A Song for Halloween Day

Greetings, and happy Halloween! Because it is a special day, Friday Faves has been postponed until next week (sorry!). You probably know by now that this isn't exactly my favorite "holiday," but that hasn't stopped me yet from writing and sharing my collection of sometimes spooky but mostly silly Halloween songs. Today's song leans a little bit more towards the spooky side, but don't worry - it is appropriate for all ages and stages of development.



(you can download this or any other Listen & Learn album by clicking it!)

Do you know about a day
That’s not so very far away
Everywhere there’s orange and black
And chills are running up your back.

Jack-o-lanterns and ghosts and bats,
Witches and goblins and big black cats
Spooky spooks come out to play
On the thirty-first, Halloween Day.

Let’s pick a costume we can wear
And all the neighbors, we will scare
When at their door we trick or treat
And they will give us something sweet.

Jack-o-lanterns and ghosts and bats,
Witches and goblins and big black cats
Spooky spooks come out to play
On the thirty-first, Halloween Day.

Today is a super busy day at school, but in between trick-or-treating throughout the building, visiting the "haunted hallway" complete with a "graveyard", and celebrating at a huge party in the gym this afternoon, we'll find some time to squeeze in music therapy.

Though my feelings toward Halloween are lukewarm at best, I am trying my best to get into the spirit for the sake of those who enjoy this spooktacular day. Tonight, Zach (my husband) and I are going to attend a Halloween party dressed as a certain singing duo...any guesses?? (Hint: if only I had an autoharp, my costume would be perfect.)

I hope you enjoyed today's installment of Listen & Learn Music. Have a great day, and I'll see you this weekend as we kick off November in style. Byebye!

Witch's Brew

One of the songs I very distinctly remember singing in elementary school was called "Witch's Brew." It had movements and everything, and it was a class favorite that we looked forward to every year. Even as an adult more than fifteen years later, I still remember all the words and movements, and imagine my surprise and excitement when I came across the song on the internet! I'm almost positive that this recording (by Hap Palmer) is the same we listened to in school.

I thought that since I enjoyed this song so much as a child, my students would too, so I designed an activity based upon it. I decided to make it visual, so out came the construction paper, Microsoft clip art, and scissors, with which I created this:

I replaced the items that the song mentions with more innocuous, every day items that my students would better recognize, and made a picture card displaying each item. These include a cat, bat, bear, broomstick, car, french fries, and a fly among others (15 in total, so 3 items in each of 5 verses). I laminated them and put velcro on the backs, and then constructed a "cauldron" of two laminated pieces of black construction paper bound together, folder-style (you could also just use a black folder). I then attached enough velcro so that each picture would have a place.

I changed the lyrics to reflect my new items, and as I sing each item (very slowly, of course), the student finds the corresponding picture from the pile and puts it in the "witch's brew" (i.e. the black folder). Many of my students also like to do the motions, such as "stirring" with their arms and "casting a spell" with their hands.

You can choose your own items for your "witch's brew" and if you do, please share the finished product with me! I know it's a little late for this Halloween, but hey, there's always next year :)

See you tomorrow for a final Halloween song before we move on to a whole new batch of November songs!

Custom Listen & Learn CDs

You've probably noticed by now that all of the albums here at Listen & Learn are available for download. But what if you want to pick and choose which songs you'd like to purchase? The answer is a Custom Listen & Learn CD!

Any of the songs I post on Listen & Learn are up for grabs, and if you have something in mind but can't find it here, just ask. Chances are I've got something like it that just hasn't made it online yet. I'll even personalize Hello, Birthday, and Goodbye songs for you or your child (or student, or class, whatever the case may be).

Here's how it works:

1. Choose up to 10 songs you'd like on your CD.
2. Send me an email listing those songs along with any special instructions.
3. Pay securely through PayPal by clicking the "Buy Now" icon.

Once I receive your order, I will get to work on your custom CD and have it in the mail no more than a week later.

Any questions? Ask away.

Ugga Bugga Boo!

Halloween is on Friday, so I have just a few days to share a couple last minute songs with you. Today's song can actually be used year-round, but it's great at Halloween because of it's title and lyrics - Ugga Bugga Boo! The phrase is silly and fun, and so is the song itself. It addresses simple movement and following directions such as clapping hands, tapping feets, and clicking the tongue (a sound that kids love to make once they learn how).



(you can download this or any other Listen & Learn album by clicking it!)

