Accomplishments – Mark Galasso

March 31, 2014April 7, 2021

Lyrics for “Big Backyard” -Montessori Songs for Children

Will Mr. Will

The will is a special thing

You don’t wanna SMASH it!

That wouldn’t be nice

But will as of when it began

It isn’t perfect & that’s alright

The way it began as a will

It was lifeless, until the sky

With the wind and a wish for a will

There was brightness

So “I” Began

Will Mr. Will don’t wash away, my self

C’ause Will Mr. Will wants honey bee, his side kick

Wanna be me, see’s after will

It’s a well drawn line for the road to myself

Mr. Will, my likeness

Armadillo

There’s an armadillo sittin’ in my big backyard

He’s gotta lotta ripples on his back and they’re hard

He moves kinda funny but he pulls his weight

Next think ya know he meets a friend along the way

It’s Saturday, WE ROCK!

The froggies and the crickets and the rats

It’s quite a day, WE ROCK!

Armadillo’s in my big backyard

There’s a kitten with a mitten in my big backyard

The thing about a mitten is it won’t get far

It needs the right hand to be comfy all day

An armadillo’s mitten is his shell by the way

It’s Saturday, WE ROCK!

The doggies and the cheeta and the nat

It’s quite a day, WE ROCK

Armadillo’s in my big backyard

It’s Saturday, WE ROCK!

Armadillo’s in my big backyard!!

Ferris Wheel

There’s a ferris wheel at home in my backyard

And the only place it goes is to the stars

There’s one way to be sure the stars will all stay

You make them your friends they color your day

It’s frosty at night the penguins will stay

They look very silly and proud

There’s a ferris wheel at home in my backyard

And the only place it goes is to the stars

I’m So Over It

I’m so over It

I’ll never be sad

I’m so over It

No fun being mad

So I pitched my tent

Made my fire

Sleep tight in my bed

Now, I’m so over It

I’ll never be sad

I’m so over it

I’ll always be glad

So I hug my friends

Make ‘em smile

Sleep tight in my bed

Now I’m so over It

I’ll never be sad

I’m so over it

What fun we have had

Since I got over it…

I made my new best friend

I made my new, yes I’m so over it

I’m so over it, I’ll never be sad

‘Cause I made my new best friend

Nice to meet ya!

Alligator Instigator

Alligator Instigator, Trouble’s on the way

He swims along the bayou in a sneaky kind of way

Don’t go near, an Alligator Perpetrator

Once is all it takes & then you’re dinner on a plate!

Alligator Instigator watch out for his tail

He whips it when attacked & then you’re on you’re back

Oops!….You’re dinner in the belly of an…

Alligator Instigator, Trouble Mr. Percolator

Mountains on his tail, Jaws like Jail

Alligator Instigator can you spot a Hungry Gator

Alligator Instigator don’t go near the Percolator

Lest you’ll get a Whack! & then you’re on you’re back!

Jaws Like Jail, Teeth Like Nails

Stuck inside the Belly of an…

Alligator Instigator don’t go near a Hungry Gator

Alligator He’s a Traitor he’s a Mr. Percolator

Once you get a Whack! You’re never coming Back!

Forever in the Belly of an Alligator Instigator!

Smiles Miles Johnson

Smiles Miles Johnson was a really good man

He built a big house made of peanuts & bread

It all came down you can guess what they said

Smiles Miles Johnson & his peanuts & bread

Smiles Miles Johnson, peanuts & bread

He smiled a Lot, he got peanuts & bread

Smiles Miles Johnson was a really good man

He built a big house made of peanuts & bread

It all came down you can guess what they said

Smiles Miles Johnson & his peanuts & bread

Peanuts & bread

Get a Grip

Get a grip buddy now

Gotta make good somehow

Gotta do good you always should

And hold your head up proud

Get a grip buddy now

Make your moma proud

Gotta do good you always should

I kicked my Troubles Out!

Goooood Bye!…

Stay Occupied

Stay occupied, get busy

So satisfied, this living

I’m gratified, I’m grateful

I’m level eyed & playful

Stay occupied, get busy

It’s wonderful & graceful

Stay occupied with good

Stay occupied, it’s good

Let go!

