High Five
Music Therapy high five song for special needs individuals.
Goal: Client will follow visual and verbal directions to give a high five.
Domains: Motor, Social
Giving a high five (like waving) is a socially acceptable non-verbal greeting or farewell.
The chorus lyrics describe the physical steps to complete the movement:
“I raise my hand”
(gives a visual model for the desired client response)
“You raise your hand”
(a direction, also an attempt to clarify those tricky words I/my versus you/your)
“Slap our hands together”
(a direction, probably at first initiated by the teacher, but ultimately performed by both participants)
“That’s a high five”
(naming the motor sequence just performed)
The verse lyrics describe the social significance of the movement:
High five, when you say hello
High five, when you’re saying hi
High five, when it’s time to go
High five, when you say goodbye
I’ve used this song with verbal and non-verbal clients, at the beginning of sessions, the end of sessions, and both.
The structure of the song:
chorus / chorus / verse / chorus / chorus / verse / chorus / chorus
allows for six (chorus) attempts to follow visual and verbal directions to give a high five. Right and left hands may be alternated every time, every two times, or any schedule of your choosing. An instrumental version of the song is included to determine whether the client can complete the movement without verbal directions or for the client to sing, take the leadership role, and perform the first step “I raise my hand.”
Download includes:
- High Five [mp3 audio file]
- High Five (instrumental) [mp3 audio file]
- High Five – Lyrics [PDF]
- High Five – Lyrics & Chords [PDF]
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