Los angeles Entertainment

Friday Fave Erfurt Music Resource
I m assuming that since you re here at Listen amp Learn, you are probably interested in music therapy, music education, or just music in general. nbsp If that is the case, then you ll definitely want to stop by the Erfurt Music Resource, a new website created by my friend and fellow music therapist, Michelle Erfurt. nbsp Read as Michelle describes it in her own words The idea of creating an online resource for music related products, services, and information came from a conversation I had with Raymond Day, adaptive instrument maker and long time music therapy supporter. I had published a music songbook for Rachel Rambach and really needed to show it off at the next national American Music Therapy Association conference. I wanted a table in the exhibit hall but was looking for someone else to share the rental cost in order to be as fiscally responsible as possible. I had heard about Raymond Day from my days volunteering with the AMTA membership committee and gave him a call. Turns out that he wanted to sell his products at conference but wasn t able to physically be there. So we worked out a deal...and together we were able to spread the word about our products. There are many people out there just like Raymond, Rachel and myself. Individuals with products, services and information that would be of interest to music therapists, music educators, parents, and more. But we need help connecting our great products with all of you out there. So, that s exactly what we have done. The Erfurt Music Resource A collection of individuals working to promote our items together. This site truly is a comprehensive collection you ll find other music therapy bloggers like me, video lessons, e-books, and lots more. nbsp It s nice to be part of a community that is growing so quickly and receiving such a great response.P.S. Don t forget to enter the SleepPhones giveaway nbsp Win your own pair (retail value is $55) just by commenting here. nbsp The contest ends on Sunday, so do it now

Giveaway SleepPhones
Many of my favorite blogs offer periodic giveaways to their loyal readers, and I am so excited to be following in their footsteps nbsp I couldn t have asked for a better freebie the SleepPhones System by AcousticSheep. nbsp SleepPhones are soft, comfortable headphones that are housed in a machine-washable fleece headband, perfect for wearing at night as you sleep (hence their name). nbsp They can be plugged into an iPod, CD player, radio or any other audio device with a regular headphone jack. nbsp Some of you might remember that I posted my own review of the SleepPhones (complete with personal pics ) after trying them out for myself last fall. nbsp I ve been using them for months now I just plug my SleepPhones into my iPod, tuck it underneath my pillow, and drift off to my favorite sleepy-time music. nbsp Several readers wrote to me after my SleepPhones post to tell me they were purchasing their own pair. nbsp Now YOU have the chance to win a pair (valued at $54.95) just by leaving a comment at the end of this post by Sunday, 8 pm CT. nbsp [Note Your comment must include an email address to be eligible to win, either through your Google ID or typed into your comment entry.] nbsp I ll use random.org to select a winner, who will be announced on Monday, February 22nd. nbsp Good luck P.S. If you don t win, you can still save on SleepPhones nbsp AcousticSheep has generously offered a $5 discount to my lovely readers. nbsp Just use the coupon code LALM5 when you place your order.

Taming the Tidal Wave
2010 has been a very good year so far, as far as my work is concerned. nbsp Maybe even a little too good nbsp What I mean is that since January, I have been inundated with exciting opportunities, new projects, and the addition of several students to my private practice studio. nbsp While those are all very positive things, and I am extremely grateful for them, I ve been just a little stressed nbsp Understandable, right nbsp Juggling so many responsibilities sometimes feels like I m surfing a tidal wave, just barely staying above water. So here s the question how do you get off that tidal wave and back to solid ground nbsp As a parent, teacher, therapist, or pretty much anyone else with a life and responsibilities, you ve probably found yourself faced with that very question. nbsp I want to share a few of the things that have helped me through this most current wave of stress. Get organized. nbsp I ve learned that if I don t take control of the things that stress me out, they just swirl around in my head and cause even more stress. nbsp David Allen s best-selling book Getting Things Done The Art of Stress-Free Productivity nbsp was almost life-changing, in that it taught me new but simple ways to organize my life and work to cut out a lot of that free-floating stress.Identify the next step, then take it. nbsp I know all too well that looking at the big picture of a project can be really scary. nbsp Instead, I break the project down into tasks that can be completed and marked off the list. nbsp That way, I can see my progress as the project moves toward completion.Reward yourself. nbsp It doesn t have to be anything elaborate something as simple as a lunch break could serve as your reward for finishing a task on your to-do list. nbsp Last summer when I was working on music for the Model Me Kids Faces amp Emotions DVD, I would sit down at my desk around 6 00 am to begin. nbsp Each song took several hours to write, record, and edit, so every time I completed one, I allowed myself to spend some time unwinding (usually with a snack while watching television or taking my dog for a walk). nbsp I looked forward to that downtime, which gave me extra motivation to complete my work.Regain your confidence. nbsp This is especially important when you are facing new challenges and unchartered water. nbsp I have taken on several new roles this year, and at the beginning, I questioned whether I could really handle each of them. nbsp Constantly questioning my abilities was really stressing me out, until I realized something I wouldn t have these roles unless I was capable of them. nbsp Others put their trust in me, so why shouldn t I trust myself nbsp Imagine the outcome. nbsp With each project and task that you undertake, you most likely have an end goal in mind. nbsp nbsp Picture your life once you have completed each one how you will feel, what you will do with the extra time. nbsp Sometimes that is all the motivation I need to get through a particularly difficult item on my list Now I am off to apply some of these very techniques as I tackle the rest of my day. nbsp Here s to a productive, stress-free and enjoyable afternoon. nbsp (Oh, and if you have any items to add to the list, please share them in the comments section )

