“Woo-oo-oo-ohh,” “Woo-oo-oo-ohh.” If you’re a music therapist working with teenagers, chances are this catchy hook from “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors is already familiar. This infectious tune isn’t just popular on the radio; it’s a goldmine for engaging teen clients in music therapy. As a music therapy professional, I’m excited to share how you can use this hit song to create dynamic and impactful sessions.
For music therapists, especially those working with teens, it’s crucial to keep our sessions fresh and relevant. We constantly seek music that resonates with our clients’ experiences and interests. It can be a challenge to move beyond routine activities and discover new musical avenues that genuinely captivate teenagers. This is the first in a series dedicated to “amping up” your teen music therapy sessions, starting with a deep dive into using the “Best Day Of Life Song” effectively.
My experience is primarily with teenagers diagnosed with autism, learning delays, and behavioral disorders. However, the beauty of music therapy is its adaptability. The techniques and insights I’ll share using “Best Day of My Life” can be readily modified to suit a diverse range of teen populations and therapeutic goals.
“Best Day of My Life” stands out as an exceptional pop song for teen music therapy. Its appeal lies in several key factors:
- Catchiness and Repetition: The repetitive nature, particularly the “Woo-oo-oo-ohh” hook, makes it instantly memorable and easy to sing along to.
- Call and Response Potential: The song structure naturally lends itself to call and response activities, fostering engagement and participation.
- Guitar-Friendly Melody: For therapists who play guitar, the song is relatively simple to learn and accompany, making it practical for live sessions.
- Teen Familiarity and Liking: Crucially, most teenagers are already familiar with and enjoy this song, instantly creating a positive and relatable starting point.
I primarily utilize “Best Day of My Life” as a springboard for a powerful song discussion activity. This activity encourages self-reflection, verbal expression, and group connection. Here’s a step-by-step guide to implementing this in your music therapy sessions:
Step-by-Step Song Discussion: “Best Day of My Life”
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Introduction and Lyric Presentation: Begin by introducing “Best Day of My Life.” Write out the lyrics on a whiteboard or project them for easy visibility. This visual aid helps with engagement and allows for lyric-focused discussion later.
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Sing-Along Engagement: Play the song and encourage everyone to sing along. Focus on creating a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. The sing-along itself can be therapeutic, promoting mood elevation and group cohesion.
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Individual Reflection: “Best Day” Brainstorm: After the sing-along, guide the group into a reflective exercise. Ask each teen to think about their “best day of life so far.” Prompt them with questions like:
- “When was this best day?”
- “What happened on that day?”
- “What made it so special or memorable?”
- “How did you feel that day?”
Allow ample quiet time for individual contemplation. This step is crucial for fostering introspection and preparing them for sharing.
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Creative Expression and Documentation: Distribute paper, markers, and pens. Encourage the teens to creatively represent their “best day.” This can take various forms depending on their preferences and abilities:
- Drawing: Visual representation of the day, key elements, or feelings.
- Word Association: Writing down keywords or phrases linked to their best day (e.g., “concert,” “beach,” “family,” “laughter”).
- Brief Description: For those who prefer writing, a short written description of their best day.
Adapt this step to meet the diverse needs and skill levels within your group. The goal is to provide a comfortable and accessible outlet for expression.
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Group Sharing and Facilitated Discussion: Invite group members to share about their “best day of life” if they feel comfortable. Go around the group, creating a safe and supportive space for sharing. As the therapist, your role is to:
- Encourage Participation: Gently encourage sharing, but respect individual boundaries and comfort levels.
- Ask Follow-Up Questions: Show genuine interest by asking open-ended follow-up questions to encourage elaboration and deeper reflection (e.g., “What was your favorite part of that day?”, “How did it make you feel?”).
- Facilitate Connection: Help teens identify common themes or shared experiences within the group, fostering a sense of community and understanding.
- Validate Emotions: Acknowledge and validate the emotions expressed, whether they are joy, excitement, or even nostalgia.
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Re-Sing and Closure: Conclude the musical experience by singing “Best Day of My Life” one more time. This provides a sense of closure and reinforces the positive emotions associated with the song and the sharing experience.
Adapting for Diverse Teen Populations
As mentioned, this intervention is designed to be flexible. For teens with autism or learning delays, visual aids, simplified instructions, and shorter sharing times may be beneficial. For more verbal or neurotypical teens, you can encourage more in-depth sharing and explore deeper emotional nuances related to their “best day.” You could also extend the activity into therapeutic songwriting, encouraging teens to write verses or personalize the song based on their own experiences.
“Best Day of My Life” is more than just a catchy tune; it’s a powerful catalyst for therapeutic discussion and emotional exploration in teen music therapy. By using this song as a starting point, you can create engaging and meaningful sessions that resonate with your teenage clients.
If you haven’t yet incorporated “Best Day of My Life” into your music therapy toolkit, I highly recommend giving it a try. And if you find yourself humming “Woo-oo-oo-ohh” for the rest of the day, consider it a testament to the song’s infectious and therapeutic power!
Stay tuned for the next installments in this series, where we’ll explore musical games and movement experiences to further amplify your teen music therapy sessions.
For additional creative resources and session ideas tailored for teens, explore Tuneful Teens and The Rap Pack for Teens. Combo packs are also available at a discounted rate here.
