"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!

Kappa Delta Recognizes Music Therapy

When I found out I was going to be featured in my sorority's national alumnae magazine a few months back, I couldn't believe it.   I've been reading the Angelos of Kappa Delta since I graduated from Rollins College in 2004, and am always amazed by the wonderful things that Kappa Delta women across the country are doing. To be amongst such company is a pretty huge honor, if you ask me!

"Bridging the Communication Gap" highlights the work I do as a music therapist here in Springfield, along with another KD alum who uses sign language to help children with disabilities learn to communicate.  The article doesn't mention it, but the picture above was taken during my local alumnae chapter's Founders Day dinner, for which I wrote and performed an original song.

A special thank you to Kimberly S. Moore, who sent me the article in PDF format.  Her mom is a KD alum as well, saw the article, and emailed it to Kimberly.  (Small world, huh?)  You can download and read it via this link:

Download: Rachel in the Angelos Magazine

Kappa Delta also published a Q&A with me, which covers lots of topics (from my education to my experiences as a KD in college).  You can read that here.

Rachel on the Radio!

On my way out of town this past Monday, I stopped by Capitol Radio Group to record a radio interview with Bob Murray for his "Focus" show, which aired this morning on all 5 Capitol Radio Group stations.  I missed it this morning, but several people came up to me at church and told me they'd heard it.

Luckily, I have the mp3 file so not only can I listen to the interview, but so can you!  The program is around 25 minutes and is focused on music therapy, as well as some of the other projects I'm up to these days.


Thanks for listening! Now go back to enjoying this lovely Easter Sunday. I hope you've all had a great weekend, and I'll see you tomorrow for - wait for it - a song! It's about time, right?

SONGBOOK SALE!

It's regional music therapy conference time, and we (myself and songbook publisher Michelle Erfurt) are celebrating by offering a limited-time-only sale on my songbook, Listen & Learn: Songs for School, Home and Play.

From March 15 – April 16, when you purchase a songbook for $25, we will also include the supplemental CD (usually sold separately for $10) and free shipping. Also, a portion of all Listen & Learn songbook sales will be donated to the music therapy clubs of Colorado State University and Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (you choose which university you'd like to support when you make your purchase).

Listen and Learn: Educational songs for School, Home, and Play contains 24 of my most popular songs. It includes the melody line and chords for songs that address goal areas such as counting, daily care, directions, transitions, friendships, and more, along with activity suggestions for each one. It was developed for other music therapists, educators, parents, or anyone who works with children. I made a video in which I talk more about the book and sing a song from it; you can watch here.

So if this sounds like something that belongs on your bookshelf, please take advantage of our sale!  You can complete your purchase securely (using either a PayPal account or credit card) below:

I choose...

Colorado State University Slippery Rock University

Friday Fave: Springfield's Own Magazine

The Hope Institute has been featured in several local publications recently, and I feel honored that our music therapy program has been mentioned in a few of those articles. Today's cover story in Springfield's Own Magazine highlights many aspects of Hope, including music therapy.

Another way Hope is thinking outward is by employing innovative teaching and therapy methods that will help students master daily tasks and help them express their feelings and communicate. In 2006, Nyre helped Hope obtain a grant for a music therapist, and Rachel Rambach was a perfect fit.

"I got really lucky," she says. "I was finishing up my graduate school internship (for music therapy), and Hope had received a grant for music therapy."

By allowing students to learn by singing and playing instruments, Rachel Rambach is able to connect with the children in a different way and reinforce what their teachers are working on with them, she says. She writes her own songs and creates CDs for both parents and teachers so students can keep learning through music even on the days she does not meet with them. While teaching youths of varying learning levels and abilities can be difficult, she says her job is more fun than anything else.

"My job is so much fun," she says. "Music helps to create a level playing field for the kids; its universal, and it's something that everyone can relate to, no matter what their ability."

Teaching handicapped and disabled children involves a large commitment from Hope's teachers and staff, but what is most evident among them is their dedication, faith and love for their students, and the hope that Hope will help the children have satisfying and fulfilling lives.

Read the entire article (written by Nicole Harbour) for a better understanding of what The Hope Institute is all about, and just how many children it benefits in so many different ways. You can do so here.

State Journal-Register: Lyrical Learning

I couldn't have asked for a better feature about music therapy than the one my local paper published in today's edition. Many, many thanks to Ann Gorman, who spent the good part of a day interviewing and observing me, and wrote the wonderful article. It is available online, but I also wanted to share it with my Listen & Learn readers right here.