Body Cross, Apple Sauce
Crossing the midline is a term you hear quite often as a parent, and if you are a therapist or teacher, it is often a goal for many of your students or clients. This action refers to any movement that requires one side of the body to cross over the center line of the body.Kimberly Sena Moore wrote a fantastic post on her blog, Music Therapy Maven, about the importance of crossing the midline and how this skill affects a child s abilities in many other areas of function. nbsp I highly recommend reading it to learn more about this subject. As a music therapist, this goal is very common amongst my students, which is why I wrote a song meant to target such movements. nbsp Some of the motor skills included in the song are more difficult than others, but I wanted it to be as comprehensive as possible so that students can work towards successfully achieving all of the movements in the song. Body Cross, Apple Sauce by Listen amp Learn MusicBody cross, apple sauce,Movin to the beat, You can do it sittin’ down,Or up on your feet.Body cross, apple sauce,Do as I say,Move, move your bodyThis way.Body cross, apple sauce,Here we go,Make your left hand touchYour right elbow.Bring your hand across, toYour other elbow, you see,Move, move, movin’ your body.Body cross, apple sauce,Here we go,Make your right hand touchYour left elbow.Bring your arm across, toYour other elbow, you see,Move, move, movin’ your body.Body cross, apple sauce,Here we go,Make your left knee touchYour right elbow.Bring your arm across,So it can touch your other knee,Move, move, movin’ your body.Body cross, apple sauce,Here we go,Make your right knee touchYour left elbow.Bring your arm across,So it can touch your other knee,Move, move, movin’ your body.Body cross, apple sauce,If you please,Make your left handGive your right shoulder a squeeze.Bring your arm across, toYour other shoulder, you see.Move, move, movin’ your body.Body cross, apple sauce,If you please,Make your right handGive your left shoulder a squeeze.Bring your arm across, toYour other shoulder, you see.Move, move, movin’ your body.Body cross, apple sauce,Your pardon I beg,Give a little kick acrossWith your left leg.Kick your leg across the other,To the right, you see,Move, move, movin’ your body.Body cross, apple sauce,Your pardon I beg,Give a little kick acrossWith your right leg.Kick your leg across the other,To the left, you see,Move, move, movin’ your body.Do you have any other strategies for targeting this important skill nbsp If you can think of any additional across the midline movements I ve left out, please share so that I can add to the song.

Music Therapy Round Table
Guess what I m a podcaster nbsp Along with my friends and fellow music therapists Kimberly Sena Moore and Michelle Erfurt, we have started the Music Therapy Round Table, a podcast in which we discuss all kinds of topics related to music therapy that are important to us.Michelle, Kimberly and I live in three different time zones across the country, and we met via social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. nbsp The idea to start a podcast manifested when the three of us finally got together in person, at last year s AMTA National Conference in San Diego. nbsp A few months later, after lots of research and several Skype sessions, our podcast is up and running We even have our own blog, where we post both the audio and transcripted versions of each episode. nbsp Episode 1 is live now in it, we introduce ourselves and share how we became music therapists, as well as outline our goals for the podcast series.You can also find us on iTunes nbsp Just search Music Therapy Round Table and you should see what I have pictured above. nbsp Subscribe to receive new episodes as they are published monthly.Our podcast is geared toward not only other music therapists, but anyone else who is interested in music as a therapeutic means to improving peoples lives. nbsp I hope that you will check it out, and I can t wait to hear your feedback