That Makes My Times Go Good

I give out my best & I like it that way

The times go better with the work I say

Wipe out the blues when I’m workin’ on a dream

That makes my times go good

That makes my wings okay

What makes the times so good

I give out my best that day

Role Model

I wanna Be, a Role Model

Set you on your Feet

A Role Model

Keep it Really Sweet

You’ll Get More Smiles & it’s True

You Do~

This Magic can happen for You

A Role Model

Much More Melody

Ten Times More Melody, Wanted in My Home!

I want more melody to sooth my soul

I want more melody to make me whole

I want more melody inside my home

I want more melody to sing my songs

How much more melody, sing song remedy

Music’s gotta be, playin’ in my home

Much more melody, sing song remedy

Ten times more melody, wanted in my home

I want more melody to move my soul

I want more melody to make me whole

I want more melody inside my home

I want more melody to sing my songs

I want more melody, sing song remedy

Music’s gotta be, playin’ in my home

Ten times more melody, sing song remedy

Much more melody keeps playin’ in my home

Listen Listen

Listen, listen all is well

I won’t speak so you can tell

Words are such they matter now

This is what I say

Listen this is how

I can always tell

Words are working well

December 10, 2013April 7, 2021

Offbeat Magazine Review – “Big Backyard” – Montessori Songs for Children

Offbeat Review of Big Backyard

May 2, 2013April 7, 2021

Big Backyard – Montessori Songs for Children (CD)

Created deep down in Louisiana bayou country, these catchy children’s songs are imbued with Montessori Method. Delightfully fun, yet sophisticated songs built to last with ethical lyric themes woven into playful tapestries of ear candy enjoyed by adults and children.

Big Backyard was created by Mark Galasso during his tenure teaching music to pre-school children at Montessori Children’s House (Circa 1968), the oldest private Montessori School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The songs bloomed naturally from direct experiences working with the children in a joyful and productive environment. Having been affiliated with Montessori since childhood, the songs are imbued with educational and ethical principles of the Montessori Method. Many of them are quite short by design as they were written with pre-school aged children in mind. But, they are also sophisticated enough that adults will like them too.

Lyrically, the songs are infused with linguistic aspects that deal with rhyme, diction and verbal/melodic memory training. For example, in the up tempo song “Armadillo”, the lyric requires rapid enunciation and diction: “There’s a kitten with a mitten in my big backyard. The thing about a mitten is it won’t get far. It needs the right hand to be comfy all day, an armadillo’s mitten is his shell by the way.”

With consideration given to preserve the timeless nature of these special songs, the instrumentation on Big Backyard was performed with real instruments: Voice, acoustic guitar, brushes/drums, bass, chromatic & bass harmonica, Dobro, Trumpet, Trombone, Flute, Strings, Bassoon, Slide Whistle, Juice Harp and Percussion (Tambourine, Maracas, Shakers, Woodblock, Cowbell, Castanets, Hand Bells).

Big Backyard’s production and orchestration is manifest with cohesive and intricate parts woven into playful tapestries of ear candy for children.

Montessori students have performed all of these songs for music class and graduations for the past five years. It is safe to say the songs have been put to the test; they are a hit with children and parents alike.

The goal with “Big Backyard” was to create some new “standard” children’s songs that would endure the test of time and empower children through the liberating philosophical principals of Montessori.

***For more Big Backyard information, songs samples, videos & merchandise please visit: alligatorinstigator.com

Stream/Digitally Download Album/Songs here:

Lyrics for “Big Backyard” -Montessori Songs for Children

Songs/Tracks List

Will Mr. Will
Armadillo
Ferris Wheel
I’m So Over It
Alligator Instigator
Smiles Miles Johnson
Get a Grip
Stay Occupied
That Makes My Times Go Good
Role Model
Much More Melody
Listen Listen

CD Credits:

Vocals & Instruments performed by Mark Galasso. Except where indicated.

Troy Davis: Drums/Brushes – Tracks 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

David Ellis: Electric Bass – Tracks 8, 9 + Chorus Outro Bass on “Will Mr. Will”.

