Week #44
Songs of Blessing and Hopefulness
This is week 44 of the year and we will be celebrating Songs of Blessing and Hopefulness, by delving into the songs and applying concepts to create more joy and connection during caregiving routines with music.
The songs are:
All Through the Night
Always
Amazing Grace
Count Your Blessings
Glow Worm
He’s Got the Whole World
Hymn of Joy, The
I’ve Got Peace Like a River
Lift Every Voice and Sing
Shalom Chaverim
Simple Gifts
We Shall Overcome
Whispering Hope
Featured Song
SIMPLE GIFTS
“Simple Gifts” is a Shaker hymn likely written by Joseph Brackett in 1848. The Shakers were a Christian sect in the late 1700s into the mid-1800s that espoused a communal lifestyle, equality of the sexes, pacifism, and charismatic worship. “Simple Gifts” is intended to be a quick dancing song. The song became more famous after composer Aaron Copland used the melody for the ballet Appalachian Spring in 1944.
Is this melody familiar to you?
Are the words familiar?
Did you find yourself humming along?
How did it affect you? Did your awareness change? Your breath? Your focus? Your mood?
Would you feel comfortable playing this in the background and allow yourself to hum or sing along? By yourself and/or with the one(s) you care for?
Simple Gifts Here is Yo Yo Ma and Alison Kraus’ unique version of Simple Gifts. I hope you enjoy it!
Creative Ideas
HOW TO USE THE MUSIC
Try humming or singing along with the provided recording, or one of your choosing for increased feeling of ______.
Listen to a recording to create a shared experience.
Listen while engaged in daily routines, to add a feeling of familiarity and comfort (if the song is known and loved)
Try reminiscing with the song history, or singers of the song. Look at pictures famous singers who performed the song.
SELF-CARE TIPS
Gaze at Something Pleasing!
find pictures that you find beautiful
find pictures of people that you love
find pictures that make you smile
Look at these every day!
Looking at pleasing pictures i, yet powerful practice that can lead to feelings of peace, pleasure and happiness!
Share if you have any self-care tips or stories from this week at [email protected]
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