Ugga. Ugga Bugga. Ugga Bugga Boo boo boo!
Ugga. Ugga Bugga. Ugga Bugga me and you!
Get into the beat and clap your hands, out loud, out loud.
Get into the beat and clap your hands out loud!

Ugga. Ugga Bugga. Ugga Bugga Boo boo boo!
Ugga. Ugga Bugga. Ugga Bugga me and you!
Get into the beat and tap your feet, out loud, out loud.
Get into the beat and tap your feet out loud!

Ugga. Ugga Bugga. Ugga Bugga Boo boo boo!
Ugga. Ugga Bugga. Ugga Bugga me and you!
Get into the beat and click your tongue, out loud, out loud.
Get into the beat and click your tongue out loud!

Ugga. Ugga Bugga. Ugga Bugga Boo boo boo!
Ugga. Ugga Bugga. Ugga Bugga me and you!
Ugga Bugga Bugga Bugga Bugga Bugga boo boo boo –
And we’re through!

Up Close and Personal

I tried my best not to seem distracted this week, but the truth is, I was busy preparing for my first non-theatre/non-classical/non-children's music (that's a lot of non's!) performance ever. My audience was a little different than what I'm used to on a daily basis...in fact, since I performed in a bar, my students wouldn't have even been allowed to attend :)

Because music is such a huge part of my job, it's easy to forget that it is also a personal hobby and something that I've done for fun almost all my life. I've been spending a lot of time writing and playing for myself lately, so having the opportunity to perform in front of an audience was a big thrill. Here is one of my original songs, "Second Chance Dance," which I wrote for my husband last Valentine's Day (and is based on the story of us):



(you can download this or any other Listen & Learn album by clicking it!)

If you'd like to hear more of my non-children's songs, and read more about my foray into the world of singer-songwriters at www.rachelrambach.com.

Friday Fave: Flute Beatboxing

I stumbled upon this YouTube video a couple weeks ago, and I was completely mesmerized. I think beatboxing is an amazing skill, so to throw a flute into the mix is pretty gosh-darn impressive. The floutist's name is Greg Patillo, and he is part of a group called PROJECT, whose sound is self-described as "a fusion of jazz, hip-hop, and world music - balanced out by a sincere allegiance to their classical roots." You can read more about PROJECT and the other group members on their website.

This is the perfect anecdote to any child who thinks playing an instrument isn't "cool" - as a child of the '80s, let me just say that it doesn't get much cooler than Inspector Gadget, especially when its theme is beatboxed on the flute. If you like this video, be sure to check out the theme to Super Mario Brothers and Sesame Street!

Ten Little Ladybugs

Over the last few years, I have amassed quite a collection of books that I use with my students. I always keep my eye out for books with bright, colorful pictures and engaging content, but most importantly, the words must rhyme or have a lyrical quality. This is a must because rather than just read the books to (or with) my students, I sing them. It's easy to set the words to a simple tune, either original or familiar (such as "Twinkle Twinkle" or "Clementine"), and it is more appealing to the student, as well.

I can address multiple goals while singing books with my students: answering "yes/no" or "wh" questions, naming objects and colors, reading, counting, following directions (such as turning the page or pointing to something), and attention to task.

My favorite types of books to read, especially with the younger crowd, are those with texture or 3-D elements. One great example is Ten Little Ladybugs. The book is visually stunning and stimulating, and my students never grow tired of it!

Ready...Set...Wait!

As I mentioned last week, my husband and I went on a quick getaway this weekend and while we had a great time, it's always nice to get back into the regular routine. This week is already off to a busy start, with an even busier weekend ahead...I'm performing this Friday evening, playing for a birthday party on Saturday, and then my children's choirs are singing in church on Sunday morning. Phew, I'm tired just thinking about it!

But let's get to today's subject: impulse control. This is always an issue when working with any child, whether he or she has a disability or not. Last year I wrote a fun little song to target impulse control skills, called Ready, Set, Wait!



(you can download this or any other Listen & Learn album by clicking it!)

Let’s wiggle our fingers, when I say go.
We’ll wiggle wiggle wiggle them, to and fro.
Let’s wiggle our fingers, when I say go.
Ready…set…WAIT!

When I say wait, don’t go just yet.
Listen for what comes after “set”
But when I say go then you will know…
To wiggle those fingers to and fro.
Ready…set…GO!!

