Schools

Rock Group with Disabilities Showcases Abilities

"Flame, the Band," will perform at Keith Valley Middle School Thursday.

They may not be storming the pop charts, filling arenas or breaking records in album sales, but rock group “Flame, the Band” is still intent on changing the world – one song at a time.

While other cover bands’ seemingly only performance-related worries revolve around learning other musicians’ songs, the 10 members of the upstate New York band rehearse, tour and perform for crowds in 15 states and Europe despite being blind, having Down Syndrome, being afflicted by autism and more. In fact, the band is comprised entirely of people with various disabilities.

But, for Joseph Devine, assistant principal, the underlying message of Flame isn’t so much about the members’ individual challenges, but how they worked to overcome them.

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“I think it ties into our overall message of acceptance and not judging a book by its cover,” said Devine, who coordinated two Thursday student assemblies and an evening performance by Flame.

The focus, he said, is to focus on similarities, “not differences.”

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Flame, whose name is derived from the Special Olympics torch, began its musical journey nearly 10 years ago. Along the way, the group has recorded four CDs of popular song remakes, appeared on Good Morning America and shone a spotlight on the capabilities of people with severe disabilities.

Flame is changing how people view those with disabilities, band manager Maria Nestle said in a press release.

“Each member is like a puzzle piece, but when the pieces come together, they become one piece of art,” she said. “The deepness of each person can be felt from the music they make, and we have found that there is a lot to be learned from the members.”

The Hatboro-Horsham Educational Foundation - the entity that arranged for Flame to make a stop at Keith Valley Middle School - along with district officials, is hoping to drive Flame’s lessons home during Thursday’s performances.

Keith Valley Middle School music teacher Mindy Rubinlicht said Flame’s visit ties in with the school’s KV K’NEX program, which fosters anti-bullying and character education. Through it, Rubinlicht said the school is planning talks on disabilities. At , Rubinlicht said teachers created specific lesson plans and are encouraging students to attend the Thursday evening Flame performance.

An elite group of Rubinlicht’s students – the 30-member Keith Valley Select Chorus – will join Flame in singing John Lennon’s “Imagine.”

“Most of the kids already knew the song,” Rubinlicht said. “We just really had to work on some harmonies.”

The Van Burens, a rock group composed of Keith Valley faculty members, including Rubinlicht, will open for Flame.

“I sing in a professional choir and we don’t necessarily get to play anything by the Clash,” Rubinlicht said of The Van Burens’ set list of rock covers, Beatles songs and “ ‘80s stuff.”

Like Flame, The Van Burens put their own twist on original songs. And while the music that Flame performs may not be their own, the concept is one-of-a-kind and perhaps even world-changing.

“Flame gives hope and inspiration to many,” Nestle said. “Recently, we had a mother tell us we gave her hope that her 6-month-old child with Down syndrome can live a great life and have fun doing it.”

If you go

Flame, the Band will perform a free concert at Keith Valley Middle School, 227 Meetinghouse Road, Horsham on May 10 at 7:30 p.m. for Patch's event listing for the concert. 


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