♥ Songwriting

A Child of Ours (Ruby A Sparkling Jewel)

Music by Louis Vignapiano

Lyrics by Christine Termini Passarella

Sung by The Kids for Coltrane 2011

Dedicated to Ms. Ruby Bridges and her teacher Ms. Henry

Child of courage

Sparkling jewel

Treasure to behold

A Child of Ours

Here to show

What we all know

That love is right

It brought her might

Justice for all …she prayed

A Child of ours

Ruby with your teacher

We cherish what you’ve done

Now we are together

It is time to say thank you

To a child of ours

Ruby, Ruby, Ruby

Strong and beautiful

Ruby

A sparkling jewel

Strong and beautiful

A child of ours

Sparkling jewel

oooooo

oooo

ooo

A child of ours

“For The Children”

Music by Louis Vignapiano

Lyrics by Christine Termini Passarella

2009

(The Kids for Coltrane will be performing this song during the spring 2010.)

Learning freely

Letting me be

Being me

Soar to the Heights

Living my dream

For the children

Letting me be

Schools with love

Schools with laughter

Schools of learning

Teach share teach

Learn share learn

For the children

My teachers I thank you

My parents too

And now I am ready

Ready to be

Living freely

Thinking my way

Bringing the world a better day

Doing it my way

You gave me my say

You brought me a way

It is a bright world…for the children

A world that learns and learns and learns

And yearns and yearns for a better day

Each day

A brighter day

For the children

Lyrics by Christine Termini Passarella

Sung to the The Other Side of Love written by Louis Vignapiano.

On the evening of the inauguration, I was watching highlights from the historical day and thinking about our world past, present and future. I wrote these lyrics with my students in mind…knowing that I had taught them about the journey America had taken. The children sang it proudly during two shows at The Holliswood School…and I know they will continue to sing it and keep the message close to their hearts.

I dedicate these words to Barack, Michelle, Malia and Sasha Obama… and all the families in America who believe in dreams coming true!

The Dream

Mr. President you made …made us believe.

You brought us the strength…the strength to see,

The meaning of our… liberty…liberty.

Shown us with your family what really…really matters,

What really can be.

Believing in King’s dream…ROSA too.

Here is the dream…the dream is true.

Was a dream…just a dream…now real…dreams that come true,

For the RED, WHITE and BLUE!

Mr. President we made…the dream come true…the dream come true.

America’s Rainbow

AMERICA’S RAINBOW!

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My students and I decided to write lyrics to songs. We discovered we were writing poetry to music.

Hamlet’s Child

Set to John Coltrane’s song Equinox, we call our song Hamlet’s Child.

Lyrics by Ms. Christine Termini Passarella and The Kids for Coltrane Club 2008 -2009 at the Holliswood School in honor of the jazz legend John Coltrane. Trane was born on the autumnal equinox.

Trane Trane Trane

Ham…let’s Child

Trane Trane Trane

Happy Birthday

You Gave Us Love

Trane Trane Trane

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday…to you

You gave us hope and mu…sic….

Born /on the / Equinox…bring…ing change.

Just know …. truth is real

Trane Trane Trane

So many children singing for peace…

So many children feeling…Giving

A Love Supreme

A Love Supreme!

>>>>

We want to thank musician Louis Vignapiano for his generosity. Lou allowed us to use his original music to write our lyrics to. We had a wonderful time writing the songs and even more fun singing them.

Blue Ribbon

Lyrics by Christine Termini Passarella and The Kids for Coltrane (second graders 2008-2009). This song is in honor of the Holliswood School Community. PS/IS 178 received the Blue Ribbon Award from the United States Department of Education.

Original music from composer Louis Vignapiano entitled Can You Feel It

(check out Louisvig.com to hear music)

Ready Set Go!

We love our school.

Our school is cool.

Kids who earn and learn.

Study hard, play…travel, sing and dance.

Share…Smile…

Teachers who care…

Teachers who are fair.

Teaching for the future.

We love our school.

Our school is cool.

BLUE RIBBON WINNERS!

Ready Set Go!

178, 178, 178, 178

Going here is great!

We really rate!

Photo by Anna GustafsonPicture of my students singing our original song Blue Ribbon. They had a great time. This picture was published on yournabe.com with an article about our fabulous school. If you are a Blue Ribbon School, the Kids for Coltrane class would love to share our song with you. Click Here to read the article.

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My Friends

Lyrics By Christine Termini Passarella and The Kids for Coltrane (Second Graders 2007-2008)

Original music from composer Louis Vignapiano (original song Love is A Crazy Thing..check out Louisvig.com to hear music)

My friends are angels.

My friends are shiny.

My friends are very artistic.

My friends are friendship.

My friends do things for me.

My friends are beautiful butterflies who soar.

We’re smiling like the sun in the morning sky.

We’re beaming like the night time stars.

Sometimes we weep like the rain in the clouds.

Sometimes we bloom like the flowers in the ground.

We are unique like the crystals in the snow.

We are friends forever!!

…………………………………………………..

My Mom

Original lyrics by Christine Termini Passarella and The Kids for Coltrane (second graders 2007-2008)

Sung to the original song by Louis Vignapiano entitled What If (Louisvig.com)

My mom, she is so pretty…inside and out!

My mom, she is so witty…inside and out!

She teaches me loyalty and honesty.

She teaches me responsiblity.

My mom, she is a cutie…inside and out!

My mom, she is a beauty…inside and out!

She helps me believe in smiles, smiles, smiles, smile, smiles!

My mom, she is a treasure!

My mom, she is a pleasure!

………………………………

We are One Race, the Human Race

Lyrics written by Christine Termini Passarella and The Kids for Coltrane (second graders 2007-2008)

Original music from composer Louis Vignapiano entitled Little Dancing Girl. (Louisvig.com)

Inspiration for these lyrics came from the quote of Vermont musician Joey Leone who said, “There is only one race, the human race.”