Lyrical Learning:
Music therapist uses songs as teaching aid at Hope Institute

by Ann Gorman, Correspondent
The State Journal-Register
October 26, 2009

Rachel Rambach has a song for almost every occasion or teachable moment, from "Yummy Summer" and "Friendly Words" to "Fall into Fall" and "Under, Over, In and Out."

The 26-year-old Springfield native has composed more than 100 melodies, using them in her work as a music therapist for the Hope Institute for Children and Families, and in her private practice.

Since 2007, she's been employed designing and implementing a music therapy program for the Hope Institute. The institute is a nonprofit center that provides educational, residential and health services to people ages 5-21 with multiple developmental and physical disabilities, including cognitive impairment or illness, autism, cerebral palsy, neurological disorders, visual or auditory impairments, ambulatory difficulties and psychiatric or behavior disorders.

"Hands clap, feet tap. It's time to sing hello./To you and you and you and you, all of the people that we know," Rambach sang on a recent morning at Hope School Learning Center on East Hazel Dell Road in Springfield.

Grinning broadly, a young man named Ray enthusiastically joined in with Rambach as she strummed her guitar.

"So let's all come together, and sing out big and strong./Let's have a good time in music, while we dance and play along," crooned Ray, who uses a wheelchair.

Other teens in the classroom, all with special needs, chimed in on songs about the weather or calendar, their voices building as they recalled the lyrics.

"The kids really benefit from repetition and hearing the songs a lot - they can sing them by heart and feel really comfortable with them," Rambach said.

Although some students at first were reserved, when Rambach launched into "Move Your Body Along," many eagerly clapped, stomped, stretched, twisted, jumped and swayed to the peppy tune.

During her weekly half-hour sessions in various classes at Hope School, Rambach also uses picture cards, books, scarves and small percussion instruments such as rhythm sticks, hand drums, bells, jingle sticks and brightly colored shakers to reach the pupils through music.

"Music connects people on a deeper level than speaking or dialogue does, especially (those) who don't always communicate verbally as well as others," Rambach said. "They respond to music, but they don't have to do it by saying something verbally. They can clap their hands, play an instrument, sing or make sounds to communicate how they're feeling."

"It's a fun thing for them to do," teacher Jeni Sorrells said of the program. "Even if they don't sing, they can participate no matter what their cognitive or physical abilities are."

Musical healing

Rambach noted that music therapy does not entail teaching students or clients how to sing or become musically proficient.

"We're working on skills that are non-musical," she said.

She often writes songs to coincide with educational or skill-building units teachers are doing with students, such as colors, following directions or self-care.

"They're learning something (by way of music), but it's not hard. It's not something that feels like a chore or a lesson," Rambach said.

According to the American Music Therapy Association Web site, the use of music as a "healing influence" dates back to ancient times. Its power became evident in the modern era when, following World Wars I and II, doctors noticed veterans suffering physical and emotional trauma responded well when musicians performed at the hospitals.

However, musicians needed training to work in those settings, which led to the development of the first music therapy degree program at Michigan State University in 1944.

Today, music therapists are employed at medical and psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitative facilities, outpatient clinics, daycare treatment centers, agencies serving developmentally disabled people, mental-health centers, drug and alcohol programs, senior centers, nursing homes, hospice programs, correctional facilities, halfway houses, schools and private practice.

Rambach, a 2001 graduate of Springfield High School, became interested in all types of music at a young age. Studying voice at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla., she "stumbled upon" music therapy while working on a careers-in-music project.

"I was reading about the effects that music has on not only people with Alzheimer's, but kids and really anybody," Rambach said. "I found it fascinating."

After job-shadowing a music therapist for a semester, Rambach said she "knew that that was for me." She graduated early from Rollins, earned her master's degree in music therapy at Illinois State University, and began working for Hope Institute after clinical training at Midwest Music Therapy Services in St. Louis.

Rambach also has a private practice, Music Therapy Connections, at her westside home that she shares with her husband, Zach. She hopes to offer consulting services in the future.

Twelve-year-old Ian "Rusty" Russell has been going to weekly sessions for a few months.

"He loves it," said his father, Ted Russell.

"She does a lot of music with me, because I'm a fan of music. I like the Beatles," said Rusty, who has autism.

During their time together in the studio, Rambach and Rusty take turns singing questions and answers about their day and other things.

