A simple and fun rewrite of a well known tune from one of our instructors, Kirby Gilliam!
Goal:
- Create sense of belonging in a group
- Encourage self-expression & creativity among peers
- Foster an environment of safety among peers
- Promote group cohesiveness and team-building
Materials:
- Music player (for recorded music) or live instrument (e.g., guitar, piano)
- An assortment of instruments for referential improvisation (optional)
Session Plan:
- Introduce the original song You Are My Sunshine, and invite clients to sing along
- You can also have your clients play various instruments
- Sing/play the song again and leave blanks in the lyrics
- You can use the phrases “my turn” and “your turn” to prompt your clients when to fill in the blank
- Adapt the original lyrics to fit your clients’ setting and set up the re-write
- Sing/play the new version and invite clients to fill in blanks in the lyrics as you go along
- It is okay to pause at the blanks to give all clients an opportunity to say their word(s)
- Sing/play the newly written version and invite clients to sing along & play their instruments
- This can be something you write down with your clients in the moment or recall from memory
- You can also record the new version for clients to take with them post-session