Set to Music: The Pledge of Allegiance

As the Fourth of July approaches, I'm probably not the only one with patriotic themes on the brain.  Songs like "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "America the Beautiful" are being sung and taught to children all over the country this week, and I know that my own students are hard at work learning the Pledge of Allegiance. 

In fact, the occupational therapist at my school emailed me a couple of weeks ago, asking if I had any songs or resources for teaching the Pledge.  I didn't at the time...but I do now!

I came up with a simple rhythmic line, and that serves as my foundation for the chant and song I created to teach the Pledge of Allegiance.  Listen below as I speak it in rhythm, and then download (for free) the rhythmic line for your own use.



I pledge allegiance, to the flag
Of the United States of America.
And to the republic for which it stands,
One nation, under God, indivisible,
With liberty and justice for all.



Next, I came up with a super simple melody on top of the rhythmic line, which I orchestrated with trumpets. Here is my sung version:



And here is the same track, only without my vocals. You can download (again, for free) the instrumental track for yourself:



When I was in elementary school, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance was part of our classroom's morning routine. Nowadays, most schools don't do this, but there are other times at which a child might need to know it. It doesn't hurt to learn, especially when it's done through music!

Friday Fave: Shakin' Songs for Summer

My studio is chock-full of instruments, but it's my collection of shakers that gets the most use. Maybe it's the bright colors, or how easy they are to play, or their great sound; I'm not sure. But my "songs for shakers" are a staple around here, which is why I decided to collect the sheet music that's been hanging out on my computer and put it in one place.

The Shakin' Song, Maraca Rock, Shakers Up High, and Shaky Fruit are songs that I've written over the last three years and still use often in music therapy sessions (and music classes, too!).  These songs address goals related to color identification, taking turns, soft/loud, fast/slow, high/low, up/down, and more. 

If you're looking to "shake up" your repertoire, this might be a good place to start.  The download includes the sheet music for all four songs listed above, plus the mp3s to use as a guide.  $5 and it's yours.

Catch This "Days of the Week" Download!

97% of the songs I use in my music therapy sessions and music classes are those I've written myself. But it's a pretty safe bet that the other 3% are borrowed from Laurie Berkner, who I'd have to say is my songwriting role model.

Some of my favorite Laurie Berkner Band songs include Buzz Buzz, Walk Along the River, The Story of My Feelings, and I Know a Chicken. But one song in particular that both my students and I are extremely fond of is I'm Gonna Catch You.

If you're not familiar with this particular tune, follow the link and listen to an audio sample.  It's upbeat, catchy, and best of all, it's about the days of the week.  Now I'll admit that this is a silly song, but I use it as an opportunity to sneak in a group calendar lesson.

I created a full-sized (8.5 x 11) picture for each day of the week, including the name of the day and a graphic + text for the description in the song.  If I'm working with a large group, I'll ask for volunteers to be in charge of each picture.  Then as we listen to and sing the song, each child holds up his or her picture as that day is mentioned.

If the students are just beginning to learn the days of the week, I'll have them sit in order so that they know when it's their turn. But as they become more familiar with the order of days, I'll arrange them randomly. For those who don't or can't yet read, the pictures serve as a visual cue.

My students really enjoy (and do very well with) this activity, so I thought I'd share those pictures with you today. Here they are in a nice, neat PDF download:

Download: "I'm Gonna Catch You" Visual Aide

Are you a Laurie Berkner superfan like me?  It's hard not to be; her songs are super singable, easy to play on the guitar, and can often be applied to my objectives as a music therapist.  Fill me in on your favorite tunes of hers!