Wiggle wiggle, wiggle wiggle wiggle,
Wiggle those fingers to and fro.
Wiggle wiggle, wiggle wiggle wiggle,
Wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle them to and fro…now STOP!

REPEAT:
Knees
Feet
Elbows

My students are always surprised when they hear "WAIT!" in the first verse, and then they are so excited to hear "GO!" so that they can wiggle whatever body part is called. They love to freeze when they hear "STOP!" and with a little practice, they can follow all three commands easily.

Friday Fave: CD Baby

A random google search several weeks ago led me to a site called CD Baby, which is an online music store for independent musicians who want to sell their albums. Intrigued, I did some exploring and came to the conclusion that this site may be one of the greatest resources out there for musicians who want to share their talent while earning a little money at the same time.

Any regular person (like me!) can sign up with CD Baby and have their albums sold on the site. All you have to do is sign up, provide information about yourself and your CD, and then send five copies of the CD you're selling. For a one-time fee of $35, CD Baby will set up a page to display your CD, handle all sales, and ship your CD to customers who buy it. The best part is that the company only keeps $4 per CD and a measly 9% per digital download. Oh, and CD Baby makes your music available to iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, and the like.

I'm in the process of compiling my first CD, These Are the Months of the Year, and CD Baby seems like the perfect market for it. I came across some great children's music while perusing the site, so mine would be in good company. I will keep you posted as to my progress on this project - it's very exciting!

So that is this week's Friday Fave. I'll be enjoying a mini-vacation in Florida for the next couple of days, so look for a new song right here at Listen & Learn on Monday. Have a great weekend, everyone!

You Are My Sunshine

Last night, my good friend Victoria brought her guitar over for an impromtu jam session. Vic has just started learning, but she's already picked up lots of chords and can keep up amazingly well for a beginner! She asked me to teach her a few tunes, so I thought I'd start with one almost everybody knows, You Are My Sunshine. It was so much fun playing and singing with another person, especially a great friend and talented musician.

You Are My Sunshine is a song that I use frequently at school and with my clients. Not only is it easy to sing along to, but it has an amazing calming effect. I was never a huge fan of the second verse ("the other night, dear...") so I changed the lyrics to better fit my population.

When you are smiling, and making music
You keep me happy, when days are blue
So keep on laughing, and keep on singing.
It's almost time to say goodbye to you.

Here is a simple recording (first verse only) that I made for a relaxation CD I put together for my classes at school.

(you can download this or any other Listen & Learn album by clicking it!)

Musical Scarf Activity

I'm back again today to share a song that I wrote to use with my youngest children in music therapy. I like to stick with a general theme each month, so October focuses mainly on fall and Halloween-related topics. This particular song accompanies a scarf activity, in which the child is asked to listen for the color of his/her scarf and then wave it in the air. The scarves I use are from West Music and can be found here. This is what they look like:

There are twelve different colors, and the kids absolutely adore them and are always coming up with new ways to use them. So I wasn't completely surprised when a couple of kids draped their scarves over their heads and began floating around even before I started playing this song:



(you can download this or any other Listen & Learn album by clicking it!)

Not all ghosts are scary,
And not all ghosts are white.
Listen for the color I choose
And let your ghost take flight!

If your friendly ghost is red,
Wave him in the air.
Wave him right and wave him left,
Wave him everywhere!

Not all ghosts are scary,
And not all ghosts are white.
Listen for the color I choose
And let your ghost take flight!

I change the color of the ghost each time I sing the verse so that every child has a turn. Not only is this a super-fun activity, but my kids are working on color discrimination, listening skills, and turn-taking at the same time. It's a beautiful thing!

Listen & Learn in the Blogosphere

Hi all! Just wanted to stop by and mention that Natalie Wickham over at the Music Matters Blog, who I featured yesterday, posted a wonderful write-up about Listen & Learn on her blog this morning. It is such a great feeling to be included in a community full of amazing people and rich resources!

I will be back a little bit later to post a new song, but for now, happy Wednesday to you!

Spotlight: Music Matters Blog

As a music therapist and piano/voice/guitar instructor, I am always looking for great resources on the internet to teach, inspire, and motivate me. When I came across the Music Matters Blog, I knew this was one of those resources. Natalie Wickam, a piano teacher in Kansas, is the author of the blog, and her insightful ideas and cheerful writing keep me coming back to her site often.

