In the year 2000, our annual Christmas Mystery Trip took us to Cleveland, site of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I remember being fascinated by a special exhibit featuring John Lennon on display the day we visited.
I didn’t know it at the time, but the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus had already been on the road for two years at the time. A non-profit 501(c) (3), the bus is a mobile audio and video recording and production facility.
For more than a decade, this unique educational outreach has given countless children and young adults in hundreds of colleges, high schools, music festivals, Boys and Girls Clubs, community organizations and conventions a one-of-a-kind opportunity.
The hands-on programs are all free, and staffers actively encourage students to play music, write songs and take an active part in recording and producing audio and video creations. Of course, they aren’t expected to do this on their own. In fact, the help they get will be from some of the best and brightest in the biz.
Thanks to the Lennon Tour Bus, kids and young adults from all kinds of backgrounds, from small towns and big cities across America, can take a hand (literally) in making music and get expert help in writing and recording their own creations.
Yoko Ono, Lennon’s widow, is promoting this year’s tour across America to mark Lennon’s 70th birthday in October. “It’s a cause he would have supported enthusiastically,” says Ono.
The tour “. . . is committed to providing students with increased access to music, audio, video and broadcast technologies.
“The program works together with local partners to create free events for middle, high school, and college age students to tour the bus and participate in the production of music, video and digital photography projects reflective of their ideas and concerns, regardless of their levels of expertise.”
The bus has a number of special education projects: high school battle of the bands, college and university visits, concert tours, assemblies, documentaries, technology expos, essay contents and teacher training. Interested? You may view video overviews of these various programs to learn more.
Is the bus really fulfilling its mission and connecting with kids? Here are a couple of testimonials from those who have hosted a bus visit. And here are plenty more.
“It meant more to them than you’ll probably ever know. From the tours, to the donated instruments, to the music recording of the Little Jazz Giants, your visit to our city has made a far reaching impact that shall never be forgotten.” – Gwendolyn A. Faison – Mayor of Camden, NJ.
“We were very fortunate that we were selected to have the bus visit us. It was fantastic. It even impressed me with the equipment that is now available! We would love to host you again next year if it possible. Thanks again for everything! It was FANTASTIC!” – Mike Gjurich, Band Director, Western High School.
Between June 10 and the end of July, the bus will visit more than a dozen states, including Midwest stops in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and Missouri. Here is the complete schedule.
Not up to traveling with the kids to where the bus is? No worries. Maybe it will come to you. Email for details.
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