NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Drury High senior and Berkshires' Academy for Advanced Musical Studies student drummer Zach Hillard has composed a song, "Here I Am," as a personal anthem of overcoming challenges.

 

"If you want to do something, go do it. That's the whole point behind 'Here I Am,'"  Hillard said. "Any obstacles and challenges you may face in your life, if you have something you want to do, go for it. There is not one person on earth who does not have a dream or something they want to overcome. Whether it is physical or mental, it does not matter, if you want to do it."

 

The song is personal and showcases Hillard's struggles with cerebral palsy and how those struggles have shaped who he has become. 

 

The song opens with the lyrics:

 

Look — my name is Zach.

I was born early, eager to see the world

and drop some knowledge.

Doctors said that I would not talk, walk,

and be wheelchair bound.

But look at me:

Here I am.

I'm talking, walking, and can do anything

I wanna do; nothing can stop me.

 

Hillard said he never knew writing music would be so important to him and was surprised by how much he took to the BAAMS assignment that asked students to pen some lyrics and themes for an original song.

 

Hillard decided to write about his own life. 

 

"I've got a pretty cool life story. So I went home, I thought about it, and in about one day, I had most of it written," he said. "...The end of verse one I wrote ‘look at me here I am.' I thought 'Here I am' that is sort of catchy."

 

He brought his song to class and received a good reaction. He then began collaborating with BAAMS staff and students to build the song from the ground up.

 

BAAMS Director Richard Boulger said the project was totally student-driven and staff were only on the sidelines to facilitate ideas.

 

"They came up with some type of written word and then after we tried to figure out what it was going to sound like," Boulger said. "My job is to ask the questions. They run the show. We try to empower all of our kids to really know that music is within themselves, and we want to help them develop that and express that."

 

Hillard said the initial cuts of the song were in a minor key. The song changed a lot through the collective effort. 

 

"I had a bunch of verses, but no chorus. And it was all kind of minor key, mellow and really serious," Hillard said. "One day Mr. B [Boulger] said ‘What about opening it up to major key'. At first, I didn't like it, but once I heard one of the BAAMS vocalists sing it, I was sold … It is all about community and that is the magic of music, being able to collaborate on the spot and make something beautiful."

 

After workshopping the song over multiple sessions, Hillard shipped the track, which is comprised of his vocals, pre-recorded material, and input from BAAMS staff and students, to faculty member Dario Boente to produce.

 

Hillard played drums in concert band but said jazz was new to him before signing up for BAAMS Summer Jazz Camp.

 

"By the end of that week, I met a lot of people, and I had some new techniques," he said. "I did my first show for BAAMS and at the end of that camp I knew this is what I love doing and I want to keep doing it. So I came back, and I'm still coming back here."

 

He said the local academy opened up new doors for him beyond what he was experiencing in concert band.

 

"It was a whole new world I never really understood until I came to BAAMS," he said. I started to learn from the masters. It was great just hanging out with them and picking their brains about drums or just life."

 

The music school then helped Hillard develop a music video for the song that can be found here. Hillard then published the song for sale on Bandcamp.

 

"Zach learned the entire process in terms of copywriting music, marketing, and promoting. We really try to cover all of the different steps," Boulger said. "Not only do we want our students to be able to turn their own experiences into songs, but actually put it out in the world and maybe make a buck."

 

Hillard said BAAMS introduced him to his inner songwriter.

 

"I always say that BAAMS delivered the dream I never thought I had," Hillard said. "I always knew that I loved music, but I didn't realize how much I wanted to deliver a message. Everyone has a message and everyone expresses their message differently."

 

Hillard plans to study sports broadcasting but said music will continue to play an important role in his life.

 

"Music never dies once you fall in love with it," he said. "So I am never going to stop playing."

 

Students can sign up for BAAMS here. Click here if you want to support BAAMS.