Students from Ms. Kathy Giannitsanos' 3rd grade class at P.S.11 wrote this song about Luz Garcia, based on an interview they conducted with her. Luz is the co-owner of Your's Bakery, which used to be across from the school on Roosevelt Ave in Woodside, Queens (NY).  

The student songwriters were: Claudia Acosta, Jannath Ahmed, Monica Arora, Agnieszka Nico Boron, Tynell Jarod Brown, Carolann Cely, Anna Chow, Abeda Chowdhury, Dennis Junn Yo Chung, Raphael Do, Ahmed Noor Hasan, Melanie Huerta, Kun Hee Kim, Natalie Kim, Cheyenne Kinder, Raymond Lee, Zubaer Mohsin, Anupama Pilcrow, Kenneth Rios, Destinee Rivera, Patricia Santos, Cathryn Seaman, Jeong Min Shin, Alessa Sikorsky, Kiara Tene, Wesley Ying, Ka Hun Yu.


Hey Luz

(spoken)Luz works in a bakery... and here's a song about her
Out of 40 million people in Colombia
We are only singing about one
She told us of a place called San Andres
A beautiful island in the sun
She comes from a valley, a town they call Cali
Where people are friendly, say hi when you pass by
On weekends she would visit her family
But 9 years ago she said bye-bye

(Chorus):
Hey Luz, Hey Luz -- This is a song about you!
Hey Luz, Hey Luz -- This is a song about you!

She works in a bakery, bakes a lot of things
She likes to go dancing, and hear the people sing
She went to a school called "Moderno"
With Walter, Hector, Franklin, and Roberto (Those are her brothers!)
Walter, Hector, Franklin, and Roberto

(Chorus)

She loves to read, to dream, to go to the movies
She loves to eat cookies, and dance to the groovies
Read, dream, go to the movies
She loves to eat cookies, and dance to the groovies 

(Chorus)

For Valentine's Day, she don't get chocolate
She gets cards and flowers instead
She's not used to chocolate -- she's more used to seafood
And she's always so busy baking bread
She's always so busy baking bread
She works in a bakery--the food is made deliciously
The sweets are so tasty--the pastries are so good
Areas, empanadas, chicharron
Mmmm, I got to get me some

(Chorus)

(c) Perfect Kind of Music (ASCAP) words & music:  P.S. 11 Class 3-108 (Ms. Giannitsanos) AND Leo Schaff of City Lore  --  2001-02

Hey Luz

In City Lore's songwriting residency "Who Lives Here?" students interview people in their school and local community and then write songs based on their research. In 2016, third, fourth, and fifth grade students at P.S. 147 in Bushwick, Brooklyn worked with teaching artists George Zavala and Leo Schaff to create songs based on their interviews with these community members: Sandra Loyola, principal of P.S. 147; Marina Cappelletti, Arts Education Liaison at P.S. 147; Monica Meuller, a parent of a student; and Lottie Holman, grandparent of a student.

"Ms. Holman" was written for Lottie Holman by the students from Ms. Grimm's fifth grade class.

TASCAM DR-40

Ms. Holman

In City Lore's songwriting artist residency, students write songs inspired by their interviews with family, school, and community members. In 2004, City Lore teaching artist Leo Schaff worked with two 3rd grade classes at P.S. 11 in Woodside, Queens to write and perform songs about their school and neighborhood. Ms. Bilihoutis' and Mrs. Siegel's classes created songs about their community, including songs about Jovita Inges, the long-time and beloved security guard at P.S. 11.

"Woodside" is written and performed by Mrs. Siegel's class.

Woodside

In City Lore's songwriting artist residency, students write songs inspired by their interviews with family, school, and community members. In 2004, City Lore teaching artist Leo Schaff worked with two 3rd grade classes at P.S. 11 in Woodside, Queens to write and perform songs about their school and neighborhood. Ms. Bilihoutis' and Mrs. Siegel's classes created songs about their community, including songs about Jovita Inges, the long-time and beloved security guard at P.S. 11.

"Jovita's Song" is written and performed by students from Mrs. Siegel's class.

Jovita's Song

In City Lore's songwriting artist residency, students write songs inspired by their interviews with family, school, and community members. In 2004, City Lore teaching artist Leo Schaff worked with two 3rd grade classes at P.S. 11 in Woodside, Queens to write and perform songs about their school and neighborhood. Ms. Bilihoutis' and Mrs. Siegel's classes created songs about their community, including songs about Jovita Inges, the long-time and beloved security guard at P.S. 11.

"We All Live in the USA" is written and performed by students from Ms. Bilihoutis' class.

We All Live in the USA

In City Lore's songwriting artist residency, students write songs inspired by their interviews with family, school, and community members. In 2004, City Lore teaching artist Leo Schaff worked with two 3rd grade classes at P.S. 11 in Woodside, Queens to write and perform songs about their school and neighborhood. Ms. Bilihoutis' and Mrs. Siegel's classes created songs about their community, including songs about Jovita Inges, the long-time and beloved security guard at P.S. 11.