All songs composed, produced, recorded & mixed by Mark Galasso.

Cover Art by Taylor Wells

Additional Graphics & Layout: Mario Alessi

CD/Album Release date April 4, 2013.

August 1, 2011September 4, 2020

The “Brocato Piece” Composed for 1998 “Alternative Hair Show” at Royal Albert Hall, London

The “Brocato Piece.”

This was composed for Brocato International’s 1998 appearance at the “ALTERNATIVE HAIR SHOW”, at the ROYAL ALBERT HALL, LONDON.

Every year a video of the show is made and distributed throughout the world wide hair industry. The “Alternative Hair Show” is one of the biggest Leukaemia fund raisers in the world.

Brocato Piece – iTunes Song Link

Brocato Piece – iTunes Radio Link

August 1, 2011April 7, 2021

Professional Musician with C’vello

Mark Galasso was a keyboardist, bassist and singer with the RCA recording artist C’vello. He performed frequently with the group throughout the 1990’s.

At the height of C’vello’s popularity they became a regional phenomena culminating with the innovative techno rap song, This Jam is Cold.

August 1, 2011February 6, 2022

Perchaplectic (CD)

Perchaplectic
Released: 1997
℗ 1997 Daddy’s Tutti Music, BMI

Perchaplectic is a one of a kind collection of songs & recordings reflecting this artist’s range of musical interests. Presented in an album format, the CD is 74 minutes long.

All of the material was recorded & mixed by Mark Galasso in his home studio and the musicians playing on the CD are all exceptional. Many of them were child prodigies, and all of them are from Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Gantt Kees (Drums), Tracy Civello (Drums), David Ellis (Bass), Wendell Tilley (Guitar), Gary Don Smith (Guitar), Kevin Civello (Guitar), Mark Galasso (Vocals, Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Harmonica).

New Orleans’ Offbeat Magazine called Perchaplectic: “A Perfect Piece of Ear-Candy… Perchaplectic does have its share of expert playing, tasteful while exploratory, especially Gary Don Smith’s blues licks and Galasso’s own Prince-like mastery of almost every instrument he puts his hand on. Imagine a Double Fantasy-era John Lennon transported to the Nineties and blissfully ignoring the Alternative and Electronica explosions and you’ll get some idea of what’s going on. And the sole break with convention-the medley of “I’m Comin’ Over/Perchaplectic” and “Heaven”-works so well that one realizes even this is not the limit of Galasso’s talents. Where are the A&R suits when you need ’em. – The best local pop record of this new year.”

In 1999, Galasso singed on with Labrador Records in England where Perchaplectic was the featured CD on Audiostreet.com who called the CD, “a stunning eclectic collection of 17 songs”.

In 2001 his song “Let’s Make it Work Somehow” charted at #14 on the garageband.com “Pop” charts and was featured as “Song of the Day” based on enthusiastic reviews by listeners from all over the world.

Two songs off of Perchaplectic, the Bowie-ish “Blonde & Fair”, and his Epic “10 Miles Away” were licensed by Shockwave.com for use in their Photojam application.

Purchase at: iTunes

Purchase the CD at: Amazon

Purchase the MP3 at: Amazon

August 1, 2011April 7, 2021

Director of Montessori Children’s House

Montessori Children’s House is a pre-school (ages 3-6) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA.

In December 1966 Michaela Galasso co-founded the first Montessori school in Baton Rouge. It was located at St. Agnes Catholic Church,
in downtown Baton Rouge, LA. Circa 1967 Michaela expanded and opened her own school in her Home. In 1971 Michaela moved her school to its present location on Highland Rd. near LSU.

In August of 2012 Michaela Galasso Williams was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Louisiana Montessori Association, the first such award ever given by LMA. She was one of the founding members of the Louisiana Montessori Association (Circa 1975) and was involved in establishing the by laws (ACT 400) which protect and govern Louisiana Montessori Schools today.

Mark Galasso was Director of Montessori Children’s House from 2008 – 2012

For more information about the school see www.mchbr.com

August 1, 2011