{Application of the Week} “If I Had a Hammer”

If I Had a Hammer | Music Therapy Application

This application is a great way for adults with special needs or older adults to work on sequencing, and/or cognitive and memory skills. The song’s natural flow and built in verse structure is an effective way to prompt clients to remember the order of objects sung about, and the fun melody keeps everyone anticipating what they are about to sing about next!

Possible Goals Addressed:

  • Sequencing
  • Maintaining memory skills

Music Used:

Seeger, P. & Hays, L. (1950). If I had a hammer. [recorded by The Weavers] On Banks of Marble [LP]. Hootenanny Records.

Materials needed:
none

Application:
The music therapist will sing the song “If I Had a Hammer” by Peter, Paul and Mary. The music therapist will sing the song once more and will prompt the clients to fill in the blanks for ‘hammer’, ‘bell’ and ‘song’. “If I had a___”.  The therapist can also introduce hand motions to provide additional cognitive/motor integration during the application.

Lyrics

If I had a hammer,
I’d hammer in the morning
I’d hammer in the evening,
All over this land.

I’d hammer out danger,
I’d hammer out a warning,
I’d hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

If I had a bell,
I’d ring it in the morning,
I’d ring it in the evening,
All over this land.

I’d ring out danger,
I’d ring out a warning
I’d ring out love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

If I had a song,
I’d sing it in the morning,
I’d sing it in the evening,
All over this land.

I’d sing out danger,
I’d sing out a warning
I’d sing out love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

Well I got a hammer,
And I got a bell,
And I got a song to sing, all over this land.

It’s the hammer of Justice,
It’s the bell of Freedom,
It’s the song about Love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

It’s the hammer of Justice,
It’s the bell of Freedom,
It’s the song about Love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

{Application of the Week} Train’s A-Coming

{Application of the Week} Train's A-Coming | Instrument Play in Music Therapy

This application uses a simple call and response tune to facilitate an instrument activity that challenges clients to listen and follow along as the song gradually moves faster and faster!

I love how the music and lyrics naturally motivates clients to listen and move together, providing ample opportunity for clients to work on gross motor movement and other auditory skills.

Possible Goals Addressed:

  • gross motor and fine motor movement
  • discrimination of fast and slow
  • tolerating transitions

Music Used:

Jenkins, E. (1996). A Trains-A-Coming. [recorded by Ella Jenkins] On Jambo and Other Call and Response Songs and Chants [CD]. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Materials needed:
shakers

Application:
The music therapist will pass out shakers to each client. After prompting the clients to listen and move with her, the music therapist will begin to sing the song at a slow pace. (optional call and response can be added for added engagement).

As the song progresses, the music therapist will gradually increase the tempo, so as to imitate a train accelerating, prompting the clients to shake faster. Adaptions can include prompting clients to lead the change in tempo through visual aids of red lights, yellow lights, and green lights.

Lyrics

Trains-a-coming (trains-a-coming)

Train is a comin’ (train is a comin’)

Tell me how do you know (Tell me how do you know)

Trains-a-coming (trains-a-coming)

Train is a comin’ (train is a comin’)

I can see that engine puffing so

{Application of the Week} I’m Walkin’

I'm Walking | Music Therapy Application for Adults

This application is a fun way for adults with special needs or older adults to get active and try out different body movements together. The lyrics are set up perfectly to allow for various body movements to be added into the song, making it the ideal song for your next body movement application!

Possible Goals Addressed:

  • Positive social interaction
  • Gross motor movement
  • Coordination
  • Increase duration of body movement

Music Used:

Domino, F. & Bartholomew, D. (1957). I’m Walkin’. [recorded by Fats Domino] On Here Stands Fats Domino [LP]. Imperial Records.

Materials needed:
None (instruments may be added to motivate additional movement if desired)

Application:
The music therapist will sing the song “I’m Walkin'” by Fats Domino. The music therapist will then prompt clients to engage in various body percussion actions. The music therapist will insert the new action into the lyrics (i.e. “I’m [clapping] yes indeed…). For an added challenge, the music therapist can ask clients to think of actions of their own and change the lyrics to [I’m moving like [client’s name].

Lyrics

*Lyrics may be adapted from “for you pretty baby I’ll even die” to “For you, I’ll even cry” depending on the context of the group.

I’m walkin’, yes indeed and I’m talkin’
About you and me, I’m hopin’
That you’ll come back to me, yeah-yeah
I’m lonely as I can be, I’m waitin’
For your company, I’m hopin’
That you’ll come back to me
What you gonna do when the well runs dry?
You gonna run away and hide
I’m gonna run right by your side
For you pretty baby I’ll even die
I’m walkin’, yes indeed and I’m talkin’
About you and me, I’m hopin’
That you’ll come back to me

I’m walkin’, yes indeed and I’m talkin’
About you and me, I’m hopin’
That you’ll come back to me, mm-mm
I’m lonely as I can be, I’m waitin’
For your company, I’m hopin’
That you’ll come back to me
What you gonna do when the well runs dry?
You’re gonna sit right down and cry
What you gonna do when I say bye-bye
All you gonna do is dry your eye
I’m walkin’, yes indeed and I’m talkin’
About you and me, I’m hopin’
That you’ll come back to me