My Funny Valentine
I m not talking about the old song I m referring to my wonderful husband of one and a half years nbsp Even though we haven t been married for very long, we have a very interesting history that goes back to before either of us hit puberty. nbsp And in honor of Valentine s Day, I m going to tell you our story.Zach and I started dating as 21-year-olds in 2004 (September 16, to be exact) but we first met at the age of 11. nbsp Fifth grade. nbsp We became friends, and would hang out in big groups after school and on the weekends. nbsp The next year, Zach asked me to be his girlfriend. nbsp We were each other s first kiss, and he even told me he loved me. nbsp Needless to say, he was heartbroken when I broke up with him a month later. nbsp He still gives me a hard time about that Zach and I remained friends through our sophomore year of high school, but at that point, we drifted apart. nbsp We still had lots of mutual friends, but he was too much of a party animal for me. nbsp After graduation, I didn t see Zach again until I ran into him the night of my 21st birthday, at a bar of all places. nbsp We were inseparable the rest of the summer, but didn t make it official until the fall.In 2005, Zach graduated from college and returned to Springfield to start his career. nbsp I still had a year of graduate school left, so we only saw each other on the weekends. nbsp It was a tough year, to say the least, but we still managed to have a lot of fun.2006 was another challenging year, because I spent most of it in St. Louis doing my music therapy internship. nbsp Luckily, I was able to live with Zach s sister and brother-in-law, and I went home on the weekends to see him. nbsp Zach took me on my first trip to Las Vegas (the picture is of us on the plane...can you tell I m excited ) and we bought our first house. nbsp In 2007, I finished my internship and finally got to live in Springfield permanently. nbsp I got a great job, and soon after that, Zach proposed nbsp He took me completely by surprise, luring me to the Ritz-Carlton in St. Louis on false pretenses and asking me to marry him in a room filled with rose petals, candles, and our song playing. nbsp When we went down to the lobby for a celebratory drink, we found our entire families waiting to celebrate with us. nbsp On August 8, 2008 (8-8-08...can you guess my lucky number ) Zach and I had the most beautiful, perfect, and fun wedding. nbsp After a week in St. Lucia on our honeymoon, we returned to real life as a married couple. nbsp Turns out 2008 was the year of weddings, including Zach s brother s just a few months after ours.2009 started off with a bang we bought a new house nbsp We spent the next few months decorating and nesting, and I moved my private practice from the road into my new home studio. nbsp In May, we added a new member to our family...our golden retriever, Sadie. nbsp Career-wise, we both had amazing years Zach earned the prestigious title of AAA s Agent of the Year while I successfully raised money to record a professional CD, presented at the AMTA National Conference, and was featured in the media several times. nbsp 2010 has only just begun, but so far it has been great nbsp We took an exciting trip to New York City and attended our friends gorgeous wedding last month, and we are already looking forward to a few days of sun and fun in San Antonio this April.Tonight we are going out to dinner to celebrate Valentine s Day...our 6th together, with many more to come nbsp I feel so lucky to have such a supportive, successful, and loving husband, and I can t wait to see what the future holds for us.

Saturday Singalong The Story of My Feelings
Sunday Singalong got bumped to Saturday, because I have a special Valentine s Day post planned for tomorrow. Two weekend posts...bonus Like I said in the video, I chose Laurie Berkner s song The Story of My Feelings because all month, my students and I have been working on understanding what emotions are all about, what they look like, and how we show them. nbsp I received the illustrated book as a Christmas gift two years ago, and I have been using it ever since to supplement not only music therapy sessions, but also the music classes I teach for young children.And now back to today s regularly scheduled programming couch time nbsp It is Saturday, after all, my one day to relax after a busy week. nbsp Sundays start early, with choir rehearsal, church, grocery shopping, Church Mice, and tomorrow, a Valentine s Day dinner with my special Valentine. nbsp More on that to come

Friday Fave M-Audio Preamp
Can I just tell you how amped I am about my new MobilePre USB Preamp by M-Audio nbsp Excuse the pun, but I couldn t help myself ) nbsp Maybe you have no idea what a preamp is, and that s totally fine. nbsp Because the truth is, until a few months ago, neither did I. nbsp Basically, what a preamp does is takes the signal from a microphone or instrument and boosts it so that it can be recorded. nbsp In other words, I can plug a microphone and guitar into my preamp (which is connected via USB to my computer), do my thing, and voila nbsp I have a high-quality recording.Before my preamp arrived earlier this week, I had been recording all of my guitar tracks just by setting up my nbsp Blue Snowball Microphone nbsp and playing my guitar directly in front of it. nbsp This worked well enough my Snowball mic is awesome, but I knew there had to be a better way. nbsp With my old setup, any background noise made while recording the guitar part could be heard (the most common being me knocking the guitar against my desk - oops ). nbsp Now, since the signal goes directly from my guitar into the computer via the preamp, that problem is eliminated. nbsp That means a much cleaner-sounding guitar track, resulting in a much better recording overall. nbsp Oh, and the preamp even has a headphone jack right on the interface so that I can monitor the sound as I am playing I should mention that since my aforementioned Snowball mic connects via USB, I don t need to use my preamp when I record my vocals. nbsp But since there are two microphone inputs in addition to the instrument input, that leaves the option available if I get a new microphone at some point in the future. nbsp You can t beat that versatility. I haven t had much time this week to play with my new toy, but you better believe that I ll be spending a good deal of my three-day weekend doing just that nbsp Hopefully I ll have some brand new songs to show for it, too. nbsp What are your plans this weekend Are you one of the really, really lucky people who has a four-day weekend nbsp Happy Birthday, Mr. Lincoln, and for all of you readers who got to stay home in honor of it, enjoy

