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(Sample) Week #25 ENERGIZING/INSPIRING MOVEMENT SONGS (PART 1)

Author

Lisa Peterson
June 13, 2025

Week #25

Energizing/Inspiring Movement Songs (Part 1)

This is week 25 of the year and we will be celebrating energizing/inspiring movement songs, by delving into the songs and applying concepts to create more joy and connection during caregiving routines with music.

The songs are:

  • Alexander’s Ragtime Band

  • Casey Jones

  • Chicago

  • Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue

  • Funiculi, Funicula

  • I’m Gonna Sing

  • I’ve Got Peace Like a River

  • Lovesick Blues

  • Midnight Special

Featured Song

I’M GONNA SING

“I’m Gonna Sing” is a song with origins as an African American spiritual. The song goes by several other names, including “When the Spirit Says Sing” or “You Gotta Sing. The song’s structure is repetitive and invites improvisation or creativity from the singer or singers to insert different actions such as sing, hum, jump, dance, laugh, etc. Give it a try and insert any action that matches your feeling!

  • 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?

I’m Gonna Sing is not typically associated with one specific “famous” singer or group. Instead it is often featured in choir settings, as it's a well-loved and widely performed piece. Here is a fun rendition of the song that I hope you enjoy!

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

Our theme this week is movement. So, I thought a great tip for self-care could be (you guessed it!) movement. Have you ever thought to yourself that you don’t have time to exercise? I know that I have. How about getting some exercise while you are caregiving? And let’s make it fun. Here are our 9 songs for this week. Just click each title to hear a danceable rendition of the song. Some of the videos include some dancing that can inspire you too! Tapping and swaying are perfect too. These are things you can do while caregiving, even encouraging the one(s) you care for to join in.

If you decide to try doing some movement while caregiving, share your story! at  [email protected] 

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