Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree
A Bushel and a Peck
Button Up Your Overcoat
Ida Sweet as Apple Cider
In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree
My Favorite Things
Shoo Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy
High Hopes
Apple Blossom Time
Aren't You Glad You're You
Stuck on You
When the World Was Young
You Took Advantage of Me
You Turned the Tables on Me
Talk to Me Baby
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Broadway Links
Weekend activity 8/1/15
I'll be singing a few of my favorite musical favorites. In addition to singing a few, I'd like to share some familiar voices/faces that residents will remember. Carol Channing, Julie Andrews, Ezio Pinza, Mary Martin, just to name a few.
Hello Dolly
Carol Channing Hello Dolly
Sound of Music
Some Enchanted Evening Ezio Pinza/Mary Martin
If I Were A Rich Man Theodore Bikel
Bushel and a Peck Doris Day
Getting to Know You Mary Martin
The Impossible Dream Peter O'Toole
You'll Never Walk Alone Jerry Lewis
I'll be singing a few of my favorite musical favorites. In addition to singing a few, I'd like to share some familiar voices/faces that residents will remember. Carol Channing, Julie Andrews, Ezio Pinza, Mary Martin, just to name a few.
Hello Dolly
Carol Channing Hello Dolly
Sound of Music
Some Enchanted Evening Ezio Pinza/Mary Martin
If I Were A Rich Man Theodore Bikel
Bushel and a Peck Doris Day
Getting to Know You Mary Martin
The Impossible Dream Peter O'Toole
You'll Never Walk Alone Jerry Lewis
Friday, July 3, 2015
American Songs and Composers
It's Independence Day. A few of my favorite Patriotic tunes and blog posts speaking about American composers and Patriotic songs. Just a reference to use for a composer's corner session I'll be conducting for 4th of July.
Irving Berlin "God Bless America" Kate Smith
George M Cohan "Best of"
Duke Ellington "It Don't Mean a Thing"
Irving Berlin speaking about Stephen Foster
George Gershwin "Swanee"
Cole Porter "Don't Fence Me In" performed by Roy Rogers
Richard Rodgers "You'll Never Walk Alone" Josh Groan
John Phillip Sousa "Stars and Stripes Forever"
Johnny Cash "Ragged Old Flag"
Ray Charles "America the Beautiful"
10 Great American Composers
10 Best Patriotic Songs
Famous American Songs
Irving Berlin "God Bless America" Kate Smith
George M Cohan "Best of"
Duke Ellington "It Don't Mean a Thing"
Irving Berlin speaking about Stephen Foster
George Gershwin "Swanee"
Cole Porter "Don't Fence Me In" performed by Roy Rogers
Richard Rodgers "You'll Never Walk Alone" Josh Groan
John Phillip Sousa "Stars and Stripes Forever"
Johnny Cash "Ragged Old Flag"
Ray Charles "America the Beautiful"
10 Great American Composers
10 Best Patriotic Songs
Famous American Songs
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Do You Sing to Your Kids?
I was recently reading a blogpost from the #musictherapyblogger challenge that spoke about staying connected to your own music. I am very guilty of not listening to music outside of "work." My kids, wife, and extended family very rarely hear me sing or use my music unless they ask me to play or sing for a wedding, funeral or some other function. Not too long ago, we bought a house and as we were looking at houses with our realtor, we asked him if he ever watched "House Hunters" or any of the other reality shows about homes. His answer, "no, it's my job, why would I want to watch something at home that I do at work?" It totally made sense to me.
I often get asked, "Do you sing with your kids?" And I usually answer shyly that I usually do not, but my kids are very musical and I love to hear them play piano, clarinet, saxophone, recorder, drums or another else they find around the house. But for me to sit down and sing something for my own enjoyment or "just because" would be very rare.
Why is this? As a Hospice Music Therapist, I felt emotionally spent at the end of the day. Now, that I am back in a geriatric setting conducting both activities and music therapy, I feel so much more relaxed in the evening. Tired, but not spent. I had been in a recreational choir for close to ten years and may try to look for another choir to join soon as I know the importance of enjoying music.
But for now, I'll be happy listening to the kids sing, play and joining in with them.
