Welcome back!
Today is Tuesday, so I wanted to share a therapy tool today (for all of you long term readers out there...remember when I said therapy tools would be posted on Tuesdays?):)
Have you ever wondered what you could buy a new music therapist or a brand new music therapy student just starting out? Need an idea for a Christmas gift?
One of my top recommendations are the Prelude Music Therapy song books!
The Prelude Music Therapy Songbooks are great and include sheet music as well as lyrics and chords for each song. But wait-there's more! Most song sheets also give ideas and implementations for the song as well!
One song in particular that I learned several years ago from one of the Prelude songbooks was the Number Rock. It's a catchy, jazzy tune that the students love. Many students with special needs require lots of repetition in order to learn new material. The Number Rock is an example of a non-threatening way to provide the students with the repetition they need in a fun way-with a song!
The Prelude Music Therapy song sheet features numbers 1-10. I added my own spin on numbers 11-20, created visual aids and made a windows movie for the students I serve. *This song is only used for educational purposes.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Movin' Around the World
Welcome Back!
It's Monday and that means it's time for another continent song!
Our next stop will be Asia.
Asia is a very large continent. When I began researching and writing the beginnings of a song about Asia, I decided to do something a little different. Instead of a song about Asia, I decided to write a song about a country in Asia. I thought students would be more familiar (or at least distantly familiar with one of the countries because of news and media coverage about the countries in Asia), compared to the whole continent itself.
So, today's song will be a song about China.
I purposely structured this song so that each phrase would repeat to give time for students (verbal and non-verbal), to sing along, as well as give the teacher time to show visual pictures representing each verse to the students.
If you would like a song sheet for the China song, simply an email to morewithmusic@gmail.com
As always, thanks for stopping by!
It's Monday and that means it's time for another continent song!
Our next stop will be Asia.
Asia is a very large continent. When I began researching and writing the beginnings of a song about Asia, I decided to do something a little different. Instead of a song about Asia, I decided to write a song about a country in Asia. I thought students would be more familiar (or at least distantly familiar with one of the countries because of news and media coverage about the countries in Asia), compared to the whole continent itself.
So, today's song will be a song about China.
I purposely structured this song so that each phrase would repeat to give time for students (verbal and non-verbal), to sing along, as well as give the teacher time to show visual pictures representing each verse to the students.
If you would like a song sheet for the China song, simply an email to morewithmusic@gmail.com
As always, thanks for stopping by!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Thanksgiving Tunes
The countdown is on!
Turkey Day is quickly approaching!
In the midst of the holiday preparations, I want to share a few songs that I use for the Thanksgiving theme.
The first song I love to use is actually one by Hap Palmer. It talks about things we are thankful for. I created pictures to represent each answer in the song and in sessions, ask students to tell me what they are thankful for.
The next song I like to use is Ted the Turkey. Ted is a turkey who is running away for the dreaded Thanksgiving Day! I love to use this song because I get so many creative answers when we ask the question, "Where should Ted hide?" For some students, I have picture cards for them to choose a place for the turkey to hide (i.e. house, car, barn, truck, bale of hay,etc..).
The Pilgrims and the Indians is another song I use mainly with the high school-aged students.
Many times the middle school students like it too though!
It is a song that very simply tells the story of the Pilgrims and the Indians and the first Thanksgiving. I created picture cards to help tell the story and the song can be sequenced with the pictures, (in terms of the Pilgrims coming from Europe to America, the ship they traveled on, etc..).
And finally, the last song for today's post is The Turkey Flew.
I wrote this song based on an idea from a children's story. In the story, the turkey falls out of the oven and the family has to "make do" with the food they have left for their feast.
I sing this song and then use this song to teach the food/dish names for Thanksgiving dinner. I ask students what they would eat for Thanksgiving and have picture cards to represent the different foods mentioned in the song.
So, that's it for today! Whew! What songs do you like to use for a Thanksgiving theme or Turkey theme?
Thanks for stopping by! I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!
Turkey Day is quickly approaching!
In the midst of the holiday preparations, I want to share a few songs that I use for the Thanksgiving theme.
The first song I love to use is actually one by Hap Palmer. It talks about things we are thankful for. I created pictures to represent each answer in the song and in sessions, ask students to tell me what they are thankful for.
The next song I like to use is Ted the Turkey. Ted is a turkey who is running away for the dreaded Thanksgiving Day! I love to use this song because I get so many creative answers when we ask the question, "Where should Ted hide?" For some students, I have picture cards for them to choose a place for the turkey to hide (i.e. house, car, barn, truck, bale of hay,etc..).
The Pilgrims and the Indians is another song I use mainly with the high school-aged students.
Many times the middle school students like it too though!
It is a song that very simply tells the story of the Pilgrims and the Indians and the first Thanksgiving. I created picture cards to help tell the story and the song can be sequenced with the pictures, (in terms of the Pilgrims coming from Europe to America, the ship they traveled on, etc..).
And finally, the last song for today's post is The Turkey Flew.
I wrote this song based on an idea from a children's story. In the story, the turkey falls out of the oven and the family has to "make do" with the food they have left for their feast.
