Just Passing By
Price range: $10.00 through $50.00
Just Passing By is perfect for graduation ceremonies and celebrating the end of the school year. This song explores celebrating friendship, looking ahead, and saying goodbye but remembering shared experiences. The words are appropriate for singers of all ages to sing for retirements and other farewells.
This song is sure to be a hit with students (and adults!) of all ages.
Voicing Options:
- Unison – key of Eb
- Unison – key of G
- SSA – key of G
Listen to the Donna & Andy performance track:
Listen to melody + accompaniment:
Listen to this SSA version – by The Aeolian Singers, Halifax NS, Canada:
Unison Download includes:
- Vocal score
- Lead sheet
- Director/piano score
- Lyrics
- Accompaniment – with melody guide
- Accompaniment – piano
- Bonus: Donna & Andy – performance track
- Donna & Andy band – instrumental track (key of E♭)
- 12 Cross-curricular Activities
- Colouring page
SSA Download includes:
- SSA score (vocal and piano)
- Lyrics
- Accompaniment – piano
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Just Passing By
Context Choir: elementary, middle school, high school, adult/community, vocal solo
Level Age 12 and up, grade 4-6, middle school, high school, adult
Vocal Range B♭3 - C5
Audio Sample melody plus piano
Context Choir: elementary, middle school, high school, adult/community, vocal solo
Level Age 12 and up, middle school, high school, adult
Vocal Range D4 - E5
Audio Sample Sample track - melody plus piano
Context Choir: elementary, middle school, high school, adult/community, vocal solo
Level Age 12 and up, middle school, high school, adult
Vocal Range D4 - E5
Audio Sample Sample track - melody plus piano
Context Choir: elementary, middle school, high school, adult/community
Level Age 12 and up, middle school, high school, adult
Audio Sample SSA - performed by The Aeolian Singers, Halifax NS, Canada
Just Passing By is one of 12 songs from the award-winning song collection "Dinosaurs, Dragons and Me". Donna Rhodenizer has written these songs in a variety of styles and skill levels for singers from ages 5-12+.
Learn more about this fun collection for elementary-aged kids, choirs and solo vocal students. The 122-page book provides the vocal score, full score and separate lyrics pages for 12 songs. Enjoy!
Please note: audio tracks for the e-book version are sold separately. Print copies of the book include CD (24 tracks)
Stream or Purchase from many streaming sites including:
Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon, Pandora, Deezer.
The Dinosaurs, Dragons and Me CD (Donna & Andy performance and instrumental) tracks (24) are available for download or physical CD purchase on this website.
Concert Repertoire
Just Passing By is perfect for graduation ceremonies and celebrating the end of the school year with your students. This song explores celebrating friendship, looking ahead, and saying goodbye but remembering shared experiences. Play the performance track for your special students or have them learn the song and sing it themselves using the instrumental accompaniment track. Written in a pop style, this song is sure to be a hit with students (and adults!) of all ages.
Expressive Singing
Discuss the words of the song.
Use dynamics to support the lyrics and sing expressively.
The mood of this song is optimistic even though the singer is saying goodbye.
The key change before the third chorus helps “lift” the piece and give it some momentum.
Use the higher, brighter sound created by the key change to convey the sense of optimism of the lyrics.Form
Just Passing By begins with the chorus. The form of the piece is ABABA - Chorus, verse, chorus, verse, altered chorus.
Although there are three choruses, in the third chorus the words change.
How will you sing the third chorus differently than the previous two choruses?Musical Roadmap
You will need to know how to follow the musical “road map” of this song.
Discuss repeat signs and 1st and 2nd endings.
Follow the music as you listen to the performance track.Special Graduation Presentation
Have each member of the graduating class provide their photo from Kindergarten plus a more recent photo.
Organize the photos in two-photo groupings showing the younger photo first and then reveal who that youngster is by showing their recent photo.
Use the performance track of Just Passing By as the background for your photo presentation for a memorable walk down "memory lane".
Cross-curricular Extensions
The Just Passing By cross-curricular extensions are provided in the following subject areas:
- Language Arts
- Personal Development
- Visual Art
- Memory Skills
- Social Studies
- Personal development
- History
- Math
Sequential instructions are provided for each activity. Preparation/supplies are indicated
View activities sample pages here
Download with your purchase of the unison versions of Just Passing By
Listen and discuss
Extend the song into a time of discussion and personal reflection.
- How do the students feel about graduating?
- Discuss the emotions of ending one phase of life and beginning another.
- At what other occasions might people feel these same emotions?
12 Cross-curricular activities are provided in the PDF download extending the focus of this song to other subject areas including:
- Fine arts: music, visual art
- Language arts
- History
- Math
- Multi-curricular
- Personal development
- Social studies
Download (pdf), print and have fun colouring this page while you listen to the song Just Passing By
Just Passing By
Just Passing By was written for a very special group of grade six students who were leaving my elementary school music program and moving on to grade seven in a different school. It was sad to see them go but we were all excited about the possibilities that were ahead of them.
The inspiration for the song came from my discovery of a quote made by famous Quaker missionary, Stephen Grellet (1773-1855):
“I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it for I will not pass this way again.”
Not only did this quote inspire the writing of my song, but it was also good advice for being kind and making a positive difference in the world around us. I made a poster of this quote and had it on the wall in my music room for many years.
Over the years I have initiated discussions with my “graduating” students about their excitement and trepidation surrounding leaving elementary school and moving on to a different school with new possibilities and lots of unknowns. The bonds we form with our friends is a great source of strength as we grow together, and a source of comfort when we remember those who we may no longer see, but who have helped us on our journey so far.
Changing the final chorus of Just Passing By helped create a positive spin on this farewell song. “As we pass by, our memories will not let this end. If just in memories, I know we’ll pass this way again.”
When you have enjoyed singing this song and doing the activities with your students - please drop by again and leave a Review on this page. Thanks!
Please send us your performance video of Just Passing By - we might be able to post it on this page!
Send us your video of Just Passing By and perhaps we can post it here.
| License | Vocal Solo / Single User License, Studio / School License, Small Ensemble License, Small Choir License, Large Choir License |
|---|---|
| Context | Choir – Elementary, Choir – Middle School, Choir – High School, Choir – Community, Choir Repertoire, Small Group Class, Song Collection – Dinosaurs, Dragons and Me, Choir – SSA, Choir – Unison |
| Topic | Celebrations, Character Trait Education, Community / Togetherness, Friendship, Goodbye Songs, Graduation Songs, Motivational / Inspirational, Retirement, Movement Songs |
| Level | Adult, Age 12 and up, Grades 4-6, Middle School, High School |
| Voicing | |
| Duration | |
| Details | See "Description" for individual voicing details |
| Composer | Donna Rhodenizer |
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