Temple Grandin The Movie
I first read about Temple Grandin during my music therapy internship several years ago, and I was completely fascinated. nbsp The way she was able to describe her autism, and the way her brain worked, was completely unique and as far as I knew, unheard of. nbsp I have since learned a lot more about Temple Grandin, and now, thanks to HBO, so have a whole lot of people who otherwise might not have.On Saturday, February 6th, the full-length film Temple Grandin premiered, starring Claire Danes as the title character. nbsp I had the opportunity to watch the film at The Autism Program of Illinois headquarters, which was a pretty amazing experience. nbsp TAP and The Hope Institute for Children and Families (where I work as the music therapist) officially endorsed the film, and even sponsored its Chicago opening at the end of January. Dr. Nyre, Hope s President CEO, was interviewed by several sources and spoke at the viewing I attended on Saturday. nbsp I wholeheartedly agree with his assertion that this film should and will be used as a teaching tool in schools and facilities all over the country, because it provides such an accurate depiction of autism. nbsp The film uses on-screen graphics to let us look into Ms. Grandin s brain, to see the world as she sees it. Have you seen the film yet If so, what were your thoughts and reactions I can tell you that by the end, there weren t many dry eyes in the room where I was watching it. Claire Danes is amazing as Temple Grandin in fact, you really do forget that you re watching an actor, not the real deal. The film is educational and eye-opening, yes, but it is also extremely entertaining and touching. Take my advice and watch it.

People You Do Don t Know
I very distinctly remember my mom sitting my brother and I down and telling us all about stranger danger. nbsp She explained who we could trust to stay with us, take us places, and even made up a code word for adults to let us know that it was okay to go with them in the case of an emergency situation. nbsp Now, over twenty years later, I still get lectures about stranger danger from my mom, but I guess I can t blame her. nbsp After all, the world can be a scary place, as we are too often reminded by the stories in newspapers and on television. The song that I wrote to address this topic identifies three different categories of adults Safe Side AdultsPeople You Kind of KnowStrangersToday s song identifies and defines the three categories, and also determines whether or not it is safe to go with people from each. nbsp The term Safe Side Adult came from a consult client who uses this word with her children (a benefit of custom-written songs - incorporating your own phrases and terminology). People You Do amp Don t Know by Listen amp Learn Music(you can download this or any other Listen amp Learn album by clicking it )The world is full of people,Some you ll know and some you won t.I wanna tell you bout threeKinds of people you see,Some you can go with, some you don t.A safe side adult is a person that you know.With a safe side adult it s okay to go.Because it s your grandma, grandpa, mom or dad,Or someone that you ve been told Is a safe side adult, a person you know,With whom it s okay to go.There are also people that you kind of know.With those people you shouldn t go,Unless a safe side adult has told you for sure,That a person, specifically,Is someone you can trust and know,With whom it s okay to go.A stranger is a person that you don t know.With a stranger you should never go.Because it s someone that you ve never seen before,Or someone that you ve been told,Is a stranger, a person you don t know,With whom you should not go.The world is full of people,Some you ll know and some you won t.I told you bout threeKinds of people you see,Some you can go with, some you don t.I m sure you noticed that the tone is a little heavier than my other songs I wrote the melody this way on purpose. Children need to realize how serious the topic of strangers really is, and I wanted this song to reflect that seriousness. What methods have you used to approach this subject with your children or students Know of any other stranger danger songs I d love to hear about them

Sunday Singalong Making Friends
You can find the original post of this song, including lyrics, here. In today s video, I m singing Making Friends - a song I recently wrote for a class at The Hope Institute. It was featured throughout the month of January in my music therapy sessions, and I already miss singing it now that February is here (along with all-new tunes). This has been the weekend of all-new tunes, in fact. I spent most of yesterday writing and recording, as I finished up a custom CD for a consult client. nbsp Since I began offering consultative services in January, I ve had no shortage of new songs in the vault to share here at Listen amp Learn. nbsp I love it nbsp I ve been so inspired by the new topics presented based on the goals and objectives of my clients. nbsp Make sure to come back tomorrow for one of those new songs How was your weekend nbsp Aside from my intensive writing recording session yesterday, mine has been pretty relaxing. nbsp My husband and I finally saw Avatar (in 3-D no less ) and last night, we had the opportunity to attend a viewing of the new HBO film, Temple Grandin. nbsp I ll be sharing more about that in the coming week, so stay tuned...