"Rusty, do you like food that's made of apples?" Rambach asks, a lilt in her voice.

"I like apple pie. I like apples and peanut butter. I like apple juice. Oh, and I like applesauce," Rusty replies harmoniously.

They also play "Repeat After Me" on the keyboard and do other musical activities. Then there is one last song: "It's time for me to go, oh, oh, oh ..."

While some of the changes Rambach has noticed in her students since starting the music therapy program have been subtle - more attentiveness, better eye contact and greater response - others have been obvious, with more students willing to "step outside their comfort zone" and try new things.

"It's been really exciting to see that transition," she said. "It's amazing."

More about Rambach’s music

Rachel Rambach writes an Internet blog about her experiences as a music therapist, and her songs are available for download, via online subscription.

Thanks to donations, Rambach soon will professionally record, manufacture and distribute “Listen & Learn: Music for a Different Kind of Audience,” a collection of songs compiled from her extensive Listen & Learn Music collection.

For more information, see www.musictherapyconnections.org or www.listenlearnmusic.com.

In addition, Rambach is featured on the Model Me Kids DVD, “Faces and Emotions.”
In the video series, children demonstrate social skills by modeling peer behavior. Learn more at Model Me Kids.

A Springfield native, Rambach has performed in local community theater productions and serves on the children’s music staff at Laurel United Methodist Church. She recently began playing at venues such as The Walnut Street Winery in Rochester and The Alamo in Springfield.

Visit www.facebook.com/RachelRambachMusic, www.rachelrambach.com or The State Journal-Register’s A&E section each Thursday for show dates.

Music Therapy in the News...Again!

It has been a great year for music therapy in Springfield. Not only did our local news feature my work in August, but tomorrow, the State Journal-Register is running an article about it. As part of the interview they did with me, they also recorded a short video. I wish it included a few other portions of the session, but hey, I'll take what I can get! It's exciting that the word about music therapy is getting out in central Illinois.



I'll be back tomorrow with the article, so make sure to check it out. I hope you've all had a wonderful weekend and are not stuck in bed with the flu, like I am. I'll most likely be blogging from this very spot for the next few days :( Stay healthy, everyone!

The Best of Listen & Learn

In honor of being named today's "Blog of Note" by the awesome team at Blogger, I have compiled a list of the posts that I think best represent Listen & Learn Music. A Cliff Notes of sorts for first-time visitors, and a walk down memory lane for those of you who have supported this blog since it's creation in September 2008. Let's start at the very beginning...

9/4/08: An Introduction
My very first post, which tells the story behind Listen & Learn.

10/10/08: A New Friday Tradition
"Friday Faves" are still going strong. This was the inaugural one.

10/26/08: Up Close and Personal
Here, I share a little-known (non music-therapy) side of myself.

11/4/08: You Can Vote However You Like
A fun reflection on Election Day, including a fab video.

11/20/08: Turkey Dinner Dance
This song (and dance!) might just stir a Thanksgiving craving.

12/17/09: The Other Eight Reindeer
My nod to Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen.

1/30/09: Three Blue Pigeons
How I was able to reach a little boy with autism through a simple song.

2/23/09: Off to School Today
An upbeat tune all about going to school. School is cool!

4/20/09: Office Space
A photo tour of my home office and studio in its beginnings.

5/28/09: Bells are for Shaking
One of the many songs I've written specifically for the instruments we play.

6/25/09: I Heart Taylor Swift
Doesn't everyone? Especially after the whole Kanye West/VMAs debacle.

7/14/09: Help Me, Help Them
A video I made to spread the word about my Kickstarter project.

8/4/09: On the Disney Channel
Hannah Montana? Check. Jonas Brothers? Check. The whole gang's here.

9/4/09: Listen & Learn Turns 1
This post rounds out the past year in review as my blog celebrates its birthday!

Do you have a favorite post you've read or song you've heard here at Listen & Learn? I'd love to know about it. In the meantime, I am still reeling from the amazing bestowment of "Blog of Note" and 1,200+ visitors I've had today! Thanks to each and every one of you for sharing a few minutes of your day with me :)

Today's Blog of Note!

Wow, wow, wow...I don't even know what else to say. Oh, "Thank you, Blogger!" might be a good place to start. I am so thrilled and honor to be featured today as the Blog of Note, which can be found on Blogger's homepage, the Blogs of Note blog, and Blogger's Twitter page. Listen & Learn has been going strong for a little over a year now, and I couldn't be happier with the free service that Blogger provides so that I have a platform in which to share my music therapy ideas and adventures, as well as my educational children's songs for school, home, and play.