I sing this song and then use this song to teach the food/dish names for Thanksgiving dinner. I ask students what they would eat for Thanksgiving and have picture cards to represent the different foods mentioned in the song.
So, that's it for today! Whew! What songs do you like to use for a Thanksgiving theme or Turkey theme?
Thanks for stopping by! I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Movin' Around the World
Welcome back!
I'm getting this post in just under the wire! But, it is technically still Monday here, so it's time for another post to get us Movin' Around the World.
If you missed any of the other posts about the continents, just scroll down below and you can catch up!
As you can see above, today's post will be about Africa, one of the 7 continents.
Africa is a very large continent. When I researched Africa, I wanted to highlight a few things about Africa that the students could relate to and learn about.
So, I definitely chose the oceans surrounding Africa, the landscapes, and of course many of the animals. I work with children with a variety of special needs, so in case you wonder while you're listening to the song, I purposely repeat verses in the song so that all students can see the visuals while we sing the song and/or so students have time to "sing" via a voice output device within the sessions. When I am in the classrooms, I adapt to whatever each classroom in particular needs. Sometimes I don't repeat each verse, and sometimes I do.
If you would like a song sheet for the Africa song, simply send me an email to morewithmusic@gmail.com and I will be happy to email it to you.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Movin' Around the World
Welcome back!
I'm a day late, but excited to share another post about one of the 7 Continents!
Last week, I posted a song about North America. If you missed it, just scroll down below and you will find it right under this post. :)
Our next stop while "movin' around the world" is South America.
When I wrote this song, I wanted to give it a different sound and strum. Since there are so many spanish speaking countries in South America, I went with a strum that I feel sounds like a spanish song.
So, here it is-the South America song.
If you would like a song sheet for this song, please send me an email to morewithmusic@gmail.com
Have a great day!
I'm a day late, but excited to share another post about one of the 7 Continents!
Last week, I posted a song about North America. If you missed it, just scroll down below and you will find it right under this post. :)
Our next stop while "movin' around the world" is South America.
When I wrote this song, I wanted to give it a different sound and strum. Since there are so many spanish speaking countries in South America, I went with a strum that I feel sounds like a spanish song.
So, here it is-the South America song.
If you would like a song sheet for this song, please send me an email to morewithmusic@gmail.com
Have a great day!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Movin' Around the World
Welcome back!
It's Monday, so it's time for another song about the 7 Continents!
Last week I shared my 7 Continents song that previews a little about continents in general. Now we're moving on to one continent in specific...North America!
When I wrote each continent song, I had several goals in mind.
The first goal was to give each song an opener--a part of the song the students would most likely be able to sing.
The second goal was to give the students details about where each continent is in relation to other places (i.e. states, countries, continents, etc.).
I support each part of the song with visual pictures, via power point presentations.
So, here it is: North America
If you would like a lyric sheet for the North America song, complete with guitar chords, please email me at morewithmusic@gmail.com
As always, thanks for stopping by! :)
It's Monday, so it's time for another song about the 7 Continents!
Last week I shared my 7 Continents song that previews a little about continents in general. Now we're moving on to one continent in specific...North America!
When I wrote each continent song, I had several goals in mind.
The first goal was to give each song an opener--a part of the song the students would most likely be able to sing.
The second goal was to give the students details about where each continent is in relation to other places (i.e. states, countries, continents, etc.).
I support each part of the song with visual pictures, via power point presentations.
So, here it is: North America
If you would like a lyric sheet for the North America song, complete with guitar chords, please email me at morewithmusic@gmail.com
As always, thanks for stopping by! :)
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Get ready for Veteran's Day
Welcome back!
This Friday, November 11th, is Veteran's Day.
Many people have the day off from school and/or work this Friday, but it's important for us to teach our students about Veterans and what an amazing job they do for us and our country.
Today's post will help you get ready with a song and a visual aide!
When I wrote this song, I wanted to keep it as simple as possible.
So, I used pictures to show military (soldier saluting to the American flag, and patches from each military group), a picture to represent freedom (the Statue of Liberty), and a picture to represent our country (USA map picture).
Before singing the song, I always teach/review how to say "Thank you" with sign language. We do this motion every time "We Thank You" is heard in the song. This makes it possible for many students (verbal and nonverbal students), to participate in this song.
So, below you will find the song and a windows movie that goes along with the song.
What song(s) do you like to sing to celebrate Veteran's Day?
This Friday, November 11th, is Veteran's Day.
Many people have the day off from school and/or work this Friday, but it's important for us to teach our students about Veterans and what an amazing job they do for us and our country.
Today's post will help you get ready with a song and a visual aide!
When I wrote this song, I wanted to keep it as simple as possible.
So, I used pictures to show military (soldier saluting to the American flag, and patches from each military group), a picture to represent freedom (the Statue of Liberty), and a picture to represent our country (USA map picture).
Before singing the song, I always teach/review how to say "Thank you" with sign language. We do this motion every time "We Thank You" is heard in the song. This makes it possible for many students (verbal and nonverbal students), to participate in this song.
So, below you will find the song and a windows movie that goes along with the song.
What song(s) do you like to sing to celebrate Veteran's Day?