I can’t believe we are at the end of the year! I don’t know about you, but it seems like the last half of this year just flew by. Now, in our frenzy of holiday decorating, events, and gifts it can be hard for music therapists to create holiday themed interventions. As a result, I created a piggyback song to cut down on the time of learning a new song during this busy time. For this month’s blog, I took the song, “Jingle Bells” and created new lyrics to address auditory processing and following directions by allowing the client to play specific instruments in the manner the therapist is describing. Of course, you can change the way in which they play or style that meets your client’s needs. Or try leaving a choice of instruments on a table and having the client pick the instrument they hear. We hope this can help during this busy time! As always, let us know how it goes. Happy holidays!

Sara Chigani, MA, MT-BC

[1^st verse is the same, written below]

Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh,

O’er the fields we go, laughing all the way. (Prompt client(s) to demonstrate a laugh)

Bells on bob-tails ring, making spirits bright,

What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight. Oh!...

[instrument]

Play the (instrument), play the (instrument), let us hear the (instrument)

O what fun it is to play and sing along today, hey!

Play the (instrument), play the (instrument), let us hear the (instrument)

O what fun it is to play and sing along today.

[sung to the melody of the verse]

Play the (instrument) real fast, play the (instrument) real slow,

Play it all around, for everyone you know.

Play the (instrument) up high, play the (instrument) down low,

Play it all together now and listen as we go, Oh!.....

[Repeat as needed, switching instruments as well]