Songbird Studio

You can view the song from this blog post and find the file available for download here !  I've notated the song in the key of C--transpose to whatever key best fits your needs.  I also notated V chords as straight Vs, but you are of course free to spice them up as V7s, or get more inventive with the chord progression as a whole--whatever best fits your population!

You can view the song from this blog post and find the file available for download here !  I've notated the song in the key of C--transpose to whatever key best fits your needs.  I also notated most V chords as straight Vs, but you are of course free to spice them up as V7s, or get more inventive with the chord progression as a whole--whatever best fits your population!

I recently found some great, user-friendly music notation software online that I wanted to share.  Honestly, it's been out there for awhile...  However, I used to rely on Finale Notepad, and when they started charging for it, I was really at a loss and could not find a suitable replacement.  So I kept using my old version of Notepad until it was buried enough on an external drive to make it inconvenient for regular use at work...  Googled...  and found this ! I haven't found any major bugs as I've used it, nor any malware or spyware. I personally won't guarantee it will work seamlessly for you or won't have bugs or malicious code--always download at your own risk!  However,  here is a review from Norton (the friendly antivirus folks) that helped me make my decision to download.  More info and reviews can be found here (wiki), here (reviews), and here (its online manual plus a download link!).  It's open source, works with Macs and PC...

In my practice, I rely a lot on a variety of folk songs--yes, there are age appropriate folk songs for even adolescents and young adults! One reason I LOVE folk songs?  Most of the beloved 'classics' are SO classic that they are public domain.  There is also a rich oral tradition in folk songs, which makes variations plentiful, so there is always a new version out there to give you new ideas.  This series will explore a few of my current favorites. Today we look at one that I use with my adolescents and young adults with cognitive disabilities.  It is a perennial favorite! Shake Them 'Simmons Down CHORUS:   (E) Shake that tree, do, oh, do, oh Shake that tree, do, oh, do, oh Shake that tree, do, oh, do, oh, Shake them (B7) 'simmons  (E) down... VERSE: Circle to the right, do, oh, do, oh, Circle to the right, do, oh, do, oh, Circle to the right, do, oh, do, oh, Shake them 'simmons down... Other verse options: Circle to the left... Clap y...

Besides adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders, I also work with K-12 students with severe cognitive disabilities. Possibly due to my Orff background, I rely a lot on a variety of folk songs--yes, there are age appropriate folk songs for even adolescents and young adults! One reason I LOVE folk songs?  Most of the beloved 'classics' are SO classic that they are public domain.  There is also a rich oral tradition in folk songs, which makes variations plentiful, so there is always a new version out there to give you new ideas.  This series will explore a few of my current favorites. Today, we are looking at one appropriate for younger (elementary aged) children. The range and repetition of pitches in our song today makes it appropriate for younger voices.  One particular genre of children's folk songs that I especially love are pile-up songs, where they have a list of some sort that grows and grows while the song continues.  These types of song...

In this series, we discuss various strategies for creating a relationship through therapeutic rapport. To see the entire series, click here . Take advantage of out-of-group interactions . Greeting clients warmly if you see them around the building, stopping and chatting with them when they're waiting by the front office, etc., can go a long way.  Sometimes, I am the recipient of results from their weekly cooking class, get to see videos of piano playing that happened in the sensory room while I was gone, or get thrown a big holla and wave when I walk into the building.  I am not in this facility full time, and so I take full advantage of any random encounter I may have to touch base and have a positive encounter with my clients.  For me, this may look like simple eye contact and a head nod, a big smile and wave, or responding warmly to a conversation they initiate.  To me, this has built trust and attachment which has allowed us to have some truly remarkabl...

In this series, we discuss various strategies for creating a relationship through therapeutic rapport. To see the entire series, click here .   Use client suggestions:  My next strategy for turning rapport into a true relationship is to acknowledge and (sometimes) take a client's advice.   This isn't as ethically problematic as it may first appear.  For example, an obvious client suggestion that all music therapists are familiar with and take seriously is the client's opinion and personal preference for music.  We know that preferred music is more powerful and helps increase client motivation within a session.  There are plenty of other suggestions a client may offer, however (at least, if they are anything like mine!).  Maybe they have a suggestion for a different instrument to try, a new arrangement for the room, or even where to grab a rockin' mocha down the street.  If you take any of these suggestions, be sure to point out that y...