{Application of the Week} I’ve Been Working on the Railroad

{Application of the Week} I’ve Been Working on the Railroad

This week’s application features a well-known song that can be used across a multitude of populations. When used with a guitar or other stringed instrument, the music therapist can target several movement and non-movement goals at once. This application can be used in a traditional music therapy setting as well as in an adapted or typical lesson.

Possible Goals Addressed:

  • Participation
  • Fine motor control (pincer grasp)
  • Gross motor movement
  • Finger isolation
  • Creative expression

Music used:

Traditional. (1894). I’ve been working on the railroad.

Materials needed:

Stringed rhythm instrument (guitar, banjo, ukulele, or autoharp)

Application:

The music therapist will sing the song once through, encouraging the clients to sing along. Once the song is finished, the therapist will prompt clients to play with her. While singing the “fee, fie, fiddly-i-ooh” verse, the therapist will go around to each client and place the guitar (or other string rhythm instrument) in a position that is accessible for the client to strum along.

Additional considerations can include:

  • The use of a traditional  pick or oversized pick
  • Utilizing hand over hand prompting, partial physical prompting or limited prompting
  • The client’s appropriate range of motion
  • Utilizing certain fingers, certain hands, or both hands

Lyrics:

I’ve been working on the railroad
All the live long day
I’ve been working on the railroad
Just to pass the time away
Can’t you hear the whistle blowing
Rise up so early in the morn
Can’t you hear the whistle blowing
Dinah, blow your horn

Dinah won’t you blow
Dinah won’t you blow
Dinah, won’t you blow your horn
Dinah, won’t you blow,
Dinah, won’t you blow,
Dinah, won’t you blow your horn

Someone’s in the kitchen with dinah
Someone’s in the kitchen i know
Someone’s in the kitchen with dinah
Strumming on the old banjo

Fee fie fiddle eell o
Fee fie fiddle eell o
Fee fie fiddle eell o
Strumming on the old banjo