Chill Moody, Weathervane Music Organization, and Rock to the Future are helping Philadelphia teens to express themselves through music. Chill Moody wrote an original song with six members of Rock to the Future’s student band, giving them a unique look into the professional songwriting process.
The song, The Beauty in Sadness, is about healing after a breakup. The song encourages the listener to find beauty in the creativity and transformation that a sad change can inspire.
10th grade student Chanel inspired the song with a guitar line she wrote in her bedroom. Chanel had been teaching herself to play guitar for years, but her family had trouble finding affordable music lessons before joining Rock to the Future.
“When I found out Rock to the Future was here [at Kensington High School], I was really happy,” Chanel says. “I was honestly like ‘my life has been saved. My guitar helps me more than anything else does. I feel like I can talk with my guitar. I can talk by strumming and moving my fingers, I don’t even have to open my mouth to say anything.”
Chill Moody and Rock to the Future students recorded their new song with the Weathervane Music Organization, known for their Shaking Through docu-series. Over the course of the weekend, the students in grades 8-11 gained an inside look at the music industry, expanded their creative expression, and walked away with a professionally recorded original song. The song, The Beauty in Sadness, is free to stream and download on Rock to the Future’s Bandcamp page.
Looking for online music classes? Rock to the Future's free online music programs are open to all Philadelphia students in grades 4-12. Students can learn an instrument in a small group class, or join one of our drop in classes on digital music production and songwriting. Join Rock to the Future to rock from home!