Some of my favorite topics on Natalie's blog include her game ideas, studio ideas, and online resources. She also posts great pictures from her lessons and I've gotten many new ideas for ways to improve my own studio from her. In addition, there is a Music Matters Blog Shop where you can purchase merchandise.

So when you have a moment, be sure and check out Natalie's Music Matters Blog. If you are a piano teacher, music teacher, parent, student, or just a music enthusiast, you are sure to take something away from this wonderful resource.

Cloudy Day

It's Monday, but I'm not in school...because it's Columbus Day! Thanks, Christopher Columbus, for discovering America, and creating an excuse for a day off to do all of the things I didn't have time for this weekend.

This work-week is an especially short one for me, as my husband and I will be spending a long weekend (Friday through Sunday) with friends in West Palm Beach. We need a mini-vacation after the whirlwind of the past couple months! So please try to contain your disappointment at my absence; I will try to make up for it by posting some great stuff in the next few days :)

Today, however, is not a very exciting day here at Listen & Learn. I had a very busy, family-filled weekend, which did not allow much time for all the recording that I have yet to do. So I will leave you with a song reflecting the current weather: cloudy, with a little gloominess on the side.



(you can download this or any other Listen & Learn album by clicking it!)

Cloudy day, it's a cloudy day
The sky is dark and the sun's gone away.
Cloudy day, it's a cloudy day
The only color that we see is gray.

When the clouds finally pass us by,
The sun will come back to light the sky.
But until then we'll have to sit and wait,
for the clouds to part just like a gate.

Cloudy day, it's a cloudy day
The sky is dark and the sun's gone away.
Cloudy day, it's a cloudy day
The only color that we see is gray.

Sunday Night Lullaby

At the end of many of my therapy sessions, I like to sing a calming song or two so that the transition from music is a little smoother. Lately I've been favoring a Laurie Berkner song called "Mahalo" (which means thank you in Hawaiian), but I have a long list to choose from.

Along this same vein, I love writing and singing lullabies, though I don't have much use for them in the work that I do, nor do I have a child to sing to sleep! Earlier this year, I recorded a CD of lullabies and gave them as gifts to several colleagues and family members who were expecting. I had so much fun singing these beautiful, soothing songs, and thought I'd share one of my favorites with you. I didn't write it - I found it in one of my songbooks and I'm so glad I did :)



(you can download this or any other Listen & Learn album by clicking it!)

Heaven and earth will cease to be,
But the sweet music, but the sweet music,
But the sweet music, eternally.

Heaven and earth will cease to be,
But the sweet music, but the sweet music,
But the sweet music, eternally.

It's short, but very sweet indeed. Goodnight all!

Marissa's Guitar

Happy Saturday! It's a beautiful day in central Illinois, so before I go out and enjoy it, I thought I'd write a quick post. Today I want to tell you about one of my students, Marissa. I work with her both in a group and individual setting, and she is such a joy! Marissa absolutely loves music, and is always eager to work with me. Her mom gave her a guitar for Christmas last year, so one of the things we've been working on is Marissa's willingness to play her guitar, or at least let me play it. She loves the idea of it, and she likes to talk about it, but she'd much rather just stick with my guitar - the one she's used to already.

So I wrote a little social story song, complete with a picture book, to help open her up to using her guitar. Here is one of the pictures I included:

Isn't it adorable? Marissa loves Dora and Boots. I also included pictures of the other instruments Marissa plays when she comes to music, and she loves looking at the pictures and singing the song. Here's how it goes:



(you can download this or any other Listen & Learn album by clicking it!)

Yesterday, Marissa allowed for me to take the guitar out of its case and even strum it a few times. But then she insisted that I put it away and we use the "old" guitar, so I adhered. It's important that we take it slow, so that eventually she enjoys using her guitar. But we're on the right track!

If you'd like to see the social story picture book in its entirety, just shoot me an email and I'd be happy to share. Enjoy your weekend!

A New Friday Tradition

In the spirit of Friday fun, I've decided to begin a new weekly post: Rachel's Friday Faves! Since I mostly write posts about my songs and my music therapy work, I thought this would be a good chance for you to get to know me better. So each week, I'll choose a "fave" thing, activity, person, website, anything...as long as it relates to music in one way or another. After all, that is the theme of this blog :)

So today, my "fave" is my brand new Ibanez Troubadour analog acoustic amp. I bought it for my guitar, since my hope is to start reaching bigger audiences, and I couldn't be happier with it. Here's the little beauty in all of its glory:

Ok, so it's not the prettiest thing to look at, but the sound is wonderful, and that's all that really matters. It also has two channels, so I can plug in my guitar and microphone at the same time. Plus, it makes practicing a lot more fun. And as if that weren't enough, here's an added bonus: my fingers are thanking me for not strumming as hard as usual!

