7 Link Challenge – Music Sparks Version

Image by cmurtaugh via Flickr

My friend, Michelle Erfurt put out a challenge on Music Therapy Tween for a 7 link challenge. This seemed like a simple challenge. The questions only apply to the dates of August 2010 – July 2011. So here we go!

1. Your first post of August 2010: Music for All This was a short post sharing a link. Boy have my posts changed in the last year.
2. A post you enjoyed writing the most: Right Down to Your Toes I love being barefoot. I love getting a pedicure. Finding this poem and turning it into a song was a joy.
3. A post which had a great discussion: It surprises me that a couple tied: Time to Spring Forward and Singable Books: Patriotic.
4. A post on someone else’s blog that you wish you’d written:  Intergenerational Music at Cornerstone I wish I had a big hit post like this one on intergenerational music that was on my blog.  This may be a goal for this coming year. I wrote something that impacted the lives of those for whom I provide services.
5. Your most helpful post: Brining Australia to Kansas This post brought comments from Australia that informed my sessions. The residents were very impressed to have music suggested from around the globe.
6. A post with a title that you are proud of:  Yes, You Can! The title created interest and was a great summary of this video. We can each make a difference in the lives of those dealing with dementia.
7. A post that you wish more people had read: Singing Bowl Meditation Doing meditation with a group of older adults with a variety of backgrounds and diagnosis can be a challenge. But, this seemed to work.

Now, it is your turn! If you are a blogger, share your list of seven.

Other  articles you might enjoy:

• Top Intergenerational Music Blogs (musicsparks.wordpress.com)
• Who are my clients? (Part 1) (musicsparks.wordpress.com)
• Top Ranked Music Therapy Blogs (musicsparks.wordpress.com)
• Top 10 Blogs on Music with Older Adults (musicsparks.wordpress.com)

I want a vacation!

When I was employed as an Activity Director in long-term care, it took a lot of effort and time to arrange my vacations. At first, I found taking a vacation more stressful than not having a break. I  had to be sure all my charting was completed, all the activities were covered, materials were in place…it was a lot of work! In my  many years in the position at a variety of facilities, I did learn a few things that made it easier. And, I became a much healthier, happier person.

1. Plan your vacation before you plan your calendar. This allows you to be sure you don’t schedule events you must be there in order for them to succeed.
2. Identify coverage with your supervisor. Knowing who will provide coverage allows you to play to that person’s strengths, schedule events according to available coverage, etc. Sometimes my Administrator would hold a Resident Council meeting while I was away or another conversation based event.
3. Contact your volunteers for extra assistance. Increasing the volunteer coverage provided for more one on one attention while I was away. Also, some of my volunteers were great at leading specific groups but not others. So, if chasing bowling balls & pins (this was pre Wii days) was something outside their physical contort but doing a group crossword was a strength, we would schedule accordingly.
4. Set aside time prior to leaving to complete charting, purchase materials, leave plans. Leaving with your charting complete is key. I would create daily plan sheets of what was to happen when, who would lead the event, who generally attended these groups, and materials needed for the event. While it sounds like a lot, much of it was easy once I completed two days. It became more of a copy and paste. Then, if the covering person or volunteer was ill, there was sufficient information for the event to occur. And, I had a complete list of supplies to purchase if necessary as well as to leave. I tried to provide a little extra time in my schedule the last five days leading up to vacation to accomplish this.
5. Plan for some easy to implement events while you are gone. Generally, my residents loved certain events that didn’t need much explaining like bingo. I also had materials from resources like Creative Forecasting, Activity Connections, and A New Day which were already set up for use. You can also use materials from newsletters like SPARKS (available for FREE here on the right), materials from your corporate office, or other resources. I general made copies and attached them to the sheets for each day or placed them in a three-ring binder organized by day.
6. Schedule time for key staff to update you on what happened while you were away on your first day back. I found it helpful to sit with the Administrator, Social Service Director, or DON/ADON for 20 minutes the morning I returned to be up to date on everyone’s status. It let me prioritize my charting, resident visits, and alerted me to special needs that had developed in my absence.

Related articles

• Top 10 Songs Long-Term Care Staff Should Know (musicsparks.wordpress.com)

Italian Favorites

Image via Wikipedia

Much of my morning has been spent preparing for a sing-along of Italian favorites in January.  Living in an area settled by Volga-Germans, this has been a bit of a task.  But, I think I’ve got a plan that will work.  Here are some highlights you might want to use with your groups:

• Singing – A few on the songs planned are:

“Arrividerci, Roma”
“That’s Amore”
“Santa Lucia”
“Funiculli, Funniculla”

• Drumming – We’ll play along with “Mambo Italiano”
• Dancing – Together, we’ll do a modified “Tarantella”

It will be fun sharing such a rich culture and a variety of songs with the residents.  Please post any further ideas you may have.  Together, we can add “Spark” to a day with in a musical setting.

Celebrate the New Year

Image via Wikipedia

Though December has just begun, many people are planning their New Year’s celebrations.  What songs come to your mind to celebrate?  Here are a few of mine:

• “Celebration” – Kool & the Gang
• “Auld Lang Syne”  – be sure you check out the extra verses!
• “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve” – Frank Loesser
• “It’s Just Another New Year’s Eve’ – Marty Panzer
• “It was a Very Good Year” – sung by Frank Sinatra
• “Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow” by Fleetwood Mac
• “The Way You Look Tonight” – Jerome Kern
• “Moments to Remember” – sung by The Four Lads
• “Memories are Made of This” – Terry Gilkyson

For those working with preschoolers, check out the Preschool Education Site for some great partner songs.

Related Articles

• Old Lang Syne…..For Old Times Sake (ladymaggic.wordpress.com)

Free Music

For those with young children, you have two days left to get a free download from Baby Einstein.  Here’s the link:

http://paystobefrugal.com/2010/01/21/free-baby-mozart-music-download/