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In 2008, in honor of my then two-year-old son who LOVED Dr. Seuss, I wrote our annual holiday letter in the style and rhythm of Dr. Seuss. Last year, he LOVED Jingle Bells, so my letter was written to that tune (you can watch the video of that holiday card here).

This year? One of my favorite shows this year is Glee. In honor of that, I wrote the “2010 Moore Holiday Mash-Up,” where I re-wrote the lyrics to some of our favorite holiday (and non-holiday) songs. The words are printed below.

Happy Holidays to ALL my readers!!!

P.S. I will be taking a couple weeks off to celebrate the holidays with family far and near. I will be back first thing in January. See you then!

The 2010 Moore Holiday Mash-Up

Tunes used include: “Deck the Hall,” “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer,” “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” and the ABCs.

Merry Christmas from the Moores. (Fa La La) We greet you now from Warrensburg. (Fa La La)
We hope your fall had lovely weather (Fa La La) And that you and loved ones are together. (Fa La La)

Steven finished 10 years at CSU. Then became the chair at UCM.
‘Twas hard to leave good friends, But the right choice in the end
He has a chance to impact a new music department.
And Steven now has his first book contract. We hope to see it printed sometime soon.
And in March he got to be an ABA inductee. It’s been quite a year for Steven Moore.
Steven is now Chair of the Department of Music at University of Central Missouri, where he is also professor of conducting and music education. His book, Play It From the Heart, is under contract with Rowan & Littlefield.

Kimberly had to close her private practice when she found that Steven got a job
That would take them to the great state of Missouri. Yet finding a new job was not a prob(lem).
She now works state policy with some MT advocacy.
And she still blogs, podcasts, and Twitters. Has plans to enter doctor candidacy.
Kimberly serves as Regulatory Affairs Associate for the Certification Board for Music Therapists. She plans to start a music therapy PhD program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in Fall 2011. You can find her online at www.MusicTherapyMaven.com.

Jameson is 4 years old (E – I – E – I – O) A musical and active boy (E – I – E – I – O)
He likes to run, loves his school, dances, letters, trains, and pools.
Jameson’s one happy boy (E – I – E – I – O).

Lorian has just turned two. She’s sweet as sugar, busy, too.
Loves hats, jewelry, glasses, and shoes. Plays so well, learns tons at school.
Lorian’s our little girl, a joyful presence in this world.

Thus we spent 2010 (Fa La La) Happy changes through the end (Fa La La)
We wish you cheer and hope you may (Fa La La) Have a Happy Holiday (Fa La La)

Related posts:

1. What Every Therapist Ought to Remember About the Holidays
2. Top 10 Holiday Songs…That Don’t Mention Christmas
3. Happy Thanksgiving

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In the 1990s, scientists at the University of Parma were studying motor neurons in monkeys. They attached electrodes to a monkey’s brain cells responsible for movements. These electrodes recorded whenever those cells fired…a.k.a. whenever the monkey moved.

Monkeys like peanuts. The researchers set out peanuts for the monkeys to grab. Monkey grabs a peanut, motor neuron fires, electrode records.

Then an odd thing happened. The monkey watched a human pick up the peanut. Their motor neuron fired. The human picked up another peanut. The motor neuron fired again. The monkey hadn’t moved, but the motor neuron fired as if it had.

And that’s how these researchers accidentally discovered one of the coolest things in our brain: mirror neurons.

Mirror neurons are special brain cells that reside on either side of our head. These neurons fire when you do something…or just watch someone else do something.

You may ask: so what? The “so what” is that mirror neurons help tie us to other people’s actions and their feelings. This is important for:

• Empathy. When we see someone feel sad, we feel a little sad. When they’re happy, we’re happy. Mirror neurons help us develop empathy.
• Learning: One way babies learn new skills is by watching others. That’s why second children may learn how to crawl sooner than the first–because they’ve been watching older brother crawl. We don’t lose this ability. When we’re trying to learn something new, it helps to watch someone else do it–because of mirror neurons.

It’s also an important concept for therapists to understand…and it provides a bit of job security. We will never replace live therapists. Only a live therapist can show a client or patient how to do something–and let their mirror neurons work to help teach them.

Last December, I posted my first neuroscience-inspired song. I’m proud now to share with you my second–Watch and Learn: The Mirror Neuron Song.

CHORUS:

Watch and learn, watch and learn
Let your mirror neurons do their thing
Watch and learn, watch and learn
It’s time for your brain to change

1) Mirror neurons are specialized
One on each side of the brain
Near Broca’s and the inferior parietal lobe
Sending signals all over the place

2) They don’t care if they do or watch
They’ll fire the same every time
They influence feelings of empathy
Cause if I watch you, I’ll feel in kind

3) Mirror neurons may be fundamental
In how we connect with each other
They let me learn by watching you
Like a babe learns watching it’s mother

4) The implications for mirror neurons
Are vast, it affects therapy
If a client watches while I show them
What to do, their brain syncs with me

5) Some think those with ASD
Or autism, if you know what I mean
Their social challenges may be due
To broken mirror neuron circuitry.

6) Mirror neurons fire the same
No difference if you do or see
We literally change our client’s brains
When working with them through therapy.

Related posts:

1. 71 Things Everyone Ought to Know About the Brain (Part 1)
2. Let’s Start at the Neuro-Beginning…
3. The Neurodevelopment Song (Video)

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Merry Christmas to all of my readers! I hope you have a happy, healthy, relaxing, and wonderful holiday.

I will be taking a break this next week to spend time with my family (can you blame me after seeing that video?!?). I will return next month ready and eager to talk with you again!

