Perfect Harmony Take Home Activities

July 19, 2020

A Message from the Great American Songbook Foundation:

 

We know this is a challenging time across the nation and across the world right now. Now, more than ever, music and the arts provide a bridge to stay connected and stay positive no matter what the challenge. As Ella Fitzgerald once said, "Music is a universal language, it brings people closer together". 

 

With this in mind, keep singing and keep celebrating the music of YOUR Songbook - with lyrics that bring comfort and melodies that bring healing in times of need. Music is the one friend that you don't have keep your distance from right now.

 

 

WELCOME!

 

Perfect Harmony is a group music program for older adults living with dementia offered by the Great American Songbook Foundation. In partnership with the Greater Indiana Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and sponsored by American Senior Communities, Perfect Harmony offers a unique opportunity for social and musical engagement, and promotes holistic well-being through music.

 

First and foremost, the well-being, health and safety of our participants is the most important priority. In response to the unfolding COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, GASF has had to suspend all Perfect Harmony sessions. That being said, we want to keep music at the forefront of people's lives during this time. This blog was created to provide Perfect Harmony "Take-Home" Activities that are available for ALL to keep the music playing in their homes and communities!

 

These packets are created by board-certified music therapist, Allegra Hein (MT-BC), who consults with our Perfect Harmony program.

 

 

hits of the songbook take-home packet

 

In this music packet you will find song facts and lyrics to some of the Hits of the Great American Songbook. This music sing-a-long was created and led by the Program Coordinator of the Great American Songbook Foundation, Chelsea Reynowsky. Follow along and sing with Chelsea here.

 

SONGS INCLUDE:

 

• oh, what a beautiful mornin'

• god bless america

• blue skies

• don't fence me in

• let's do it (let's fall in love)

• white christmas

• edelweiss

• you'll never walk alone

• over the rainbow

 

To view the Hits of the Songbook packet, click here or the photo below.

 

 

 

Summer take-home packet

 

In this music packet you will find song facts, lyrics, a movement activity featuring music to help you get into the summer groove. Sing-a-long with this music playlist.

 

SONGS INCLUDE:

 

• summer in the city

• heat wave

• summer nights

• itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot
  Bikini

• summer of '69

• Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer

• summer wind

 

To view the Summer Music packet, click here or the photo below.

 

 

 

 

great american songbook take-home packet

 

In this music packet you will find song facts, lyrics, a movement activity featuring music from the Great American Songbook. Sing-a-long with this music playlist.

 

SONGS INCLUDE:

 

• nice n' easy

• long ago (and far away)

• if i were a bell

• basin street blues

• as time goes by

• night and day

• pick yourself up

 

To view the Great American Songbook packet, click here or the photo below.

 

 

 

fourth of july take home packet

 

In this music packet you will find song facts, lyrics, a movement activity for the celebration of July 4th and America. Sing-a-long with this music playlist.

 

SONGS INCLUDE:

 

• the star-spangled banner

• my country tis of thee

• this land is your land

• god bless the u.s.a.

• stars and stripes forever (movement)

• god bless america

• yankee doodle

• boogie woogie bugle boy

• America the beautiful

• American patrol

 

To view the Fourth of July packet, click here or the photo below.

 

 

musicals take home packet

 

In this music packet you will find memorable songs from The Wizard of Oz, My Fair Lady, and The Sound of Music. This packet comes with an accompanying music playlist.

 

SONGS INCLUDE:

 

• Somewhere over the rainbow

• follow the yellow brick road

• if i only had a brain

• if i only had a heart

• if i only had the nerve

• if i were king of the forest

• wouldn't it be loverly?

• i could have danced all night

• on the street where you live

• the sound of music

• sixteen going on seventeen

• my favorite things

• do - re - mi

• edelweiss

• so long, farewell

 

 

To view the Musicals packet, click here or the photo below.

 

 

 

 

irving berlin music packet

 

In this music packet you will find song facts, lyrics, a movement activity and the A&E Biography of Irving Berlin in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, which was celebrated in May. This packet comes with an accompanying music playlist.

 

SONGS INCLUDE:

 

• blue skies

• there's no business like show business

• it's a lovely day today

• Steppin' out with my baby

• puttin' on the ritz

• I got the sun in the morning

• anything you can do (i can do better)

• cheek to cheek

 

To view the Irving Berlin packet, click here or the photo below.

