Free February Session Idea: Heartbeat Song

Give your clients a theme of love for the month of February using this awesome rewrite of Kelly Clarkson’s “Heartbeat Song” to help clients connect with the music and their own rhythms.

1. Print out the lead sheet for the rewrite of Heartbeat Song included.
   • Use the lead sheet as a reference for yourself in playing the song or hand out copies for clients to read from
2. Teach re-written lyrics 
   • Read through lyrics with clients
   • Demonstrate by singing through the song
   • Invite clients to sing along as many times as needed to learn the lyrics
3. Pass out instruments 
   • Allow clients to choose a drum or instrument to play or pass them out if appropriate
4. Explain group music making experience
   • Instruct clients that while singing through the song, there will be lyrical breaks with time for clients to improvise on their instruments
   • You can either have clients play all together during these times or indicate a way that you will choose different clients to play at different times
     • i.e. pointing to individuals to indicate their turn, having clients choose the person that goes next by pointing, indicating specific groups of instruments to play each time, etc.
5. Begin singing the song
   • Sing as many times as appropriate for your session
6. Adaptations: 
   • Include discussion
     • Topics could include- rhythm and how we feel it in our bodies, how the improvisation made clients feel, instruments played and what the clients thoughts on them were, etc.
   • Have clients play their own heartbeat
     • Have clients place a hand over their heart to feel what their heartbeat feels like.
     • Ask them each to take a turn playing what that rhythm feels like on their instrument