All students have talents

A little song can ease the any mind going through big struggles. Music can move the soul and, if the heart is willing, give you a sense of hope in times of calamity.

That’s exactly what musically talented students of International School Suva Primary did when they launched their first ever original song about the pandemic impacting livelihoods around Fiji and the world.

The song received a lot of praises and got the attention of United Nations that roped in the new original to be part of the UN Unite Pacific concert.

Since its launched, the musical video titled ‘We will rise’ is gaining prominence on social medial platforms – performed ISS students – singing about Fiji’s battle against the recent pandemic, the sad reality impacting livelihoods and hope.

“Teachers and students got together and thought of a way for students to be able to express their feelings during these trying times,” said International School Suva head of primary Rebecca Clentworth.

As a result the song received tonnes of praises on Youtube channel with more than 1200 views when this edition went to press.

“We will rise” is the latest talk of the town. Composed by ISS Primary music teacher, Timothy Ulacake, Ms Clentworth said this was a mode for the primary school’s musical students.

“We felt that a song was a very appropriate way to show our appreciation for the essential workers of Fiji and to show unity with all Fijians affected by the pandemic.

“Mr Ulacake, the primary music teacher, composed and wrote the song for the students. “All students have talents so we wanted to offer the students a range of ways to do this,” she said.

Ms Clentworth said students were asked to submit themselves singing while doing online learning.

“We then selected singers from across the school to participate. We worked with a local producer Phil Dakei to record the song, unfortunately not all selected students were able to sing because of the time and location restraints,” she said.

The song, Ms Clentworth said was away to show appreciation for essential workers of Fiji and give everyone hope for the future.

“The UN approached us after hearing the song and asked us to be in the UN Unite Pacific concert. However, they wanted a more whole Pacific theme for the finale.

We changed the words slightly for this to meet their brief.”

UN website reports The United Nations announced the ‘Pacific Unite: Saving Lives Together, a first-of-its-kind televised and digitally streamed concert that called on leaders and citizens across the region to work together with the rest of the world in the fight against COVID-19.

“We have many talented students and often have concerts at lunch time and performances by our children.

This is the first time we have created and released something like this during distance learning – a true collaboration across the school.

“We were very lucky to work with a local producer to record the song. This was while the school campus was closed the producer Mr Dakei and our music teacher Mr Ulacake went to the students’ homes to do the recording.

“Once we had the final song we went to work on the video, it took a long time. We tried to work with some local agencies to get more footage from around Fiji.

“However, we didn’t get any help so we waited until school started again to fi lm the students and workers at school to help get our message across.

“The students selected to perform loved it, sometimes you hear them singing it around the school.

“We believe all students have talents and great ideas, give them the space to express themselves through these talents – they can achieve great things.

ISS prides itself in giving students the agency and scope to share their knowledge and ideas through a range of settings, be it art, music, media, sports, academic,” she said.

When asked what was the next step for ISS primary music, Mr Clentworth said the school had a strong music program and their music teacher was planning for the students to help compose a celebratory song for Fiji Day this year.