Friday Fave iPhone Apps
TGIF nbsp This week has absolutely flown, but luckily it has been an extremely productive one for me. nbsp I ve wrapped up several work-intensive projects, and am very much looking forward to relaxing a bit this weekend. nbsp I am planning to spend some quality time with iMovie, creating a few videos just for Listen amp Learn. nbsp But playing with technology is one of my favorite hobbies, so I don t even classify that as work ) Speaking of technology...well, I do that a lot on this blog, don t I nbsp So it should come as no surprise to you that today s Friday Fave is based on one of my absolute favorites pieces of technology the iPhone. nbsp I ve expressed my love for it here a time or two, but today I want to focus on some of the apps that I use on a daily basis. Anyone who knows me is aware that I am a bit of a Facebook addict nbsp Now that I have an iPhone, I can update my status, post pictures, and maintain my page nbsp on the go with the free Facebook app. nbsp The latest update now sends push notifications, making it even easier to stay connected (not to mention, feeds the addiction). Another social media app I rely on is Tweetdeck (again, it s free). nbsp This app allows me to tweet from either my personal or work-related twitter account, in addition to reading the latest tweets of the people I follow. nbsp It even supports Twitter lists now nbsp I have one list devoted just to music therapy-related Twitter accounts.Even though I ve had months and months of practice, I am still not the best iPhone typist. nbsp My fingers just can t seem to adapt to that keyboard...which is why the free Google voice app comes in so handy. nbsp When I want to search for something, I just speak into the mic. nbsp It is usually pretty accurate in picking up my search term, and seconds later, I have a list of results from which to choose.My guitar goes everywhere with me, but sometimes I forget to grab my tuner, too. nbsp Tuning by ear is fine if I have an accurate starting pitch, but for those times that I don t, I rely on the Cleartune chromatic tuner app. nbsp It is a little pricey ($3.99) but definitely worth it if you tote your guitar frequently. When I have a few minutes of free time between sessions and lessons, I almost always pull out my iPhone. nbsp My new favorite time-passer is the Scrabble app, which is completely worth the $4.99 price tag. nbsp You can play the computer, connect to another iPhone through Wi-Fi, or even find an opponent via Facebook. nbsp I never get tired of this game, and the fact that it makes me think is an added bonus.I could probably list 20 more apps that I love, but I ll stop here. nbsp How about you, fellow iPhone users nbsp What are your favorite apps nbsp I am always looking for recommendations, so send them my way.

The Feelings in My Heart
We talk a lot about love during February. nbsp After all, it is the month in which we celebrate Valentine s Day nbsp But what about all of those other feelings we experience on a daily basis Recognizing, expressing, and regulating emotions are important skills for any child, including those with whom I work. I had this is mind when I wrote today s song, The Feelings in My Heart . Take a listen The Feelings in My Heart by Listen amp Learn Music(you can download this or any other Listen amp Learn album by clicking it )Happiness, Excitement, Anger, Sadness, and Love,My feelings are in my heart.You can tell how I am feeling by my actions and words,But in my heart is where they start.I laugh and I smile when I’m happy,Having fun with my friends for a while,Happiness is a feeling I have in my heart,It makes me laugh and smile.I jump up and down when I’m excited,When good things are coming around.Excitement is a feeling I have in my heart,It makes me jump up and down.CHORUSI yell and I pout when I’m angry,When there’s something I’m mad about,Anger is a feeling I have in my heart,It makes me yell and pout.I cry and I frown when I’m sad,When I’m hurting or feeling down,Sadness is a feeling I have in my heart,It makes me cry and frown.CHORUSI hug joyfully when I feel love,For my friend or my family,Love is a feeling I have in my heart,It makes me hug joyfully.I used this song yesterday with a class of middle school students who have behavioral issues. nbsp After each verse, we went around the room and gave examples of healthy ways to express that particular emotion. nbsp Not only did I receive some very interesting responses, but I got a little more insight into my students and what they are all about. nbsp I m planning another activity related to this topic for next week. nbsp I am going to create snippets of popular songs, which I ll play for the class and ask them to identify whether each song reflects happiness, excitement, anger, sadness, or love. nbsp I will provide the lyrics for analysis, and of course, some of the songs will fall into more than one category. nbsp I ve learned that anytime you can incorporate music that the students actually listen to outside of school (as long as it is school-appropriate), the opportunity should be seized

Today at Listen Learn Music Plus
Now that it s February, my students and I are singing about month 2 on a daily basis. nbsp Well now, so can my readers at Listen amp Learn Music Plus The lead sheet for this tune, complete with lyrics and chords, as well as the mp3 download of February are available to subscribers...learn about becoming one today

