Friday Five: Hap Palmer songs you should know

So I'm going to take you back a couple decades to the Hap Palmer era. Hap Palmer earned a Master's degree in dance education in the early 80s, but was writing children's songs years before that, in the late 60s. The songs were written to enhance a number of developmental skills in young children. Below are five videos I found when conducting a youtube search, though you'll find he composed hundreds more.

The videos below can be used as is in session. But if you find these dated, I encourage you to let them inspire your own creativity! If you have any Hap Palmer songs of your own that you love, or any other ideas for that matter, please share!

Weekly Rap


Tap Your Sticks


Bean Bag Alphabet Rag


Let's All Clap Our Hands Together


The Mice Go Marching

New Activity! I Can Transform Ya

How do you entertain adolescents who have a preference for gangsta rap and selling weed?

Lately I've been volunteering at a secondary school here in Tallahassee. The students there all have IEPs with behavioral and emotional goals. Many of the students go to this school after being expelled from public school. Curse words fly, and students are often being marked with "disrespects." Some of the students have problems not only with school, but also at home and with the law.

More than anything, this population is one that needs extra attention. Of course, music therapy is a great way to teach proper self-expression and appropriate social interactions. But what do I do when I am clearly out of place in the classroom?

This activity worked very well with the students. Many of you may recognize the activity, the concept is not mine. However, the activity sheets I am providing a link to are ones that I created and you are welcome to use!

Both of these links will take you to Scribd.com, where you will find the
I Can Transform Ya task analysis &
I Can Transform Ya activity sheets

The video below is the song that I used for the group I mentioned above. Of course, it could be done with a wide range of populations. See the task analysis for more about that.



I want any activities I blog about to be useful and accessible to all MTs. If you have ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL regarding how to implement the activity, how to create music sheets of your own, problems using the sheets I provided, etc., please ask! I will be more than happy to help at any time, even if you send me an email or comment months after this post.

What does it take to undo the therapeutic process? Rebecca Black

We all have probably heard by now all the hype surrounding Rebecca Black. And it isn't all good. After watching this clip on Good Morning America, I felt so angry by all the cyber bullying that is going on.



I immediately thought about the applications to music therapy. Creating a song and a music video is a great intervention for self-expression (take note of that!). In fact, it is exactly what music producers Ark Music Factory did for Rebecca and other teenagers.

Of course, confidentiality is EXTREMELY important in the therapeutic world. Most settings are not appropriate for video recording. What dangers are out there if confidentiality is breached? If a client is exposed to such extreme criticism like Black has received (skip to 1:55 in the clip, it will make you angry!), it could undo everything you have worked toward. All the therapeutic progress can be unraveled in an instant. There aren't many that could handle the harsh words that come from thousands of people.

But amazingly, Rebecca claims to stay strong. I am so impressed by her, not because of her music video but because of the way she copes with her peers. I never had a problem with Rebecca's video, in fact. I am happy to see her making music... how fun it must have been to work with music producers! I can also appreciate the friendlier parodies that are out there that do not cruelly attack Rebecca (see here and here and see Conan O'Brien here).

But there is a lesson to be learned: I cannot stress how important I think it is for us to represent music therapy in EVERYTHING we do. That said, be supportive of others and be positive! Whether you like Rebecca Black or not, definitely do NOT participate in the hateful comments, online or otherwise.

Up a whole step

We use music therapy to "fix" a problem. And as versatile as music therapy is, we can remedy most problems. Which means that as music therapists we have to be very critical thinkers. We must be experts at applying music in creative ways.

This video is an example of a musically creative way to get more people to take the stairs over the escalator. What are some therapeutic benefits of this? Well, I thought 1) we know taking the stairs is better for us because we move more and this is good for our health, and 2) people commuting past these stairs may be in a happier mood for the rest of the day because walking on a piano is unusual and, well... fun.



Can you think of more therapeutic benefits?

Some current events can help advocate MT

This month is a great one to be discussing advocacy. Recently, there have been a couple things that have brought music therapy to the eyes of the general population. We can use this as a means for advocacy!

We all know the tragedy that befell Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona recently. If you have been keeping up with the news, you will know that she has survived a shooting but faces a long road to recovery. The media of course has been following her progress. Recently ABC news ran a clip on Giffords, and mentioned the "high-tech" therapies that might help Gifford. An example of this, he says, is music therapy. He gives a nice, short explanation of how MT might help Giffords redevelop her speech and communication.



In addition to this, there is a movie being shown at the Sundance film festival (going on RIGHT NOW!) about music therapy: The Music Never Stopped. Read about it here, on the AMTA website! And then visit their website and contact them to request a screening in your area. Like their facebook page (or Myspace or Twitter) and comment there, too.



This is a great opportunity to contact Giffords' fellow representatives and bring to light the greatness of music therapy. As the general population learns more about our profession, we hope that they will let their government representatives know that they want more of us. In the long run, this will mean a higher demand for music therapy and thus, music therapists. This means more jobs!

Write letters, emails, or make phone calls that mention this ABC news clip and the Sundance film festival movie and let the representatives know that music therapy is important to you.

