Be Stronger
Tim Gunn, fashion consultant, who is the producer and on-air personality for TV’s popular show, Project Runway, once considered suicide because of how he was teased and disrespected when he was young. 
Former professional football star and world-class athlete, Herschel Walker was given unmerciful grief for being overweight and out of shape when he was in elementary school. 
Even President Barack Obama was treated with contempt by some people long before he was President because, as a youngster, he was not only the product of a culturally mixed marriage, but also an American kid living abroad.
Fortunately for all of them, they didn’t let the disregard keep them from excelling. But still, there are far too many people who are growing up in a world where they are bullied by those who have somehow not learned how to value … or at least tolerate … those who are different, but nonetheless possessive of valuable and important gifts of character.
That’s why we can be thankful for one of the latest projects of a phenomenal trio of young musicians called Time For Three. They recently produced a music video with a strong message regarding bullying. They will also be guests in Wichita as they are featured in next spring’s edition of the Wichita Symphony’s Young People’s Concert series.
On their web site (www.tf3.com) you will find an interview quoted on their home page that includes an explanation for why they produced their video. Here is an excerpt:
We are Time for Three and this is our story — the story of so many kids who every day face challenges to who they are and who they want to be: their dreams, their ambitions, their identity. This video is for you guys. Be strong. Stick with it. We did, and we are stronger for it.
Why did you make this video?
We’ve been wanting to make a music video for a long time – but not just a regular music video, one with a strong positive message for young people.
And what is the video’s message?
Be stronger, achieve your dreams, fight against bullies or WHATEVER strong force is against you.
Who funded this project?
This project was completely self-funded, and [we] could not have done this without the incredible support of our fans. 274 fans contributed over [$18,000] through our on-line Kickstarter campaign in just over a week, and another fan bought into our vision and made a substantial contribution, enabling us to book our trip to LA!
When and where was it created?
The video was made over a two-day period at the end of August 2011 in Los Angeles. Most of the filming was done at a campus-style high school.
How did you get this idea?
Tf3 and our producer Steve Hackman have been wanting to make a music video for some time. However it wasn’t until Zach came up with the idea for the story that we all felt inspired. All four of us realized that we had similar stories: we were the kid in school who didn’t fit in and was sometimes bullied or left out because we played an instrument. But we didn’t give up.
“We were the kid in school who didn’t fit in and was sometimes bullied or left out because we played an instrument.”
The guys in Tf3 get it. They know what it’s like to be bullied … disrespected … made fun of … just because of being different; and like our other examples above, they managed not to let it get them down. Time for Three is, now, a highly successful musical group known internationally which features three classically trained musicians that have a love for ALL kinds of music. And yet they started like so many other groups do … as a garage band.
Go figure.
The trio features Zachary (Zach) De Pue and Nicolas (Nick) Kendall on violin, and Ranaan Meyer on double bass. All of them have a passion for playing, improvising, composing and arranging music … and, thank goodness … for encouraging others who may be experiencing some of the challenges they faced growing up to “Be Stronger.”
But don’t take my word for any of this. Check them – and their video – out for yourself at www.tf3.com .