Happy Groundhog Day
If you ve already had your fill of winter, then you ll be disappointed to hear that Punxsutawney Phil did indeed see his shadow this morning. nbsp I have most definitely had enough of this season, but I resigned myself long ago to the fact that the groundhog ALWAYS sees his shadow, and there will ALWAYS be six more weeks of winter.Unfortunately, I don t have a song about Groundhog Day...but I know someone who does nbsp Fellow music therapist Wade Richards of Time for Music has a wonderful podcast, and his latest episode features not only a rockin Groundhog Day song, but also a super-fun tune for Super Bowl Sunday. nbsp Check it out Spring may be six weeks away, but now that it s February, we are one step closer ) nbsp What are your plans for this month nbsp I m excited about the upcoming Illinois Federation of Music Clubs annual Festival, in which several of my piano students will be participating. nbsp It will be both their first time and mine, so it should be a great learning experience for all of us. nbsp Other than that, I have some fun projects to share with you in the next couple of weeks. nbsp I know I have been hinting at them for a while now, so I promise to spill the beans soon. nbsp In the meantime, here s the song my students and I are singing all month long February by Listen amp Learn Music(you can download this or any other Listen amp Learn album by clicking it )February is month number two,The shortest of all the months, it’s true.Usually twenty-eight days, but sometimesAt leap year, then there’ll be twenty-nine.February second is Groundhog Day,We’ll wait for the animal to come out and play.Let’s hope his shadow he does not see,It means spring will soon be here for you and me.CHORUSFebruary fourteenth is Valentine’s Day,We’ll give out cards and “I love you,” we’ll say.Time for chocolate, and candy hearts too,Pink and red flowers for me and you.CHORUSFebruary also brings President’s Day,Remembering those who paved the wayFor the US to become so great,And that is why we celebrate.CHORUS

Sunday Singalong The Leaves on the Trees
You can find the original post of this song, including lyrics, here.Tonight s edition of Sunday Singalong goes out to a very special fan of mine hi, Matthew Matthew s mom emailed me last week and told me that although her son has many Listen amp Learn favorites, he responds to this particular tune with excitement and anticipation as I speed up faster and faster. He s not the only one this is a favorite among my own students for the very same reason Matthew will receive a free download of the Listen amp Learn album of his choice, and you can have the same if I select your song suggestion to be featured in an upcoming Sunday Singalong video. It could be one of my own songs or a cover, so be creative. nbsp Just leave a comment or email me with your suggestion.How was your weekend nbsp Mine was full of music, so of course it was wonderful ) nbsp I spent most of Saturday preparing some new songs and rehearsing for a show I played last night, which went very well. nbsp I was extremely surprised (and thrilled ) by the turnout...not only was my regular cheering section in attendance, but some friends from out of town, church, work, and even a few parents of my students were there, too nbsp It was a blast. nbsp The music-making continued today when my friend Cory came over to record with me (more on that soon). nbsp A few hours of sleep, and I ll be ready to take on a new week

Friday Fave The Most Caring Radio Station
Last November, I had the amazing opportunity of participating in 103.7 WDBR s annual radiothon, which benefits The St. Johns Children s Hospital and Children s Miracle Network. nbsp I wrote and recorded two songs based on the stories of parents and children whose lives were saved by these organizations, and the songs were played on-air throughout the weekend. nbsp Needless to say, it was a huge thrill.The radiothon raised over $90,000 last year, and now they have opportunity to go into 2010 s radiothon with a $50,000 head start. Foresters™ is partnering with Children s Miracle Network to find North America s Most Caring Radio Station, and WDBR is in the running nbsp They are currently in 16th place, so they have until February 5 to take the lead. nbsp The great news is that you can help, and it only takes a minute. Just go to the contest website nbsp and click the Vote Now button. nbsp You ll be asked to register your email address, and then you re ready to vote. nbsp Search by city and state (Springfield, IL) and then cast your votes for 103.7 Today s Hit MusicBookmark that page so you can go back and vote each day (make sure to use up all 10 votes per day). nbsp I ve been listening to WDBR for as long as I can remember, and I may be a little biased, but I know for sure that not only do they deserve this title, but so do the children who will reap the benefits of the reward. nbsp For more information about WBDR, click here. nbsp And go vote

Do the Clock Rock
My students and I have been rocking out all month to this song (which can be found on the pages of my Listen amp Learn Songbook, by the way ) and this blog post is definitely past due. Telling time is another one of those skills that every child must learn, and I have come across (and put into use) a fair share of songs meant to teach just that.The song I wrote is about as simple as it gets. It s a stepping stone to the more complicated aspects of reading the clock, which I ll get to in my next tick-tock tune ) For now, we focus on the numbers and use simple choreography (arm motions mimicking the hands of the clock) to show how they are situated. By now, the classroom staff at The Hope Institute are experts at it The Clock Rock by Listen amp Learn Music(you can download this or any other Listen amp Learn album by clicking it ) Doo-doot, doo, do the clock rock,Rockin’ all day and night,Doo-doot, doo, do the clock rock.Round and round, with all our might.Start at the top, that’s twelve AM.One, two, three, four, five,Six at the bottom,Seven, eight, nine, ten,Eleven and then, We’ve made it back to twelve again CHORUSStart at the top, that’s twelve PM.One, two, three, four, five,Six at the bottom, Seven, eight, nine, ten,Eleven and then, We’ve made it back to twelve again CHORUSMany of the classrooms at my school have those plastic or cardboard clocks with movable arms, which come in very handy when we sing this song. nbsp The rest of the time, I draw my own clocks, or just use hand motions - my students LOVE doing the Clock Rock dance - to emphasize the information presented in this song. nbsp The more fun you make it, the more effective a teaching tool it will be

