When working with young adults ready to transition out of high school programming, I often take time to explore prevocational training and interests. This may include self-assessment of skills, creating resumes, community outings, or working on job skills like (planning, sorting, alphabetizing, following directions, working as a team member to complete a project, etc.). For some students, I actually have them sort through 40 “Job Skill” cards that list different things people like to do (work with animals, help others, perform, work with books, cook, etc.) and through a process of elimination, the student ends up with 4-5 of their favorite “Job Skill” cards. This gives me a basic job profile and then later I may suggest a volunteer job option to the family.
If working with group, I usually create a song on-the-spot for each person to then share their individual likes with the group. I may also ask the group to try to remember one thing that each person liked to do, promoting social awareness and listening skills.
One option for songwriting is to use the song “I Want to Be a Billionaire” by Travie McCoy. I selected certain lines in the song to become fill-in-the-blank sections. Since many of my students have expressive language deficits, I always make sure to provide a word bank for every fill-in-the-blank section.
Here is one example of a finished project, the BOLD words are the words selected by one student:
I WANT TO BE A … VOLUNTEER
VERSE:
I wanna be a VOLUNTEER, so, so bad.
I BELIEVE it’s the best job to have.
I wanna spend my days HELPING OTHER PEOPLE.
Smiling each and every day.
CHORUS:
Oh, every time I close my eyes.
I see my name in shining lights.
Come home late every night, oh I, I swear.
The world better prepare,
When I become a VOLUNTEER.
I accompanied each student on the ukulele and they took turns singing their song. We sang most of the chorus together as a group and each soloist sang the last line by themselves. The student who wrote the example above then started her own rap to go along with the song in her private lesson. Here it is:
RAP:
I would walk beside you
Sing a song to you
Make your day better
Help you with whatever.
I would cheer for you
Anything for you
I would lend a hand
A Zumba dance band.
Cuz I’m a volunteer,
I’m a volunteer.
Get your silverware,
Help you with your hair.
Cuz I’m a volunteer, I’m a volunteer
Take away your fear cuz I will be right here.
Wade is a board-certified music therapist and one of the directors at Spectrum Creative Arts. He completed additional training programs in Orff-Schulwerk, Neurologic Music Therapy, and Performance Wellness. As a songwriter and creative writer, Wade has authored several music resource books for music therapy and music education.