Keep Moving! - Rehearsal

Finally today has come! I have been looking forward to meeting with the senior group of vocalists whom has been rehearsing “Keep Moving”, which will be the title track for the project’s upcoming album. It has been a long time coming so yes, I am definitely excited!

As I sit and digress on the efforts that have led to this point, I must say special thank you to a few people. Firstly, Mrs. Underhill the principal of the high school who sat with me last year and was very attentive and supportive of my vision for the youths. Mrs. Underhill then put me in contact with…

Mrs. Bisa Smith, a Counsellor at the High School whom also shared my vision and motivated me to implement different ways of engaging the students to become more involved in the project. Mrs. Smith was always happy to take my calls, (and believe me there were several) and her willingness to fit me into her busy schedules and provide any assistance needed definitely kept me motivated. So thank you Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Smith then put me in contact with…

Mrs. Headley (formerly Ms. Webb), whom has been a music teacher at the high school from at least the days when I attended. And so it was most refreshing to see how much passion she still has for her students. Thank you Mrs. Headley for being ever so supportive, for finding the time to sit with me, to understand my motivation behind this project and to capture my vision for the youths. Mrs. Headley listened to the song, we went through the lyrics together and also the general style of the song: where harmonies should be applied; where all should sing in unison; and where the soloists should lead. Mrs. Headley promised that she had a senior group of vocalists in mind whom would do justice to the song and so I anticipated the coming of today!

“Ok everyone, stand in position. Let us show Ms. Paul what you have been working on.” These are the words of Mrs. Headley as she prepares the students to offer their rendition. The music starts and then… “My world is spinning but I just can’t talk about it”. This is the first line of “Keep Moving”. The soloists were strong, the harmonies were strong. The vocalists even added their own styles. They danced, they clapped their hands, they smiled. I must say that I was most impressed! The students did a fantastic job and definitely much justice to the song! To see what they were capable of…and I understand that they had worked on the song by themselves! So the biggest thank you to you, students. You did an awesome job and I cannot wait for the rest of the BVI and beyond, to hear your voice.

How do I feel watching the students perform “Keep Moving”, a song that was written with tears in the early hours of the morning, and based on my own experiences? I feel grateful to God for giving me the grace to keep moving and not give up. The day I decided to quit, I had attended the New Life church and what was the message about? Not quitting! In a moment of feeling hopeless, here came an unexpected call from a dear friend Threcio Phillips, whom had just learned about the project and was very encouraging and supportive of the initiative. Today I witness this song being sung by the most lovely group of students and immediately I grasp a deeper appreciation of how much it WILL help them and many others in their moments of wanting to give up. I witness the future of the BVI and I see the vision at work. BVI Youths…this project is for you! Keep Moving!

#KeepMoving #Rehearsal #Vocalists