Lady Gaga on Boomwhackers

I've been meaning to share an activity for you to consider from Kat Fulton, who writes a blog (Rhythm for Good). Kat is a fantastic arranger of pieces for Boomwhackers. Her most recently posted Boomwhacker project is a Lady Gaga remix. Listen to the piece while watching Kat's very own homemade music video:


Kat was kind enough to email me the arrangements for this and the Black Eyed Peas' "I Got a Feeling." She invites anyone who is interested in these arrangements to email her as well. Check out the blog post for more information.

Thanks again to Kat for sharing! And I suggest to anyone who is reading this to consider transcribing their own popular song for a Boomwhacker.

Friday Five: Music videos of this decade

I think music videos have an important place in music therapy. Not only are they a great tool for relaxation and mood elevation, but they can be great for song discussions. For example, I posted recently on the video Who I Am by the Jonas Brothers and its goal of improving self concept in adolescents. These videos from the 2000s below are similarly great for addressing positive thinking, coping skills, changes, and self-respect.

1. Shine by Laura Izibor

Positive thinking, active change, coping skills, mood elevation When you're feeling stuck in life, think positively and make an active change.

2. Something Beautiful by NeedToBreathe

Positive thinking, coping skills, mood elevation In a life that can often be overwhelming, look to things that are good.

3. King Of Anything by Sarah Bareilles

Positive thinking, self-concept/respect No one can control you. You are your own great, awesome person.

4. Breathe by Ryan Star

Positive thinking, coping skills, mood elevation When life is difficult, take a step back and breathe. This video shows some of the many that lost their jobs in the recession. And they're still smiling.

5. Smile by Uncle Kracker

Positive thinking, mood elevation, coping skills Enjoy the things you love.

Who I Am: video for self-concept

I love this video. It is great for addressing self-concept with adolescents. Questions we typically ask include:
+What signs did you see in the video and who was holding them?
+Were you surprised by any of them? (Usually kids are shocked that the gothic girl could be an honor student)
+If you had a sign to describe who you are, what would it say?
+If you had a sign for Who I Am with family, friends, and alone, would they be different?
+What would they say and why do you think these signs would be different?

Showbiz Tonight: Nordoff-Robbins MT

Playing for change

Speaking of music videos, I want to share a couple that are very popular at the BHC. The two songs I am posting below come from a group called Playing For Change. The group began in 2005 to bring "peace through music." They have traveled to many places in the world to record musicians playing songs like "One Love" and "Stand By Me."

The result is a music video that overlaps all these musicians to make one song. As you watch these, you'll count dozens of different locations. Musicians from the U.S., Africa, Europe, and Asia play with their native styles, instruments, and languages.

One Love


Stand By Me

Music videos elevate mood

I have officially finished my first week of internship!

I saw a lot of activities this week that I will be sharing throughout this blog's life. Let me share some information about the BHC first. The BHC has four units, one of which is a unit for geriatric and psychiatric patients. People that get put in this unit may require a little bit more attention from the doctors and nurses than the rest. However, the music therapists meet with all four units almost every weekday.

In the unit I described above, there is very often a very diverse group that comes in. Patients may have very different levels of functioning or interests. So, transfer this outside of the BHC. You may find yourself with a group (small or large) that is difficult to meet all the needs of its participants. In this case, consider music videos.

Music videos are a great way to address mood elevation when you have some patients with low or unclear cognitive capabilities. It does not require a great deal of discussion (though you do have this option if you think it is appropriate to your group). Create a playlist on your iPod that is specific to that group and full of music videos (you will need to watch them all the way through to ensure that they are clean). I will soon post a couple videos to add to your collection that are an absolute hit at the BHC.

Building a rainstorm in any group

To celebrate the approaching summer, incorporate a rainstorm activity in your music therapy session.

I've seen this used a lot with kids as a socialization activity, but that is only the tip of an iceberg of potential. Use this in large counseling groups to represent a "passing storm" of loss, depression, and anxiety. Use it to facilitate a healthy release of guilt, regret, and sorrow. Understand that in a counseling setting, this activity can become something very emotional and significant in moving past an unpleasant time.

However, on that note I must give some words of advice... (1) Take your time in building the rainstorm. When we stand in front of a group, it is easy to rush. Remind yourself to go slow. Give your group time to sit in the moment as they listen to their storm. The moment can be a very special one, but if you don't give your clients a chance to reflect on this, then you lose the therapeutic element.

(2) Because this activity is so adaptable, you must be mindful of age appropriateness. Don't assume that your adults will enjoy playing the thunder tube. Kids may make a rainstorm with small percussion instruments (ocean drums, thunder tubes, etc.), teens may make a storm with their bodies ("shhhh," rubbing hands together, patting thighs, etc.), and adults may use larger drums and various percussion instruments (bass drum as thunder, etc.). Consider your own group and decide what you can do to get the most positive response.

The video below can be an inspiration for your own session. In the first two minutes, the choir builds a rainstorm without any instruments at all. Since I came across this link, it has been bookmarked in Firefox. It is a performance that should not be forgotten because of its potential for use therapy.