So that's my inaugural "Friday Fave" - stay tuned for many, many more. And, of course, check in daily for new songs and activities. Have a splendid day!

Boom Boom, We Can Count to 20

During my internship in St. Louis, I worked with a little boy whose goals included counting to 20. He knew how to do it, but his attention often wandered before he completed the task. His favorite "reward" was playing the big paddle drum, so I incorporated this into the counting activity. He help the drum stick while he counted, but was only presented with the drum (which I held) if he counted to 20. I'm sure you'll recognize the melody - it was the perfect song to adapt because the lyrics "boom boom" were already there!



(you can download this or any other Listen & Learn album by clicking it!)

Boom boom, we can count to twenty,
Boom boom, we can count to twenty,
Singing our numbers is fun to do,
Boom boom, we can count to twenty.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight,
Nine, ten, but that’s not the end,
We’ve counted some now let’s play the drum.

Boom boom, we can count to twenty,
Boom boom, we can count to twenty,
Singing our numbers is fun to do,
Boom boom, we can count to twenty.

After ten comes eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen,
Seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty,
Now we’re almost done so let’s play the drum.

Boom boom, we can count to twenty,
Boom boom, we can count to twenty,
Singing our numbers is fun to do,
Boom boom, we can count to twenty.

Learning To Set the Table

When I was in seventh grade, we spent an entire unit of my home economics class learning to set the table properly. Now, many years later, I still sometimes mix up which side the fork, knive, and spoon are placed (just ask my mom, who knows from experience). So if a fully capable adult can't always keep it straight, how can we expect a child to always set the table? By singing a song about it, of course!



(you can download this or any other Listen & Learn album by clicking it!)

At breakfast lunch and dinner,
Right before we eat,
We have to set the table,
The rules are short and sweet:

First comes the plate, it’s big and round:
Take it out of the cupboard and set it down.
Next comes the fork, everyone knows:
To the left of the plate is where it goes.

After that the knife and spoon:
To the right of the plate, we’ll be using soon.
Last are napkins and a cup,
Now our table is set so let’s eat up!

At breakfast lunch and dinner,
Right before we eat,
We have to set the table,
The rules are short and sweet!

And that's all there is too it. I'll just have to remind myself to sing this song at our next family dinner as I set the table. Happy dining!

Time for a Haircut

Certain situations can bring on anxiety to children, especially those with autism or any other disability. Among those situations are visiting the doctor or dentist, venturing into a large public place, and our focus today: haircuts.

The song I wrote for this occasion tells the story, step-by-step, so that children know exactly what to expect on their trip to the barber or salon. It goes like this:



(you can download this or any other Listen & Learn album by clicking it!)

My hair is getting too long,
And that’s why I’m singing this song.
So after a while, when I need a new style,
I’ll tell you what I do:

I get a haircut, haircut.
First comes the shampoo.
Then sit in the chair, where they’ll cut my hair,
And when the trimming’s through,

Time to blow dry and brush my hair,
Say thank you and goodbye.
It’s easy and fun, and now that it’s done,
I have a ‘do that looks brand new!

Your hair is getting too long,
And that’s why I’m singing this song.
It’s been a while, time for a new style,
Now you know just what to do!

Counting Pumpkins

It's time for the first official installment of "Counting Time" - which you can read more about here. This month we're counting pumpkins, which I'm sure will not come as a big surprise to you all :)

Each month, the "Counting Time" tune stays the same but the items we count will change. You can listen for yourself:



(you can download this or any other Listen & Learn album by clicking it!)

Counting time, it’s counting time,
So let’s all sing this simple rhyme.
Ten little pumpkins in a row,
Now let’s count them nice and slow!

One, two, three, four, five,
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
Again!
One, two, three, four, five,
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

How many pumpkins?
Ten little pumpkins!
All lined up in a row.

Faster is Better

When I was a child, I loved songs that sped up as I sang them - songs like John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt and The Song That Never Ends. I found a great song in the "Learning Through Music" songbook called I Don't Care if the Rain Comes Down, which my students absolutely love. However, we've been singing it for months now, and I decided it was time for a new slow-to-fast song. I just wrote it, so it hasn't been tested and approved yet, but I'm not too worried. I stuck with the formula, and this is what I came up with:



(you can download this or any other Listen & Learn album by clicking it!)

