“Some words can’t be spoken, only sung.”
Those are the opening lyrics to a video recently released by Events for Life, starring nearly all of the 35 adults with special needs who participate regularly in the program.
The performances in the video range from playing musical instruments, singing vocals, dancing, sign language, and visual art.
Events for Life, based in The Blue Mountains, offers day programs for individuals with special needs, with participants enjoying art, sports, culinary skills and more.
The video released on Dec. 8, was a joint effort between staff, program participants, and a little help from some friends.
A sign language instructor who works at Events For Life found a song titled Sing, and began teaching some of the participants signs for the song. Events for LIfe executive director Barb Weeden saw the signs of a winning video in the making.
She called in some help from old friends and the participants spent two days at the Marsh Street Centre using the recording studio and space to rehearse and perform in whatever way the song moved them.
“Music is a big part of our program,” said Weeden. “I think this video is award-winning. I think that once people see this video, they’ll understand that people with special needs are so much more capable than a lot of people give them credit for.”
Some of the participants are non-verbal, they used sign language or danced with ribbons. One participant drew a sketch inspired by the song.
The video was filmed and put together by musician, singer/songwriter Joel Saunders, and takes some inspiration from the “Brady bunch” style of individual boxes on the screen showing various participants performing the song.
“I think watching this, you will understand that they are people too and that they’re capable, they’re creative, they’re happy, they love to sing, they love to play, and I think it’s just going to be really great for our community to see this,” she said.
Sing was written by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber and first performed by several artists to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2012.
The chorus of the song says “sing it louder … knowing everyone will hear you, make some noise, find your voice tonight.”
The lyrics have literal meaning for one of the singers, who typically speaks with a stutter, but sings without one.
“It’s very difficult for him to communicate, so he often doesn’t,” said Weeden. “He’s one of our lead vocalists in this video … so he found his voice and can communicate and we have found that others have found that voice inside of them, whether it’s through sign language they now can communicate better, it’s just brought more light to all of them.”
Events for Life is a non-profit organization. Participants pay a minimal fee to participate and any remaining costs are covered by donations, which can be made via the Events For Life website here.
