at home) I heard the screen door to our house opening up this afternoon and wondered if someone was at my door and who it was. So as I peeked out my peephole I saw the mailman slipping envelopes inside my screen door and front door. As he drove off I opened the front door and scooped up the mail.  Well, I was really surprised to find an envelope from YOU mixed in with our mail and I knew exactly what it was even though I wasn't expecting it for a couple days.

Thank you very much for the CD and for the picture of you with the sweet note you wrote. It was so kind of you and it is very special. I am going to put it in a frame.  We listened to your CD and it's so wonderful!

Matthew signed "shoes" each time that you would sing the word "shoes" in "My Clothes and Shoes" song. He also really liked listening to the "Clean Up Song" and when it was over he made a happy "whooo whooo" sound and was excited.  The songs are really great, Rachel.

I think my favorite is "Clothes and Shoes" but need to listen a few more times since they are all so good. I'm not sure which songs is Matthew's favorite yet but will let you know. I think it just may be the one where he "whooo whooo'd" :)

I especially like how some of the songs have such a beautiful message that speaks to a person's sense of self esteem and feeling good about who they are.  We will definitely be listening to the CD a lot more and will still be playing the other CDs you've made for Matthew too.  Congratulations, Rachel on your brand new CD!!

I hope that you have an absolutely wonderful CD celebration party on July 11th.  And, thank you very much. :)

Sandie & Matthew 

As I explained to Sandie in response to her email, it's a bit scary putting so much of yourself into something (in this case, the music) and then sending it out into the world for others to experience. So to read her words and know that the songs are doing just what I had intended was a huge thrill - not to mention, a big relief!

I hope that the rest of you enjoy Time to Sing Hello as much as Sandie and Matthew have.  Tomorrow you'll be able to listen to all of the songs and download the album for yourselves.  I'm so excited to finally share it with you.

Today at Listen & Learn Music Plus!

The release of my new album, Time to Sing Hello, is only two days away.  In honor of it's imminent arrival, I'm sharing more goodies from the Time to Sing Hello Songbook today at Listen & Learn Plus!  Sheet music for "Time to Say Goodbye" is now available to all subscribers...learn about becoming one today!

Introducing...Sensory Street Kids!

I'd like to tell you about an email I received last March from a mother of two sons (one of whom was diagnosed with speech and cognitive delays at 16 months of age) in New York who also happened to be the founder of Sensory Street Kids.  In her email, Lea Keating wrote:

"Three years ago, after discovering the amazing benefits of music therapy, I started to put together a company called Sensory Street Kids. To make a very long journey short, I collaborated with an speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, special education teacher, music therapist and songwriter, put together a curriculum and started to offer mommy-and-me type group music and movement classes for children with special needs."

Needless to say, I was intrigued from the get-go. I had some experience with both Kindermusik and Music Together curricula, but Sensory Street Kids was much more aligned with my approach to group music therapy classes.

Lea went on to explain that although Sensory Street Kids was initially a local program, it had grown so rapidly that she felt it was time to take the next step. She shared her plans to launch a national licensing and certification program to offer professionals across the country the opportunity to teach Sensory Street Kids classes in their areas. That way, families everywhere would have access to this unique program that had been so beneficial to children with special needs in her community.

In the end, Lea asked if I would be interested in joining the Sensory Street Kids team, and I happily said yes!  We've spent the last few months further developing the curriculum (which includes several adapted Listen & Learn songs) and I've even begun implementing it in several of the music groups I lead.  I'll be blogging about my experiences as a Sensory Street Kids instructor on their blog as well as keeping you updated right here.

The Sensory Street Kids website is currently undergoing a major overhaul, so in the meantime, you can learn more by following them on Twitter and Facebook and checking out this recent article. 

Happy July!

Any other summer, I'd most likely tell you how bummed out I am that July is already here.  But not this year!  I have so much to look forward to this month that I'm not even thinking about the fact that summer is one-third of the way over. (Okay, maybe the thought has crossed my mind...however, I choose to ignore it.)

In the next four weeks, I will be: attending my best friend's engagement party, traveling to Indianapolis for a 4th of July wedding, releasing my album, throwing a big CD release party, and giving a music therapy presentation at a big conference.  Whew! 

Back in June I re-recorded all of my Months of the Year songs, and this is the first time I've had a chance to share one with you at the start of a new month.  (You can download the entire album, which comes with all 12 songs + instrumental tracks + lead sheet songbook here.)



Picnics, ice cream, apple pie,
Clap your hands ‘cause it’s July!
The seventh month of the year,
For thirty one days July is here.

Wave your flag, way up high,
Celebrate the fourth of July.
Let’s all wear red, white, and blue,
Fireworks for me and you!

Picnics, ice cream, apple pie,
Clap your hands ‘cause it’s July!
The seventh month of the year,
For thirty one days July is here.

Independence is the word,
Patriotic songs are heard.
Let’s join in and sing out loud,
For our country we are proud.

Picnics, ice cream, apple pie,
Clap your hands ‘cause it’s July!
The seventh month of the year,
For thirty one days July is here.

Summer’s coming to a peak,
It gets hotter every week.
Hear the crickets chirp at night,
Until the morning sun shines bright.

Picnics, ice cream, apple pie,
Clap your hands ‘cause it’s July!
The seventh month of the year,
For thirty one days July is here.

What are you up to this July?  Any big vacations or 4th of July parties planned?  My students have been filling me in on their holiday weekend plans, and they all sound like so much fun.  Whatever your plans may be, I hope you start the month off right by enjoying this gorgeous summer day.  Clap your hands 'cause it's July!