"One Out of Everyone" is written and performed by students from Ms. Bilithoutis' class.

One Out of Everyone

These two songs are the product of a songwriting residency with two third grade classes at P.S. 11 in Woodside, Queens. Once a week for two periods, City Lore teaching artist and musician Leo Schaff introduced the students to songwriting and the ways music can be used to explore, document, and interpret community--the objective of the third grade social studies curriculum.

Students in each class interviewed Mary Erskine, a school aide, Woodside resident, and Irish immigrant. Using the interview transcription and their notes, each class wrote lyrics, created melodies, and decided on rhythms and styles for two different songs.  

Mary Erskine was invited to the final assembly program, where she was treated to two different musical renditions of her life story, magically transformed into music and song, and performed by the composers--the students!

The residency was part of a larger arts-in-education initiative at P.S. 11 that partners with City Lore to use dance, theater, music, and visual art as vehicles to teach grade-level social studies curriculum.


Oh, So Glad

On weekday mornings, Mary wakes up, eats breakfast and walks to school
Two miles there, two miles back, but she thought that was cool
She grew up in County Mayo: three brothers, three sisters, her dad and mum
On the farm, they worked all day-0, but still found time for fun in the sun

(Chorus):
Mary was sad to leave her country
But so excited to come to America
Mary was glad to see this country
Oh, so glad to be here in America
Oh, so glad to be here

Until the day she reached thirteen, poor Mary had not TV
Her folks let her go to a neighbor's house, "Five minutes--that's all you can see!"
She remembers kindergarten; Ms. McDonough was her teacher then
She is now 107; Mary can't wait to see her again

(Chorus)

Then Mary got married and they had two kids
But they couldn't find work whatever they did
So they saved up their pennies, then saved up some more
And flew far away to a distant short

America was a wonderful place, with so many things to do
So many cars, so many lights, so many nice people too
It took a while, but they got workin', money for a house and for groceries
Had two more boys and no complainin', she can watch TV whenever she please

(Chorus)

America's so busy and big, the land where the buffalo roam
Buty Mary decided "This place is for me," and made it her new home
Now she works at P.S. 11 -- greatest school in the land of Queens
Smartest kids this side of Ireland; one day she'll show 'em the 'Land of Green'!

(Chorus)


(c) Perfect Kind of Music (ASCAP) words & music: P.S. 11 Ms. Hillie's 3rd Grade Class AND Leo Schaff of City Lore -- 3/21/2003

PS 11

Oh, So Glad

These two songs are the product of a songwriting residency with two third grade classes at P.S. 11 in Woodside, Queens. Once a week for two periods, City Lore teaching artist and musician Leo Schaff introduced the students to songwriting and the ways music can be used to explore, document, and interpret community--the objective of the third grade social studies curriculum.

Students in each class interviewed Mary Erskine, a school aide, Woodside resident, and Irish immigrant. Using the interview transcription and their notes, each class wrote lyrics, created melodies, and decided on rhythms and styles for two different songs.  

Mary Erskine was invited to the final assembly program, where she was treated to two different musical renditions of her life story, magically transformed into music and song, and performed by the composers--the students!

The residency was part of a larger arts-in-education initiative at P.S. 11 that partners with City Lore to use dance, theater, music, and visual art as vehicles to teach grade-level social studies curriculum.


Mary from County Mayo

Born in County Mayo, she moved to County Mead
Her brothers and her sister and her Irish family
Back before she grew to be a mother and a wife
Back when she started her wonderful life

When Mary was young, she had not TV
That seems rather strange to you and me
The late 1960's were sometimes cool
But Mary had to walk 2 miles to school

(Chorus A):
Let's start the music -- Let's take the express
Mary can take us 'cause Mary knows best
Let's start the music--Let's take the express
Let's go to Ireland and have some fun! Let's have some fun! Come on!

Oh Mary's farm there were goats, sheep and pigs
She learned to make jewelry from berries, weeds, and twigs
She loved catching tadpoles in the warm summer sun
Mary sure knew how to have some fun

(Chorus A)

Mary needed water for her family to drink
But they had no running water through the sink
So Mary and her brothers took three buckets to the well
Mary's come from Ireland with stories to tell

(Chorus B):
Let's start the music -- Let's take the express
Back tot he country she loves, east to west
Let's start the music -- Let's take the express
Let's go to Ireland and have some fun! Let's have some fun! Come on!