 

 

memorial day music packet

 

In this music packet you will find song facts, lyrics and a music listening moment in honor of Memorial Day and the soldiers who serve to protect our nation. This packet comes with an accompanying music playlist and a link to the 1992 National Memorial Day Service.

 

SONGS INCLUDE:

 

• back home again in indiana

• god bless america

• the star-spangled banner

• the liberty bell

• semper fidelis

• america the beautiful

 

To view the Memorial Day Packet, click here or the photo below.

 

 

 

Mother's day Music packet

 

In this music packet you will find song facts, lyrics and a music listening moment all about mother figures! This packet comes with an accompanying music playlist and a link to the Lawrence Welk Mother's Day Special.

 

SONGS INCLUDE:

 

• m-o-t-h-e-r

• mama said

• mama like the roses

• the prayer (music listening)

• the hand that rocks the cradle

• mamma mia

• ma! he's making eyes at me

• coat of many colors

 

To view the Mother's Day Packet, click here or the photo below.

 

 

 

jazz appreciation Music packet

 

In this music packet you will find jazz standards popularized by Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, song facts, a movement activity, a link to a full jazz concert from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and a YouTube playlist that corresponds to song activities.

 

SONGS INCLUDE:

 

• pennies from heaven

• god bless the child

• easy living

• mack the knife

• i got rhythm

• stormy weather

• Dream a little dream of me

 

To view the Jazz Appreciation Packet, click here or the photo below.

 

 

 

make 'em laugh Music packet

 

In this music packet you will find songs that will make you laugh, song facts, a movement activity, a link to the Carol Burnett Show with Betty White and a YouTube playlist that corresponds to song activities.

 

SONGS INCLUDE:

 

• They All laughed

• Yes, We Have no bananas!

• hard to be humble

• ain't nobody here but us

• abba dabba honeybook

• hello, muddah! hello, faddah!

• supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

• Show me the way to go home

 

To view Make 'Em Laugh Song Packet, click here or the photo below.

 

 

 

Spring Music Packet

 

In this music packet you will find songs of Spring with song facts, a movement activity, a link to a YouTube playlist that corresponds to song activities.

 

SONGS INCLUDE:

 

• oh, what a beautiful mornin'

• tip toe thru' the tulips with me

• when the red, red robin comes bob, bob bobbin' along

• singin' in the rain

• blue skies

• antonio vivaldi's "the Four seasons: spring" (Music listening example)

• cherry pink and apple blossom white (movement)

• Here Comes the Sun

• Come Rain or Come Shine

• Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah (click the title to sing along with the GASF staff!)

• Over the Rainbow

 

To view The Spring Song Packet, click here or the photo below.

 

 

 

 

Easter and Passover music packet

 

In this music packet you will find songs of Easter and the Jewish Passover, song facts, a movement activity, a link to the Lawrence Welk Easter Show, an educational video about the History of Passover, and a YouTube playlist that corresponds to song activities.

 

SONGS INCLUDE:

 

• a-tisket, a-tasket

• here comes peter cottontail

• easter parade

• the bunny hop (movement)

• crown him with many crowns

• the old rugged cross

• christ the lord is risen today

• the seder song (kadesh urchatz)

• ma nishtana

• dayenu (it would have been enough)

 

To view the Easter and Passover Song Packet, click here or the photo below.

 

 

 

Irish Music Packet

In this music packet you will find songs of Ireland with song facts, a movement activity, a link to the Lawrence Welk Irish Show and a YouTube playlist that corresponds to song activities.

 

SONGS INCLUDE:

 

• tOO-RA-LOO-RA-LOO-RAL (THAT'S AN IRISH LULLABY)

• I'm looking for a four leaf clover

• Danny boy

• Whiskey in the Jar

• When Irish Eyes are Smiling

• I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen

• Galway Bay

 

To view The Irish Song Packet, click here or the photo below.

 

 

 

 

 

A special THANK YOU to our our sponsor, American Senior Communities, for supporting Perfect Harmony's mission to promote holistic well-being and social engagement through music.

 

 

"To compassionately serve each customer with quality care are excellence."