...and a Happy New Year!

My sincere wishes to you all for a happy, healthy, harmonious 2012!
I've had this song as my ringtone for the past few days, and find myself humming it even when my phone doesn't ring.  Straight No Chaser is one of my faves, and I love their take on this tune...I hope you enjoy as I do : )

In case you're interested- here's a link to a Washington Post search on the history of the topic; in my opinion, they present the most information/ best story. You can sign up free to read the first article, "Who Gets Credit for 'Auld Lang Syne'"? 

Halloween Day

Happy Halloween to you! When I think about Halloween, I think back to 20ish years ago when my brother and I were able to visit our Grandma's neighborhood in Cincinnati and trick-or-treat there...in the eyes of a kid, much better than our small town! And as an added bonus, if our costume required makeup or face paint, Gram was an expert. However, since we were in "the city," Mom and Dad made sure that we stayed together, walked to houses at the same time, and when we were finished, all of our goodies were sprawled out on the dining room table for inspection. "Today is Halloween" addresses such topics--- Halloween rules, if you will, for a safe time. I'm sure many of you remember similar directions from your parents and may now be enforcing them with your own!

All childhood fun aside, I have never ever liked the feeling of being scared (in fact, I'd say I'm scared of being scared!), and am not a fan of the overly sweet myriad of treats, so aside from seasonal decorating, Halloween is pushed down on my "fave" list of holidays. I much prefer cozy family-centered celebrations...which are creeping into our calendars!



TODAY IS HALLOWEEN
It’s the end of October,
Day 31.
Today is Halloween,
And it’s time for some fun.
We can wear a costume
And there’s candy, too.
Halloween fun for me and you

We can dress up and pretend
As we wear our costumes, my friend
A pirate, a princess, or a ghost that says “boo!”-
The choice of costume is up to you.

Stay with your family,
And together you’ll walk down the streets
Ring doorbells at homes
And when someone answers, say “trick or treat!”

When you get home
Give your trick or treat bag to mom and dad
To make sure all the candy is safe
And you'll talk about the fun you just had.

20+10=Happy New Year!

Wow...that will take some getting used to! No more "oh-eight" or "oh-nine," but "twenty-ten!" I don't quite yet know how I like the sound of it...but...I'd better get used to it, because I think it's here to stay! : )

For many of us this time of year, mistakes are abundant when writing or saying the date, as we revert to the previous year that we've grown accustomed to. So, if it's hard for us to keep the year straight, imagine what a confusing situation this might pose for our chidren or students with special needs!

This is the first New Year song I've written, and I approached it from the angle of recycling; that is, it isn't numeric-year specific, so it can be reused New Year-to-New Year. Isn't reusing and recycling great? I also wanted this song to emphasize how the New Year works from a calendar perspective. It's the same every year and a fact that after December comes January, and with January comes a new year.

Regardless of how I feel about the sound of our new decade, I'm going to say that it will be a great year. Looking at my calendar, short- and long-term, it will be a busy one too, but bring it on 2010!
I hope all of you have great visions for the next 12 months, and I wish you a happy, healthy New Year!


2010 IS HERE
It’s time to ring in the New Year-
Now 2010 is here.
When December 31st is done,
The next day is January 1.
The calendar adds one more year, and
Now 2010 is here.

The month of January starts a brand new year,
And the other months follow along.
Sing it loud for all to hear,
This is the New Year song.

January, February, March, April, and May
Then June, July, August, and September
October, November, and in December
After that very last day,
We’ll sing together and say…

It’s time to ring in the New Year-
Now 2010 is here.
When December 31st is done,
The next day is January 1 .
The calendar adds one more year. and
Now 2010 is here.

'Tis the Season..

..for sharing! It's also important year-round, but much emphasis is placed on acts of charity and goodwill toward others this time of year. At work, sharing and turn-taking is somehow included in each of my group sessions as well as 1:1's.

I used a song of the season, and one with a very familiar tune- Jingle Bells- and reworked the lyrics to instruct how to play and what to do when giving a turn. It's a little tricky, because when I begin the song, it sounds just like the original...until the change in lyrics! I have to say that during the last few weeks, my students have gotten good at remembering some of the "new" lyrics, and even singing along. Sometimes I catch myself mixing up words when I go back to singing the real version : )

Students play jingle bells and pass them to each other, as they share and take turns. A few notes and modifications are listed below.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you. I hope you share good times with friends and family!