I often get asked, "Do you sing with your kids?" And I usually answer shyly that I usually do not, but my kids are very musical and I love to hear them play piano, clarinet, saxophone, recorder, drums or another else they find around the house. But for me to sit down and sing something for my own enjoyment or "just because" would be very rare.
Why is this? As a Hospice Music Therapist, I felt emotionally spent at the end of the day. Now, that I am back in a geriatric setting conducting both activities and music therapy, I feel so much more relaxed in the evening. Tired, but not spent. I had been in a recreational choir for close to ten years and may try to look for another choir to join soon as I know the importance of enjoying music.
But for now, I'll be happy listening to the kids sing, play and joining in with them.
Monday, June 1, 2015
Top Ten: Summer Songs
My list for the best ten songs to include in a Summer music therapy session with older adults. I do like to test the boundaries of music that I use and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. There are songs on this list from the early twentieth century and a few from the 60's & 70's. My residents have become so diverse in age that it is difficult to plan for large group sessions as the 100 year residents are in a different generation than the 75 year old residents. Using familiar songs that most everyone has heard at least once does help. Broadway tunes seem to be known by most along with songs from movies.
1. Those Lazy, Hazy. Crazy Days of Summer
1963 Recorded by Nat King Cole
2.The Things We Did Last Summer
Originally recorded 1946.
Dean Martin version recorded 1959.
3. June is Busting Out
1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein
"Carousel"
4. Oh, What a Beautiful Morning
1943 Rodgers and Hammerstein
"Oklahoma"
5. Summertime
1934-Gershwin
"Porgy & Bess"
6. Itsy Bitsy Tiny Yellow Polkadot Bikini
1960-Bryan Hyland
7. Summer Nights
1978--"Grease"
8. By the Light of the Silvery Moon
Originally written 1909. Released in movie 1953
9. I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles
Originally written 1919.
Re-released in "On Moonlight Bay" 1951
10. Beer Barrel Polka
Written 1927.
Became world famous during WWII.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Music Therapy Research
My, oh, my! How things have changed in the last 15 years. "Back in the day, I remember trudging through the halls at Alverno College to the library and looking through the periodicals and card catalogues." I was looking for research to support my research project focusing on geriatrics and food intake. Today, I could easily find at least 25 scholarly articles within 10 minutes on the internet.
Maybe it is because of the history I have with the pains of finding relatable research that make me dislike it. I actually love the idea of doing a research project, but that initial step has made it easy for me to put research far, far back on the WAY backest burner.
I have to be honest, the closest I have gotten to researching something lately is looking for new ideas on Pinterest, heading to conferences or asking for advice on different social media forums. Little did I know Pinterest is actually an awesome place to find research. Just searching "music therapy research" gave me a huge list of music therapy books that I had not been aware even existed. More links to pediatric, hospital, geriatric and general music therapy were easily found.
Working within a geriatric setting, my main interest in research has been finding appropriate songs and interventions to engage my residents. But since beginning my new job in early May, I've also been intrigued by research on "Music & Memory." I know many music therapists have had questions or concerns about the program. Being a music therapist, I feel any opportunity to expose residents to music especially preferred music from their early adulthood, is a positive. Being in a position that allows me to observe 10 residents that participate in an established program, I've seen first hand the power of the residents preferred music. In Wisconsin, we have had approximately 200 nursing homes participate in the "Music & Memory" program. Even though "Music & Memory" is not overseen by music therapists exclusively, there are tips that are helpful for any caregiver caring for a family member. Of course, within the "Music & Memory" program, facilities have been limited on who is eligible to participate and how many residents can participate. Our facility has a good amount of money set aside to add additional iPods and residents to the program. After reading about success stories, I would love to do more research within this population.
Using familiar music, to "evoke emotions and influence mood and arousal is often relatively well preserved also in dementia." (Music and Medicine July 2012 vol. 4 no. 3 153-162) So even though "Music & Memory" is definitely a hot topic, I'm hoping to do my own research since my floor is the pilot floor in my facility. I know iPods are not a replacement for music therapists, but I definitely also know that I cannot be in 10 rooms conducting 10 individual music therapy sessions daily. Until that day when I can, I'll be looking for more research and working towards the day I can provide live music therapy sessions are more beneficial providing the added personal touch that recorded music fails to provide.
