Testimonials

Feedback On ‘A Creative Musical Workshop for Veterans’ Recording ‘Stay Strong Be Brave In Salford

Our induction into the MVCA By Mr & Mrs Spider

Early October 2019 – Recording ‘Stay Strong Be Brave’ in Salford

Mrs Spider and I started talking to Suzie Stanford on Facebook; Suzie told us that she was looking for a number of HM Forces veterans and family members to take part in the recording of a song written from the words donated by veterans. The funds raised by this song will help to fund the work of the MVCA

We were invited to join all other attendees at a recording studio in Salford, Manchester.

Arrived on Friday 22nd and met Suzie and some others on the evening.

Saturday Morning we assembled at the photo studio for a team building rehearsal. Well what can one say, we soon found out who the comedians were, along with rehearsing the song we had a whale of a time and it didn’t take long for the military style banter to kick in, we soon had The Monkey, the Rock Ape, Rob the Dog, Alex the miniature Action Man and Martin and myself – MVCA’s answer to Morecombe and Wise. Suzie and I did our own rendition of a cuckoo (although mine was a little cheeky)

The day went really well bringing us together as a team.

Onto Sunday

For most it was the first experience in a recording studio. We started recording the backing lyrics in pairs and then went onto recording solo, finding myself attempting to rap for the first time ever, along the way.

Sunday evening for some of us was a social wind down back at the hotel. Once again the humour kicked in and finished the weekend the way it started.

All in all the whole experience was really good, occasionally nerve- racking but altogether we had a fun time all round

Alex

Rob Gray Testimonial – Recording ‘Stay Strong Be Brave’ in Salford.

The weekend in Salford for recording a song for MVCA was a great experience. I was more than a little nervous about meeting a group of new people in a new unknown environment. Suzie did a great job at organising a photo shoot and practice on the Saturday followed by the recording session on the Sunday. We have all come away from that weekend having made new friends…veterans and civvies.

To be able to support the MVCA is something we all feel strongly about and would love to see more veterans, Female and Male, come forward and join us for more adventures in and out of the recording studio!

A couple of months ago I and a few other veterans and civvies got together in a recording studio to try and record and produce a song that would possibly help MVCA ( Military Veterans Creative Arts ) to help people with PTSD to cope.

I was totally out of my depth doing this but I met that fear head on as I’m in no way a singer, I now understand how nervous people get when they do this for the first time ever, but those veterans gave me confidence and those civilians too, to do it and learn something about myself that I never knew existed. The song was ‘Stay Strong Be Brave’, a strange choice of words when I think about it, how will this help PTSD sufferers I dont know, but I can tell you what it did for me. It showed if you meet your fears head on and deal with them by talking really does help.

This may be a bit long winded but I think this one can help and those suffering can get their lives back. Maybe it will never come back one hundred per cent but it can help, I’d like to thank Suzie Stanford for her part in arranging it for us, and I hope we can raise funds to make MVCA do what it was set up to do and that’s help sufferers of PTSD especially veterans. Anyway here’s the song and I hope you like it.

Thank-you to everyone who took part in this venture for helping me overcome my fear.

Terry Price Testimonial – Guitar Lessons Funded by MVCA

I would like to thank MVCA for the great help and funding to enable my music creativity to start taking shape. Without their help I would still be struggling to be able to play the guitar because although I knew various chords I lacked technique and their help was just what I needed to carry on and progress. So thank you all.

Song from our album ‘Words by Veterans 2’

‘Telegram, Rest in Peace’ was a thought about when the Mothers, Wives etc received the Telegram telling them that their loved ones had been killed in action in WW1. It came from a personal story about my Gr Grandmother getting the news. With two young children and a third on the way. I had been drawing at the time, which helped with some personal problems. Go into my own safe world.

I was speechless when Suzie Stanford asked if she could use the words and put them to music. I knew Suzie was helping others through music and arts. She has given me back the confidence I had lost.

Scooby Testimonial

I have always done small doodles and have written short poems for quite a few years now. I found it helped me through some hard times, emotionally.

The ‘Telegram’ poem came about after memories of my Gran telling me when I was younger about her Dad dying in WW1, also doing the family tree, finding information that can now be found on the net.

When Suzie asked if she could use the words to make it into a song, I was gobsmacked, I still am. Which lead me to thinking of doing a doodle, a very primitive doodle of My Gr Gran that day the Telegram arrived. The confidence from Suzie led me to go further with my doodles than I had ever tried. I was always scared to do fine detail, shading, larger than A4. I always found if I did try to do those things it ended up as a primary 1 class painting. But I did I took it further. I am so proud, honoured and very grateful to know Suzie.

I have never met anyone like her, who gives out so much confidence to others. Always puts others first.

Through Suzie’s help etc I am more comfortable, more daring with my doodles. I am nowhere near an artist level. Through MVCA the Artists I have met are so helpful and willing to advise on any problems I have come up against.

Thank you, Suzie and MVCA

Scooby xx