I was in a lesson with a teenage student when I saw they were writing down the lyrics to a new song using an app. Within the app she was able to look up rhyming words, synonyms, antonyms, download beats, and more. I was really excited by the idea of this app and had to share it with you all! I have not personally used it, but it looks really interesting! The App is called MOGUL and is for the iPhone and iPad. The following is part of a description from http://prmac.com/release-id-46722.htm Songwriting: MOGUL is a simple to use, yet fully featured songwriting app. Songwriter’s can use the built in reference tools to define words and find rhymes, synonyms and antonyms. Words can be collected and saved in an idea bank for later use. It allows users to create and store all of their lyrics in one place and for the serious songwriter it provides the ability to easily search and sort through hundreds of documents. Recording Studio: MOGUL comes equipped with three vocal tracks for recording audio and one beat Read More
Tag: free
Songwriting – Word Blob Inspiration
Even though writing a song doesn’t have to be hard, coming up with the right words can be tricky. I find this especially true when working with teens and adolescents who are interested in writing a song, but have no idea where to start. So, we look for ways to strike up some ideas and channel that creative spirit. Sometimes, just by talking out loud to themselves or to me, an idea is formed and the right words come spilling out! If they get stuck, I offer this simple idea to get things moving. Create a word blob (I know there are other names for it…this is just the one I use. Quick example below) A mess of words on a page all related to whatever topic you want to talk about. It doesn’t have to be pretty. You don’t have to use all of the words you come up with. You can use whatever medium you prefer. Write as many words as you can think. Don’t hesitate, just do! Write now, edit later. The point is to just get your Read More
Mad Libs and Rhyming Words for Songwriting
Today, I have two more simple ideas for quick and easy song writing in a music therapy session! With some of my clients working on both academic and speech goals, Mad Libs are a great way to get them participating. I either look for free online Mad Libs I can print, use this online resource in my session, or create my own story. I then have clients fill in the appropriate type of word to complete the story. To make it musical, we keep a steady beat, add appropriate instrumentation, identify instruments that go with the story, or add a simple melody and chords. This has been a great way to work on articulation, rate of speech, and academic concepts with a couple of my clients. Another simple thing we have done is writing out rhyming words on strips of paper, then arranging them in a way that makes some sense, adding filler words as needed. To make it musical we add a beat and simple melody. We then rearrange the words to create the second line of Read More
2 Fill in the Blank Songs for Music Therapists
The hospital can be a very strange, intimidating, and stressful place for children and their families. There are new sounds, new people, uncomfortable feelings, and so much that is unfamiliar. Music therapy can be a great way to comfort, console, and help kids cope with what is going on around them. In my music therapy sessions, I sometimes use fill-in-the-blank songs as a device to get kids talking about their hospitalization or working on coping skills. “In the Hospital” is adapted from the song “In the Jungle” and asks children to talk about new experiences, sounds, and people at the hospital. “Take Me Out to the _____” is adapted from “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and focuses on describing a child’s favorite place or somewhere they would like to go. These interventions could be adapted for individuals of all ages and can be used in multiple settings. Below you will find both the FREE printable versions of these songs along with examples. ENJOY!! In The Hospital – Free Printable In the Hospital (example) Take Me Out Read More
Vlog – Songs and Tips for Music Therapy with Spanish Speaking Clients
I am so excited to share my first vlog today! I had so much fun recording this that there will definitely be another one at some point soon! All week, I have been sharing ideas on the blog (www.onagoodnote.net/blog) on how to successfully incorporate Spanish into your music therapy session when you don’t speak the language. In this (first) vlog post I share a couple tips and two simple songs you can use in your music therapy sessions! Read More