Link Learn Marvelous Music
One of the benefits of writing this blog is having the opportunity to share links to sites that I find interesting, educational, or just plain fun. nbsp I m going to make an effort to do more of this in 2010, so be on the lookout for that silver surfer, the official mascot of my new feature, Link amp Learn (a play on my blog s title, if you didn t get that ). Today s link is to a blog written by my friend Sandie, who is an avid reader and supporter of Listen amp Learn Music. nbsp Her son Matthew was born with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum, a congenital defect in which a child is missing his or her corpus callosum (the pathway in the brain connecting the two hemispheres). nbsp In her blog, Agenesis Corpus Callosum, Sandie shares helpful information for other parents with children who have ACC, and a topic she comes back to time and again is music. Her most recent post is Marvelous Music, and wow, is it comprehensive nbsp She shares background information about music therapy, as well as Matthew s experiences in music therapy and the many ways in which he has benefited. nbsp She also posts excerpts written by other parents in a discussion about music and ACC. nbsp Pictures, videos, and links to music resources supplement the personal stories and information. So please go check out Sandie s blog, and as always, you are encouraged to fill me in on helpful links you ve come across on your own.

Sunday Singalong Brand New
I had every intention of recording a new video for this week s edition of Sunday Singalong, and then life got in the way. nbsp I spent most of last week the weekend working on an upcoming project (to be announced at a later date ) and preparing for a new Church Mice session, which began today. nbsp Throw in a hospital visit with our friends new baby and too many loads of laundry to count, and I m exhausted nbsp An understatement, really.Now that I ve gotten all of my excuses out in the open, we can move on to tonight s video. nbsp It s an oldie (July 2009) and a bit of a departure from the usual Listen amp Learn fare. nbsp This song falls under the OTHER category of music (geared more towards you than your child) I write, which you can hear more of here.You can download the album Brand New for free, by the way )If you have a song request or suggestion for next week s Sunday Singalong, let me know It could be a Listen amp Learn original or cover, and if I choose your suggested song, you get a free album download of your choice. nbsp

Friday Fave Music Therapy in Arizona
You may be wondering why I m featuring music therapy in Arizona today, when I live clear across the country in Illinois. nbsp Well here s the thing one of the main reasons I write this blog is because my readers (YOU ) continue to provide such positive feedback and support. nbsp It is the very least I can do to give that back to you, and that s what today s Friday Fave is all about. One reader in particular is a music therapist like me, originally from Illinois, who is currently doing all that she can to advocate for music therapy in her state of Arizona. nbsp Like many other states, Alison and her colleagues are faced with incredible budget cuts that would deprive them of a sustainable income. nbsp Alison explained the situation in an email to me, and this is what she had to say Arizona has fallen on hard times as most states have but they are constantly targetting music therapy. In February of last year the state tried to give music therapists a pay cut of 55 which is not a sustainable income. Sadly we would all make more money giving piano lessons at that rate. Other therapies were given a ten percent cut and as I recall AMTA sued the state for discriminatory cuts and managed to get us an equal 10 percent cut. On Monday Arizona state legislators are voting on more budget cuts which would cut music therapy down 50 again if passed according to DDD s proposed budget cuts plan. We are having a push here to educate all of our legislators as well as workers at the Department of Developmental Disabilities. We have been fighting an uphill battle in Arizona for almost a year now but seeing results in our clients is well worth it. Alison wrote back a few days later with this unfortunate news We found out Friday night that the cuts passed and music therapy has been cut by 50 and other therapies 10 . It is very sad. I have many higher functioning clients with autism who become upset and cry when I tell them I am going out of town next week but will see them in two weeks. I can t imagine how they will feel when I tell them that this will be the last time they will see me. We were asked last week to collect some data from our clients how many clients were funded by the state, how many had speech communication goals, how many received speech therapy, and how many received no other therapies. My clients have been the most grateful and appreciative of any I have had the pleasure of working with. Some were on waiting lists for music therapy up to 7 years and finally started receiving it once I moved here. I have 35 clients that I see in home on a 1 1 basis and of those 20 have a speech related goal, 21 do not receive speech therapy, and 15 do not receive any other therapies. It s so unfair to the kids. Many of the therapists are going to try to do private pay but I know that isn t a viable option for most of my families. I just hate to see these kids left without any services. My youngest clients are the ones who do receive Speech and OT but I know they will be dropped once they require after school hours as most of my after school hour kids do not receive these therapies.We are fighting right now for recognition as a therapy and not just as habilitation with a music component (which is what the state of AZ has us listed as). So any letters from music therapists across the country could help us with this.This is such an awful situation not only for music therapists, but also for the clients who will most likely have their services terminated due to these budget cuts. nbsp Alison is not the first person I ve talked to who is effected by the cuts, and sadly, she won t be the last. nbsp As she wrote above, you can nbsp help by writing a letter in support of music therapy recognition in her state, no matter where you live. nbsp You can even use the letter she wrote as a template Alison s LetterYou can email me with your letters in support of music therapy recognition in Arizona, and I will make sure they get into the right hands. nbsp Or, you can contact Alison directly. The music therapy community is small in comparison with other fields, which is why it is so important to support one another. nbsp You, as a reader, support music therapy just by visiting Listen amp Learn Music, and for that I thank you