Related posts:

1. Happy Thanksgiving
2. What Every Therapist Ought to Remember About the Holidays

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You asked for it and here it is–”The Neurodevelopment Song.”

Why did I write a song about neurodevelopment? Mostly because I’m a big nerd…but also because I’m trying to improve my songwriting chops. And the only way to do that is to actually write songs.

I first performed this during my presentation at the American Music Therapy Association conference in San Diego last month. I’ve revised and edited a bit since then, but the basic idea is still here.

This song touches on the main concepts of neurodevelopment: nature/nurture, use-dependent development, hierarchical & predictable development, superhighways, etc.

I hope you enjoy it!

P.S. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts–would you like to see more of these types of songs on this blog? If so (or if need), leave a comment below. I look forward to hearing from you!

CHORUS:

Right to left, back to front
That’s how the brain develops
Right to left, back to front
It’s neurodevelopment

Verse 1:

Genes bring a predisposition
Environment adds a contribution
To shape how our brain’s built
Cause it grows in a use-dependent way
Experiences have a major say
In determining the adult.
Verse 2:

The back of the brain’s pretty much formed
By the time that we are born
The medulla, pons, and midbrain
Allow us to breathe, help hearts beat
It dictates sleep, we really need
This part called the brainstem.

Verse 3:

The brainstem’s primitive, it’s first to grow
Development keeps on in a hierarchical flow
Through deep structures ending with the frontal lobe
Brain mature til we’re in our 40s
Different ages provide opportunities
For critical skills to develop

Verse 4:

Critical periods are windows of time
Certain parts of our brain are ready and primed
For certain stimuli to develop
Skills like vision, language and trust come to mind
If windows aren’t use you will get behind
Cause your brain didn’t get it

Verse 5:

A baby’s brain is a third of our size
With billions of neurons some will have to die
They’re pruned so we can make room
For connections to form, superhighways called
Fasciculi on which we rely
These pathways let our brain communicate.

Related posts:

1. The 5 Most Important Things to Know About Neurodevelopment
2. 71 Things Everyone Ought to Know About the Brain (Part 1)
3. Crossing the Midline: What’s the Big Deal?

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I have two items to address in today’s post. They are completely and totally unrelated.

Music Therapy Conference Tweetup

Wait…a tweetup? What’s that?

I will post a video this week that defines a tweetup and how it relates to our upcoming national music therapy conference.

Plus, I’ll be asking for your input on something.

More later.

Music about Science

I started listening to podcasts and audiobooks when I took up running last spring. This morning I heard an episode of Science Friday. Ira Flatow, the host, had the band They Might Be Giants as guests.

They Might Be Giants (you know, the guys to do that “Istanbul” song. I got a kick out of Craig Ferguson’s rendition!) recently released a CD called Here Comes Science [CD/DVD].

Apparently They Might Be Giants have created several educational CDs. In Here Comes Science [CD/DVD], every track covers a topic of science–biology, chemistry, evolution, astronomy, etc.

It’s common for music therapists to create songs that teach educational concepts. But we can’t do it all and be everywhere, so I always get excited when there are other resources I can recommend (which I will do later today to the teachers I work with!)

Plus, it looks like you can purchase set for only $9.99, an absolute steal!

To get more information, click on the link here:

To listen to the Science Friday interview, click here.

No related posts.

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I have been working with an adolescent boy for the past three months. “Joey” is a laid-back and friendly teenager who takes awhile to open up. He has a history of making poor decisions; he used to be in a gang, was involved in minor theft, and used to huff paint. Joey was recently paroled after finishing a stint in a juvenile facility.

We wrote a song this spring based on his life over the past couple of years, and his hopes for his future. I wanted to share this song with you. The words are powerful and Joey is open with his feelings. He begins the song by venting his frustrations: with adults, with himself, with his family, and with his treatment. He ends the song on a hopeful note, determined that he is going to change and turn his life around.

We spent 6 weeks working on this song. Joey was involved in every part of the process and it is truly his song: his words, his mood, his music. We hope you enjoy.

Related posts:

1. How To “Get Faith”: A Songwriting Experience

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Every once in awhile, therapists (whether music, occupational, art, physical, counselors, etc.) get the opportunity to be involved in something truly beautiful. I had one of those opportunities last month. I had been invited for a second time to facilitate a Hearts of Hope group operated by our local county hospice, Pathways. This group is open to children touched by cancer. Many have a parent or other close relative who is currently fighting the disease. The Hearts of Hope group provides an opportunity for these children to connect with other children who are going through the same experiences and feelings they are. It is a powerful and necessary support system for the children involved, as well as their parents.

I had done one of these groups a year earlier and it was pretty amazing experience, so I was REALLY excited do another. The group included about 6 pre-teens and a handful of adult facilitators. The session ran like this:

6:00p Assemble group, Main facilitator (not me) processed the previous session

6:30p My turn. Begin with a lyric analysis exercise of “May I Suggest” by Susan Werner (a gamble to use an acoustic song with a bunch of kids who were into rap and hip-hop). Facilitate short discussion about lyrics that stood out to them and why.

6:45p Time to write a song. Use of comments from lyric analysis to create a theme. Try to create lyrics first that rhyme, then suggest melodies to the group. Use basic chord patterns and harmonic progressions using I, IV, V7, vi. Get their input all along the way – style, lyrics, melody, dynamics, etc.

7:30p We have a song.

Yes – in 45 minutes we wrote a beautiful song they titled “Got Faith.” I don’t think it will win a Grammy, but it sure is touching. Their words, their song. And an amazing testament to their incredible strength and positive outlook in the face of a devastating illness.

Check it out.

No related posts.