The Role of Singing Familiar Songs in Encouraging Conversation Among People with Middle to Late Stage Alzheimer’s Disease
The #MusicTherapyBlogger Challenge - Week 4
This week’s challenge is to pick a current research article or chapter of a book that is closely related to your target audience and summarize it.
Summarize and cite the reading, then add your reflections upon it. You may want to discuss what surprised you, how the results can help your audience, why you picked the article/chapter, or what your “take-away” moment was from the reading.
And there is an added bonus to this challenge: it keeps you refreshed on the growing literature in our field!
Maybe it is because of the history I have with the pains of finding relatable research that make me dislike it. I actually love the idea of doing a research project, but that initial step has made it easy for me to put research far, far back on the WAY backest burner.
I have to be honest, the closest I have gotten to researching something lately is looking for new ideas on Pinterest, heading to conferences or asking for advice on different social media forums. Little did I know Pinterest is actually an awesome place to find research. Just searching "music therapy research" gave me a huge list of music therapy books that I had not been aware even existed. More links to pediatric, hospital, geriatric and general music therapy were easily found.
Working within a geriatric setting, my main interest in research has been finding appropriate songs and interventions to engage my residents. But since beginning my new job in early May, I've also been intrigued by research on "Music & Memory." I know many music therapists have had questions or concerns about the program. Being a music therapist, I feel any opportunity to expose residents to music especially preferred music from their early adulthood, is a positive. Being in a position that allows me to observe 10 residents that participate in an established program, I've seen first hand the power of the residents preferred music. In Wisconsin, we have had approximately 200 nursing homes participate in the "Music & Memory" program. Even though "Music & Memory" is not overseen by music therapists exclusively, there are tips that are helpful for any caregiver caring for a family member. Of course, within the "Music & Memory" program, facilities have been limited on who is eligible to participate and how many residents can participate. Our facility has a good amount of money set aside to add additional iPods and residents to the program. After reading about success stories, I would love to do more research within this population.
Using familiar music, to "evoke emotions and influence mood and arousal is often relatively well preserved also in dementia." (Music and Medicine July 2012 vol. 4 no. 3 153-162) So even though "Music & Memory" is definitely a hot topic, I'm hoping to do my own research since my floor is the pilot floor in my facility. I know iPods are not a replacement for music therapists, but I definitely also know that I cannot be in 10 rooms conducting 10 individual music therapy sessions daily. Until that day when I can, I'll be looking for more research and working towards the day I can provide live music therapy sessions are more beneficial providing the added personal touch that recorded music fails to provide.
Music, Emotion, and Dementia.Insight From Neuroscientific and Clinical Research. Teppo Särkämö, PhD, Sari Laitinen, Mari Tervaniemi, PhD, MA, Ava Numminen, PhD, MA, Merja Kurki, PhD, MA, Pekka Rantanen, PhD, MD, Music and Medicine July 2012 vol. 4 no. 3 153-162
The Role of Singing Familiar Songs in Encouraging Conversation Among People with Middle to Late Stage Alzheimer’s Disease
Ayelet Dassa, PhD and
Dorit Amir, DA, ACMT
J Music Ther (2014) 51 (2): 131-153.
The #MusicTherapyBlogger Challenge - Week 4
This week’s challenge is to pick a current research article or chapter of a book that is closely related to your target audience and summarize it.
Summarize and cite the reading, then add your reflections upon it. You may want to discuss what surprised you, how the results can help your audience, why you picked the article/chapter, or what your “take-away” moment was from the reading.
And there is an added bonus to this challenge: it keeps you refreshed on the growing literature in our field!
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Top Five Tuesday: Jim Reeves
Jim Reeves is a treasured Country & Western singer from mainly the 1950's. He is one of those American legends that died much too young. Dying in a plane crash at the age of 40, his legend does carry on and has definitely made a mark within the geriatric population. Those born in the 1930's, remember his songs fondly as they were popular in their late teens early 20's. One of my favorite Jim Reeves songs is "Four Walls." "Ramona" is also a favorite and I love to pick out Lady Name songs around Mother's day. Jim Reeves did perform many spirituals and hymns, along with many other performers of the era. Here's a few of my favorites I like to sing when I remember, a few hymns and a few catchy tunes, Bimbo has a fun repetitive little refrain, Mexican Joe also has a rhythmic, rhyming refrain.
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