Put the Scarf on Your...
One of the go-to items in my bag of tricks is the scarf. nbsp I have a whole rainbow of them (which you can find here) in the bottom drawer of my studio s supply chest, and my students usually raid it before our music therapy session is through. nbsp I love incorporating scarf activities into my session plans because they are so versatile and fun. nbsp Just a few of the goal areas I can target include colors, gross and fine motor skills, imitation, following directions, and, in the case of today s subject, body parts.Many times, I will get out the scarves and let my students move freely to preferred music as positive reinforcement. nbsp In fact, I used this technique last night with a little girl who needs extra incentive to follow the given schedule, and it worked quite nicely nbsp We finished all of the items on the schedule, and then had a lovely time dancing with scarves to You Are the Music in Me from High School Musical 2.But I also like to use the scarves in structured activities, which is the reason I came up with the song below. nbsp It nbsp combines movement and body part identification, and you could easily replace the scarf with an instrument, like a shaker or tambourine. Put the Scarf on Your... by Listen amp Learn Music(you can download this or any other Listen amp Learn album by clicking it )Put the scarf on your head, like this.Put the scarf on your head, like that.Put the scarf on your head,Whether it’s purple, blue or red.Oh, put the scarf on your head.Put the scarf on your shoulder, like this.Put the scarf on your shoulder, like that.Put the scarf on your shoulder,Well, at least it’s not a boulder.Oh, put the scarf on your shoulder.Put the scarf on your arm, like this.Put the scarf on your arm, like that.Put the scarf on your arm,‘Cause what’s the harm Oh, put the scarf on your arm.Put the scarf on your lap, like this.Put the scarf on your lap, like that.Put the scarf on your lap,It’s such a snap.Oh, put the scarf on your lap.Put the scarf on your knee, like this.Put the scarf on your knee, like that.Put the scarf on your knee,That’s where it ought to be.Oh, put the scarf on your knee.Put the scarf on your toes, like this.Put the scarf on your toes, like that.Put the scarf on your toes,Yes, this is where it goes.Oh, put the scarf on your toes.This song works its way from head to toe, though you could mix up the order of verses any way you want, or even better, write your own verses to add extra body parts. You could also turn this into an object identification activity by instructing the student to put the scarf on different items in the room. How else might you modify this song

Today at Listen Learn Music Plus
With all of the winter weather we ve experienced in the Midwest lately, I ve been getting lots of mileage out of my Snowy Day song. nbsp Well now, so can my readers at Listen amp Learn Music Plus The lead sheet for this tune, complete with lyrics and chords, as well as the mp3 download are available to subscribers...learn about becoming one today

Catching Up
I m back from the Big Apple and thoroughly ashamed to have neglected Listen amp Learn for an entire week nbsp I honestly can t remember the last time I went so long between posts, and I feel a bit like a failed blogger ( nbsp The truth is, I was already behind schedule before my trip, and being away for four days didn t help that situation very much. nbsp I have several projects in the works, as well as new responsibilities both at school and in my private practice, which means I have a LOT of catching up to do. But before I tackle all of that, let me fill you in on my trip to NYC. nbsp I can pretty much sum it up in one word amazing. nbsp Just being there is a thrill, and we took full advantage of our short time in the city that never sleeps. nbsp We ate lunch at nbsp Pershing Square Cafe, dinner at nbsp Basso 56, and ordered deli sandwiches from nbsp Rupert nbsp (of nbsp The Late Show with David Letterman nbsp fame). nbsp When we weren t eating, we were walking around the city - Rockefeller Center, Times Square, and Grand Central Station were just a few stops we made - and seeing a Broadway show nbsp My wonderful husband waited in line at the nbsp TKTS nbsp stand long enough to score tickets to nbsp Memphis, a new Broadway musical that definitely lived up to all the hype. nbsp We had some of our favorite friends right there with us, including my best friend (and NYC resident) Katie and her fiance, Justin nbsp On Friday, we packed up our rental car and headed to New Jersey, where we took part in the wedding festivities of our friends Dustin amp Kristin. nbsp I don t have nearly enough time to paint an accurate picture of this beautiful affair, so it s a good thing I took almost 200 photos nbsp We returned home late on Sunday night, and I spent my day off on Monday working on an exciting project (more later...I promise ). I have a long list of topics to share with you in the coming days and weeks, so thank you for sticking around nbsp The emails I received from readers while I was out of town put a big smile on my face, and were a constant reminder for me to get in gear here at Listen amp Learn. nbsp So this is me...getting into gear...and telling you to come back tomorrow for a brand-new song. nbsp See you then