If this is your first time here, thank you so much for visiting! I hope you'll continue to come back. My name is Rachel Rambach, and I am a board-certified music therapist in central Illinois. I write this blog for everyone who has an appreciation for the power of music, and you can learn more about Listen & Learn here. If you have any questions about the site, my music, or music therapy in general, feel free to email me, and follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Again, thank you for stopping by! And thanks, Blogger...you're helping spread the word about music therapy and the role of music in education :)

Music Therapy: A Hybrid?

That is exactly how it is described in an article from Time Out New York, which I found via a blog post by Brown Music Therapy. The article is titled "The New Hybrids" and leads in as follows:

We're not talking about eco-friendly cars, but innovative fields that blend disciplines in unexpected ways - and could kick-start your career.

Other "hybrid" jobs mentioned in the article include narrative medicine, urban agriculture, and food media. I've never used that particular term to describe music therapy, but in a way, it sort of fits. Music therapy is still considered to be a new and, for some people, unconventional field, and there is always a lot of curiosity at the mention of it.

If you are a music therapist, you know how difficult it can be to explain your job to someone who is completely unfamiliar with the field. I still struggle with this, even after almost three years. I've read so many magazine and newspaper articles where music therapy is either misrepresented or poorly explained, so I was impressed with the short write-up featured in this article. Read it for yourself here.

Take a Look

Music Therapy in the News

If you live in Springfield and happened to watch the news tonight, you've already seen this. But for my long-distance readers: you can see the story for yourselves HERE. I'm so proud to share the work I do with my community, especially since music therapy is not as established in Springfield as it is in other places. Any chance I get to spread the word about the positive effects of music, I gladly take it!

If you are new to Listen & Learn, thanks for visiting. Please let me know if you have any questions about music therapy or the songs I write by sending me an email. Also, be sure to connect with me on Facebook and Twitter!

In Memory of Michael Jackson

There's not much left to be said about Michael Jackson that hasn't been said already in the wake of his death. When I heard the news, I - like most people - found it hard to digest. MJ is an American icon, but he was human, too...something we tend to forget when it comes to ultra celebrities like him. No matter how he lived his personal life, nothing can change the fact that he was a phenomenal entertainer whose fame and influence spanned multiple generations.

I've been listening to a lot of Michael Jackson's music over the past two weeks, and it's been fun revisiting the songs that I loved so much as a child. I caught the last hour or so of his memorial service today, and I just have to share with you what I thought was the most emotionally moving musical performance of all:



I'll never forget performing "Heal the World" as a third grader in my elementary school musical, We're Gonna Have an Earth Day. The show itself was cheesy, but the feeling that I had when we sang that as a choir came rushing back as I watched today's rendition during the memorial. There's no questioning Michael Jackson's profound effect on the world, and the fact that he will be missed.

Listen & Learn Music Plus!

Listen and Learn Music Plus! is a premium addition to the original...the icing on the cake, if you will. Members will have access to lead sheets for each song, videos, special posts on a number of topics, and one song download every week. All of this (and much more) for $36 per YEAR. That's 52 songs and lead sheets for less than 75 cents each.

Who should become a member? Anyone who:

• is a parent, music therapist, teacher, or other professional working children.
• reads Listen & Learn on a regular basis and enjoys listening to the songs.
• would like access to visual aides and materials for use in the classroom, at home, or in music therapy sessions.
• sings and/or plays the guitar and desires to learn new tunes.
• wants songwriting advice.
• is in search of new ideas, interventions, and activities.

This isn't an exhaustive list, but you get the general idea. Questions are welcome!
Here is how Listen & Learn Music Plus! works: once you have paid your yearly subscription fee of $36 securely through PayPal, you will receive an email inviting you to the members-only blog. Use your Google ID to sign in; if you don't have one, no worries! It takes only minutes to sign up for one, and it is free.

Voila! That is all it takes to become a member and gain access to the many perks Listen & Learn Music Plus! has to offer. Now just click on the button below to purchase your subscription.

A Word To My Readers: Part 1

When I wrote the first Listen & Learn Music post back in September of 2008, I had no idea that people would actually read it. Of course, I hoped they would, but I never expected my little blog to get hundreds of hits each day. Nor did I expect that I would get emails from readers telling me how they are using my songs in their classrooms, with their clients, or even with their own children.

