Enriching lives through participation in music
As winter holidays approach most often traditions become a popular topic. Traditions may take place with work, family, or friends. I like to have clients share what their favorite traditions are during the winter through songwriting. Traditions could be sledding, buying presents, drinking hot chocolate, baking, watching holiday movies,...
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With Thanksgiving approaching this month, the song example below demonstrates how gratitude songs can be personalized to express what YOU are thankful for this November. Fill in the blanks to create your very own version of this song of Thanksgiving. When you’ve written your lyrics, you can sing your song...
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Ever since I was little girl sitting on my mom’s lap as she played the piano flawlessly, music spoke to me. As a teenager, the way music spoke to me only grew more and more. I remember hearing a song on the radio that said exactly what I was...
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As one of our therapists was preparing for a recent singalong for an adapted choir, she realized the date would be 7/11! When planning any kind of session in the summer, it’s easy to fall back on typical themes like sun/heat, vacation, beach, water, and summer foods. But this...
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What Thanksgiving traditions are your favorites? Seeing family and friends? The meal? The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade? Watching football? You probably don't immediately think of the SONGS as a favorite tradition. Maybe the only Thanksgiving song you know is "Over the River and Through the Woods." However, many songs about...
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Have you ever heard the sound of a cabasa? You probably have, even if you didn’t know that's what it was! The cabasa, also known as an afuche, consists of a cylinder surrounded by beads that makes a rattling sound when shaken or twisted. Originating in Africa as the agbe,...
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Anything can be a musical instrument! A box of pasta can be a shaker. A pan can be a drum. And plastic tubes can be a xylophone!That’s essentially what “Boomwhackers” are – colorful plastic tubes of varying lengths that play different pitches when struck on the floor or with...
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Adaptive lessons can be a wonderful way to give students with disabilities a normalized leisure activity in which they take pride, while also addressing non-musical skills! As music therapists, we are uniquely situated to meet the needs of diverse learners due to our training and experiences. If we rely on our academic...
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Technology can be intimidating, but with some practice it can really open doors for clients with a variety of limitations. I have found many apps and instruments that help me help my clients . Here are 3 that I’m particularly loving right now: GarageBand If you have an Apple Device, there are so many things...
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Spring is here! And with it comes a plethora of songs and activities! Flowers, birds, and my favorite: Sunshine! Think about how many songs you know that have the word “sun” or “sunshine” or “sunny” in the title alone! Here are the first ones that come to my mind: You...
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