Mary had a little lamb--the lamb's name was Larry
Mary helped her mom and dad--they had so much to carry
Back and forth to Dublin, to buy and to sell,
Mary's come from Ireland with stories to tell

(Chorus A & B)

(c) Perfect Kind of Music (ASCAP) words & music: P.S. 11 Ms. Guthry's 3rd Grade Class AND Leo Schaff of City Lore -- 3/21/2003

Mary from County Mayo

Students from Ms. Eleni Fotakis' 3rd grade class at P.S.11 wrote this song about Luz Garcia, based on an interview they conducted with her. Luz is the co-owner of Your's Bakery, which used to be across from the school on Roosevelt Ave in Woodside, Queens (NY).

The student songwriters were: Sharnam Ahmed, Sysia Akhter, Sagid Anowar, Pyee Aung Alesander Breglia, Tyler Yu Chan, Nataly Chavez, Rahina Chowdhury, Papiya Debroy, Michael Ruben Diaz, Daisy Donnelian, Yoana Duarte, Ahmed Enaitalla, Stephanie Hodge, Juan Ignacio, Joshuaval Ilyas, Mohammad Islam, Raymond Wei-Con Kong, Saet Kwon, Ruby Martinez, Susie Oh, Christina Pauta, Jack Remache, Ashley Saski, Johnny Vargas, Murtaza Yaqoob.


The Memories of Clara Lopez

She likes hiking, she's scared of bears
She saw animals everywhere
Saw mountains over there
Clara likes nature anywhere

(Chorus):
The memories of Clara Lopez are happy and sad
The memories of Clara Lopez are happy and sad
She worked at a bank for seven years
She hated working there
She wanted to be a teacher instead
P.S. 11 said, "You've got the job!"

She grew up in Colombia
Near a town called Manizales
When she looked from her window
She could see Snow Mountain
But snow went down the river, and took so many lives
She told us all about it--so glad that she arrived!

Clara lost her mother, when she was just a baby
But her mother's sister raised her, and gave her a new family!
Now she takes her children climbing way up high
To see the eagles fly
It makes her laugh and it makes her cry
But Clara's still reaching for the sky

(Chorus x 2)

Happy and sad, happy and sad
Happy and sad, happy and sad...



(c) Perfect Kind of Music (ASCAP) words & music: P.S. 11 Class 3-111 (Ms. Fotakis) AND Leo Schaff of City Lore -- 2001-02

Memories of Clara Lopez

The Memories of Clara Lopez

As part of the songwriting residency, City Lore teaching artist Leo Schaff taught Ms. Giannitsanos' and Ms. Fotakis' third grade classes critical interviewing skills. These included close listening, open-ended vs. closed questions, follow-up and elaboration, and note-taking. This is an excerpt from an interview conducted by the students with Clara Lopez about her life. With Leo's help students then took what they learned from their interview and crafted it into an original song honoring Clara.

Interview with Clara Lopez questions

Interview excerpt with Clara Lopez - student questions

Students from Ms. Eleni Fotakis' 3rd grade class at P.S.11 wrote this song about Luz Garcia, based on an interview they conducted with her. Luz is the co-owner of Your's Bakery, which used to be across from the school on Roosevelt Ave in Woodside, Queens (NY).

The student songwriters were: Sharnam Ahmed, Sysia Akhter, Sagid Anowar, Pyee Aung Alesander Breglia, Tyler Yu Chan, Nataly Chavez, Rahina Chowdhury, Papiya Debroy, Michael Ruben Diaz, Daisy Donnelian, Yoana Duarte, Ahmed Enaitalla, Stephanie Hodge, Juan Ignacio, Joshuaval Ilyas, Mohammad Islam, Raymond Wei-Con Kong, Saet Kwon, Ruby Martinez, Susie Oh, Christina Pauta, Jack Remache, Ashley Saski, Johnny Vargas, Murtaza Yaqoob.


She Likes to Dance (Ella le Gusta Bailar)

Dolphins are pink--water is sweet
The ocean of San Andres has many colors
Colombia has two oceans
The water is fresh and clear
No whirlpools or sharks
In the Land of Light (Luz!)
Ella le gusta bailar y escuchar la musica
Ella le gusta bailar y escuchar la musica
She likes to dance and listen to the music
She likes to dance and listen to the music
It's hot in the morning, and cool at night
The Tower of Cali is shining bright
The flag of Colombia
Is yellow, red, and blue
It looks so beautiful
In the Land of Luz (Light!)



(c) Perfect Kind of Music (ASCAP) words & music: P.S. 11 Class 3-111 (Ms. Fotakis) AND Leo Schaff of City Lore -- 2001-02

She Likes to Dance

She Likes to Dance (Ella le Gusta Bailar)

Founded in 1986, City Lore’s mission is to foster New York City – and America’s – living cultural heritage through education and public programs.  We document, present, and advocate for New York City’s grassroots cultures to ensure their living legacy in stories and histories, places and traditions.  We work in four cultural domains:  urban folklore and history; preservation; arts  education; and grassroots poetry traditions. In each of these realms, we see ourselves as furthering cultural equity and modeling a better world with projects as dynamic and diverse as New York City itself.

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