Hello! It’s been a minute since I last shared on the blog, but I’m excited to share with you something I’ve been working on during these long days at home. Now that I have more time, I’ve been able to try new things, in addition to Zoom calls and bread making, of course. ;)
One afternoon as I was preparing for an online session, I heard a song that sparked my creative gears. It had a catchy beat and lyrics that had potential to be adapted to a goal-based song that I could use with my clients. Pretty quickly after I heard it, I knew I couldn’t let the opportunity to get creative pass me by. I didn’t know exactly what I was going to do, but in the next coming days, “Dance Monkey” by Tones and I, evolved from a song on the radio to a full out-goal based adaptation, complete with a music video.
With the help of my husband, (shout out to all the music therapist spouses!) I put together all the vocal tracks and movie clips..all of which I was learning how to do the fly. In week 8 of social distancing, I’m excited to share with you all this video and adapted song.
Feel free to use it as a resource to promote your clients’ motor and directionality goals in your online sessions. You can download the adapted lyrics and chords for free right here. Enjoy!
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.
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.
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
This application is a creative way for clients to express positive words and gratitude towards someone they appreciate. Whether it’s to a fellow client or to another person, this application helps individuals practice positive communication that can be a stepping stone in developing trust and key social skills in all contexts!
Possible Goals Addressed:
Social skills
Positive social interaction
Music Used:
Trainor, M., Johnson, J., Johnson, S., Lomax, M., Thomas, T., Thomas, T., Peterhof, O. & Federman, J. (2016). Thank you Ft. R. City [recorded by Meghan Trainor] On Thank You [CD]. Los Angeles, California: Epic Records & New York City, New York: Sony Music.
Materials needed: Print out of the lyrics and print out of the ‘Fill in the Blank’ version
Application: The music therapist will sing the song, “Thank You” by Meghan Trainor Ft. R. City. The music therapist will then prompt clients to write a personalized ‘thank you’ song of their own. The subject of the thank you song can depend on the context of the group, and how comfortable the group is with each other.
Examples of who clients can write about: close friends, fellow clients, role models etc. Once clients have filled in the song with their own words, the therapist can choose to sing the newly composed songs with the group. Additional steps can include recording the song and sending it to the person that the song is about.
Original Lyrics
[Verse 1:] You keep me humble, keep me focused everyday You know how to put a smile on my face When I think about you, all my worries fade You say you’ll love me ’til forever and that’ll never change
[Pre-Chorus:] Oh, I hear your words Oh, they don’t go unnoticed Oh, I feel your love
[Chorus:] You know without you I got nothing, I got nothing Without you I got nothing, I got nothing Forever you’re loyal and you know I adore you Without you I got nothing, I got nothing
[Post-Chorus:] So I wanna, I wanna, I wanna thank you I wanna, I wanna, I wanna thank you I wanna, I wanna, I wanna thank you Oh, oh, hey
[Verse 2:] No one knows how to love me like you do (like you do) I could bring a dream to life, oh, all because of you You help me when I’m feeling low (feeling low) You let me know I’m not alone (not alone) You say you’ll love me ’til forever So I’mma love you, too (I’mma love you, too)
Pre-Chorus:] Oh, I hear your words (Hear your words) Oh, they don’t go unnoticed Oh, I feel your love
[Chorus:] You know without you I got nothing, I got nothing Without you I got nothing, I got nothing Forever you’re loyal and you know I adore you Without you I got nothing, I got nothing
[Post-Chorus:] So I wanna, I wanna, I wanna thank you I wanna, I wanna, I wanna thank you I wanna, I wanna, I wanna thank you
//
Adapted Lyrics
[Verse 1:] You __________________________________________________________ You __________________________________________________________ When I think about you, __________________________________________ You _______________________________________and that’ll never change
[Pre-Chorus:] Oh, I hear your words Oh, they don’t go unnoticed Oh, I feel your love
[Chorus:] You know without you, ____________________________________________ Without you, ___________________________________________________ Forever you’re ________________and you know I _____________________ Without you, ___________________________________________________
[Post-Chorus:] So I wanna, I wanna, I wanna thank you I wanna, I wanna, I wanna thank you I wanna, I wanna, I wanna thank you Oh, oh, hey
[Verse 2:] You __________________________________________________________ You __________________________________________________________ When I think about you, __________________________________________ You ______________________________________and that’ll never change
