One of the most practical pieces of advice I have received as a music therapist has been to adapt songs to address multiple goals for a variety of populations.
The song “A’ You’re Adorable” is one of my favorites. This sweet song was written by Sid Lippman, Buddy Kaye, and Fred Wise. A recording by Perry Como and The Fontaine Sisters made this song a #1 hit in 1949. Clients who grew up watching Sesame Street may recall this song being used as a way to learn the letters of the alphabet. The catchy tune and clever lyrics are often enjoyed by all ages, making it a useful song to adapt to meet the needs of clients.
Here are a few ideas for adapting “A’ You’re Adorable”:
Cognitive Goals
Prompt client to point to the image of a corresponding letter heard in the song
May be modified to meet individual intellectual abilities by adjusting the tempo of the music or challenging clients to write corresponding letters
Prompt client to come up with words that start with each letter
Foods that start with the letter a, b, c, etc.
Cities or states that start with a, b, c, etc.
Instruct clients to play chosen instrument only when a letter is sung and refrain from playing at other times
Social Goals
Pause the song when the first letter of someone’s name is sung as a prompt for introductions or sharing information about oneself
In a group setting, give each client one or more letters to hold up when they hear their letter(s) in the song
Could also be used to address cognitive goals
In a group setting, work together to come up with words that describe the group
A for Adventurous, B for Brave, C for Cool, D for Determined, etc.
Re-write and sing the song with chosen words (“A, we are..., B, we are…”, etc.)
Emotional Goals
Work with client to choose adjectives that start with each letter of the alphabet to identify personal strengths
Re-write song with client’s chosen adjectives or strengths
Lyric analysis
romantic love and relationships
presence or absence of positive regard in one’s own life
social external beauty standards
may be contraindicated for some populations
Please feel free to share your own ideas in the comments!