SHARING JINGLE BELLS

Jingle bells, jingle bells

We shake, shake 'em today

Oh what fun it is to share with friends while we play

Jingle bells, jingle bells

(Name) shake, shake 'em today

Take your turn, and when you're done

5-4-3-2-1-stop!

Give to a friend and say "It's your turn!"

notes:

~I typically insert students' names into the song, where appropriate.

~The last line can be modified per the ability of students. If able, students may choose a peer, or I might select a peer's name and insert where "a friend" is.

~Encourage students to make eye contact when giving an instrument and saying "Your turn."

Pace Yourself...

When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, how many of you follow that idea? Again, we're back to the topic of stop-wait-go, this time within a song about eating Thanksgiving foods. You can insert foods chosen by your children or students- either verbally or with picture cards, or discuss preferred (and non-preferred) Thanksgiving foods. I started with dinner and worked my way to dessert!

The more I use this type of activity with my students, the more familar they become with expectations, and in turn the better they become with the skill of stopping and waiting. That's something to be glad about

A very Happy Thanksgiving to you, my friends!



THANKSGIVING PLATE
On Thanksgiving Day,
There’s lots of food to be had,
It's also a time to give thanks and be glad
I’ve got piles of mashed potatoes and turkey on my plate *
I eat sooo much
Mom tells me to STOP and WAIT- take a break….
OK, now you can have some more.

[LAST VERSE ADD: But my tummy's sooo full, that I'm all done!]

* Change food each verse:
Cranberry sauce and rolls
Spoonfuls of stuffing
A big piece of pumpkin pie

With Thanks

YAY! The music returns...silly technology!
In the days leading up to Thanksgiving- actually for the past week or so- I've been trying to make an effort to state at least one thing each day that I'm thankful for. I have enjoyed doing so, as it's really shown me how many blessings I have in my life. My Saturday thanks was for all of the wonderful families I am able to work with and the joy and learning that is spread through the use of music. I love, love, love my job!

So with that...this week's song: I was introduced to this tune during my internship with therapists at Midwest Music Therapy Services in St. Louis. Since then, I have shared it with my students each year around Thanksgiving. The song is by Hap Palmer; I think it's a very beautiful one, and a great way of sharing what we are thankful for. You can start a good conversation around this topic, offering picture choices (food, family, friends, toys, specific liked items) if appropriate.
This is my version; you can buy the original on Hap Palmer's website (where the lyrics are also provided) or iTunes.


THINGS I'M THANKFUL FOR
There are many things I am thankful for
I can find them near and far
There are many things I am thankful for
Let me tell you what they are

I'm thankful for my family
I'm thankful for my friends
I'm thankful for my teachers
And I'm thankful to be me.

There are many things I am thankful for
I can find them near and far
There are many things I am thankful for
Let me tell you what they are

I'm thankful for _____
I'm thankful for _____
I'm thankful for _____
And I'm thankful to be me.

There are many things I am thankful for
I can find them near and far
There are many things I am thankful for
Let me tell you what they are
Let me tell you what they are.

Just in Time...

Now that Halloween is over, we are faced with two things: getting ready for Thanksgiving and all of the leftover candy! I don't quite remember what it was like after Halloween as a child, candy-wise. I know that I had to be a sucker for the chocolate goodies, and then not pay so much attention to the remaining candy in my plastic orange pumpkin. I also know that my brothers and I would not have been given the opportunity to eat loads of sweets in one sitting. What I'm not quite sure of is...what happened to all of the candy? I vaguely remember nearing Easter time and getting rid of Halloween-wrapped treats that had not been eaten!
For those who can't satisfy their sweet tooth enough, "Halloween Candy" is a good listen for you. It again targets the skill of stopping (during music therapy sessions- instrument play; in every day situations- it could be eating candy!) and waiting, this time while singing about eating Halloween treats. I've been using this song with my students a few weeks before Halloween, but it's a good one to keep around just a little while longer to address what they have experienced first-hand.
Hope you had a sweet Halloween!



HALLOWEEN CANDY
Halloween candy in my bag from trick or treat,
Lots of candy for me to eat
I eat and eat and eat a lot
Until my mom cries, “Stop!”