I know a song that starts out slow.
I like to sing it everywhere I go.
My friends join in an then we begin
To speed it up a little bit.

Keep up with me, keep up with me
Sing it loud or sing it quietly
Whatever you do, don't fall behind,
Or else we'll have to rewind.

So there you have it. The only problem with songs like these is that the kids always want to sing it faster, even when I've reached my maximum guitar-playing speed. But as long as they're having fun, that's what matters :)

It's a beautiful Sunday afternoon, but I've been inside recording and working all day. The beginning of each month is a little busier than usual, but soon things will settle down and I'll have a little more time for relaxing. Oh, the life of a music therapist!

What's Big and Orange?

A hint: you've probably seen them cropping up in your neighborhood, as they are in high demand at this time of year. Pumpkins, of course! There are pictures of pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns lining the halls of my school, and I just might have to go pick one out this weekend. Here's a song my students and I have been singing lately all about these fall fruits:



(you can download this or any other Listen & Learn album by clicking it!)

What's big and orange,
And grows on the ground,
And has a shape that's nice and round?
Every fall we pick one out,
Have you guessed what I'm talking about?

Pumpkin, Pumpkin on the vine.
This one's yours, and this one's mine.
Let's take it home and soon it will be
A jack-o-lantern for all to see!

Pumpkins are also good to eat,
Pumpkin pie is such a treat.
We'll roast the seeds and we'll have a snack.
I need another pumpkin, so let's go back.

Pumpkin, Pumpkin on the vine.
This one's yours, and this one's mine.
Let's take it home and soon it will be
A jack-o-lantern for all to see!

And there you have it! You just might find yourself humming this cheerful little tune as you pick out your own pumpkin in the next couple of weeks. Have a great Friday afternoon :)

iPod Bingo

I use my iPod at work on a daily basis. I just plug it into my handy dandy speaker, and then I have my entire library of tunes at my fingertips. Most of the time, I use the iPod to play songs to accompany instrument or movement activities - circumstances where playing my guitar is not convenient or possible.

But last year while I was brainstorming ideas for one of my higher functioning classes, I came up with a great new (at least, for me) way to utilize the iPod. My students love current songs, movies, and listening to the iPod, so why not combine all three into a game of Bingo? I set to work creating snippets of songs (about 20 seconds each), both from movies and artists I know my students like, using the Mac music-editing program Garageband. Then I created Bingo sheets, twelve for each version of the game. They turned out like this:

I bought those little plastic googly eyes to use as bingo chips, which I store in mini plastic ziploc bags (one for each student). And then I created a playlist of the song snippets, which I just set to shuffle and then hit play. Then I can assist the students instead of dealing with the iPod, which just plays on its own.

iPod Bingo has become the students' favorite activity, and I use it as a reward for completing other music therapy tasks that aren't quite as exciting. While they think it is just a fun game, it actually fosters critical listening, social interaction, and team work. Over the next month I'll be putting together iPod Bingo: Holiday Edition.

Today it is October

Wow! Fall is in full swing, and today we begin the 10th month of the year. 2008 has flown by so quickly...is it just me, or does time speed up with each passing year?

October is almost synonymous with pumpkins, scarecrows, harvest, cool weather, and of course, Halloween. Though it is not my favorite "holiday" (much to the dismay of my dad, who is quite the Halloween enthusiast), I always put my lukewarm feelings aside and join in the fun - especially when it comes to my students! They love singing about bats, witches, ghosts, and goblins, so this month I have several new songs on tap.

But for now, here is the October Song for your listening pleasure.



(you can download this or any other Listen & Learn album by clicking it!)

Today it is October,
The tenth month of the year.
Summertime is over,
and autumn weather's near.

Today it is October,
The leaves are turning brown.
The air is getting chilly,
And soon the leaves fall down.

Today it is October,
The tenth month of the year.
Summertime is over,
and autumn weather's near.

Today it is October,
It's time to celebrate
Fall festivals and Columbus Day
Oh, I can hardly wait!

Today it is October,
The tenth month of the year.
Summertime is over,
and autumn weather's near.

Today it is October,
It's time for Halloween.
Candy, spooks, and costumes,
And all those scary things.

Today it is October,
The tenth month of the year.
Summertime is over,
and autumn weather's near.