But that is what happened. Since September, I have written over 200 posts, shared hundreds of songs, and sold countless CDs. Writing Listen & Learn Music is one of my favorite things in the world, and I have no plans to discontinue any time soon! In fact, I want it to grow and spread, so that it can reach even more people who might benefit from it. I have a lot of help from you, my readers, linking back to me and telling your friends and colleagues. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your efforts.

The songs I share on my blog always have been and will continue to be available for anyone to listen to, in their entirety, as many times as they'd like. The same goes for the lyrics, which always accompany the songs I post. For those who want to use these songs or learn to play/sing them, lead sheets (chords and lyrics) are available for $1/song, the mp3s can be purchased through Songs for Teaching, and custom CDs sell for $10.

Don't worry, nothing is going to change around here...but I am going somewhere with this. You'll just have to come back tomorrow to find out where!

Call for Links and Resources

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been hard at work on my original website, Music Therapy Connections. I have given it a complete facelift, as well as added new categories and information. If you have a chance, stop by and take a look around. While you're there, please note the bare-bones list of links/resources I've put together thus far...and consider helping me out! If you have a link (of your own or just one you'd recommend) pertaining to all things music therapy, music education, or voice/piano/guitar, please share it with me. I tend to rely on the same resources time after time, so this is a great opportunity to get some feedback from you, my lovely readers. Many thanks in advance!

As for my ambitious weekend to-do list, I was semi-successful. Cleaning? Check. Packing? Check. Songwriting and recording? Hmmm..no comment. :) There are only so many hours in the day, unfortunately. But it is a new week and I'm feeling productive, so stay tuned!

44 Presidents: A Rap

I came across this earlier today, and thought you might enjoy it. I know some of my older students will!



Memorizing presidents is gonna take some effort
We’ll start with George Washington, Adams, and Thomas Jefferson
Then James Madison and James Monroe
Then John Quincy Adams like his father before

Next up we’ve got some interesting folks
Named Jackson, Van Buren, Harrison, Tyler, and Polk
The next four presidents that we’ll examine
Are Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, and Buchanan

Chorus:
44 Presidents, White House residents
From the Revolution to the age of the Internet
(×4)

Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves
Then we got Johnson, Grant, and Rutherford Hayes
James Garfield, Chester Arthur
Cleveland and Harrison; let’s keep going farther

Next up, we got Cleveland again
Then McKinley, Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson
The next four, yeah you know who they are, it’s
Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, and FDR

CHORUS

No presidents are from Wisconsin
Not Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, or Johnson
We’re getting near the end, but it’s not getting harder
It’s Nixon, Ford, then Jimmy Carter

Last few, we’re almost done
We’ve just got Regan, Bush, Clinton, and Bush the Son
Obama’s in the White House now
So hail to the chief and stand up proud!

See it for yourself here, along with plenty of other educational raps!

A New Day in America

If you're like me, you've been waiting for this day for a long time now. Later this morning, Barack Obama will be sworn into office and can officially be called the President of the United States. Your classroom may be one of millions tuning in around the country, and if so, there's no doubt that you will be witnessing history. This morning as I got ready for work, I watched coverage of the masses flooding onto the National Mall - they are expecting 2 to 3 million people. Unbelievable! My father-in-law is there as a chaperone with his school's student government association, and I'm sure he'll have stories to tell when he gets home.

If you didn't get a change to watch HBO's free "We are One" concert on Sunday night, here is a link where you can watch it online. The lineup is pretty amazing, with performances by U2, Garth Brooks, James Taylor, Beyonce, and many more. It's definitely a star-studded and moving program.

It will be interesting to watch the country slowly change under President Obama, hopefully for the (much, much) better. I'll leave you with a YouTube video you've probably already seen or at least heard about: "Yes We Can".

You Can Vote However You Like

Just because your students aren't old enough to vote, that does not mean they don't understand or care about the election. In fact, the very opposite is true. In one of my classes this morning, the first question my students asked was, "who did you vote for, Miss Rachel?"

As I mentioned earlier today, my school held a mock-election and students were given the opportunity to cast their ballots for either Obama or McCain. Towards the end of the aforementioned music therapy session, the class wanted to sing about who they voted for. I agreed, and each student proudly shared their vote with their peers and me.

As the students in the following video will tell you, it's not about who you vote for - it's about letting your voice be heard and setting an example for the children who look to you as a role model. It's obvious that they are paying close attention!