John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
Encyclopedia
The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus ("Lennon Bus") was founded in 1998 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to reaching youth through music and video, a testament to John Lennon's zeal for expression through music. While corporately based in New York City, the mission of the organization is carried out through an incredible traveling bus, a state-of-the-art audio and video recording studio on wheels.
The Bus travels from coast to coast, making stops at K-12 schools, universities, Boys and Girls Clubs, concerts, trade shows, music festivals and more. At most stops the staff conducts free tours while providing an opportunity for a group of youths to record an original song and video. Each stop typically culminates in a community celebration and screening of the music and video just produced on the Bus. At some of its school visits, the Bus organizes a Battle of the Bands where students can engage in a friendly competition and the winning band may receive prizes. The Bus has also co-produced a course with the Digital Media Academy
that is offered at several universities each summer, called "Come Together: Music and Video Production." Requests for the Bus to stop at schools and communities across the U.S. are accepted at any time, but the high volume of requests that the staff receives results in the unfortunate reality that not all requests can be accommodated. Nevertheless, the Bus and its staff strive to reach as many people as possible in order to further music education.
The Bus' interior is divided into three separate studio environments that can be opened to create one large studio. The front studio is a cutting-edge audio and video production room. The rear studio offers pro-level recording and mixing at the highest possible resolution, as well as an iso booth for acoustic recordings, and a Chromatte (green screen) booth. Featuring Avid audio and video solutions, the studios are powered by Apple computers. Gibson and Epiphone guitars are provided along with M-Audio keyboards, and Roland V-Drums. The latest Sony HD professional cameras are available as well. At special events, the Lennon Stage is built outside the Bus for band and songwriter performances.
The Lennon Bus is very connected to the professional recording industry. Well-known recording artists, including will.i.am
, Natasha Bedingfield
and Justin Timberlake
have recorded on the Bus and participated in outreach programs. In addition to isolated recording sessions, the Bus has accompanied headlining artists, such as The Black Eyed Peas
, on their concert tours, allowing these artists to continue working on their records while they are on the road.
The Bus is made possible through the generosity of sponsors including Apple, Avid, Mont Blanc, NAMM, SAE Institute, Gibson, Epiphone, Sony, Audio-Technica, Neutrik, Reflecmedia, Roland, Mackie, Sonicbids, Disc Makers, Mobile Roadie
, Ampeg, Boss, Digital Media Academy, Aphex Systems, Manfrotto Distribution, iZotope, Glyph Technologies, Music Player Network, Musician’s Friend, Harris Corporation, Apogee, Litepanels, Applied Acoustics Systems, Antares, McDSP, IK Multimedia, Native Instruments, Slingerland Drums, Noise Industries and an agreement with Yoko Ono Lennon.
The Bus travels from coast to coast, making stops at K-12 schools, universities, Boys and Girls Clubs, concerts, trade shows, music festivals and more. At most stops the staff conducts free tours while providing an opportunity for a group of youths to record an original song and video. Each stop typically culminates in a community celebration and screening of the music and video just produced on the Bus. At some of its school visits, the Bus organizes a Battle of the Bands where students can engage in a friendly competition and the winning band may receive prizes. The Bus has also co-produced a course with the Digital Media Academy
Digital Media Academy
- History :The Digital Media Academy is a digital art and technology training company, offering Stanford University Continuing Studies accredited courses for adults as well as summer camp programs for kids, age 6-18, computer camp and tech camp at several universities in the US and Canada...
that is offered at several universities each summer, called "Come Together: Music and Video Production." Requests for the Bus to stop at schools and communities across the U.S. are accepted at any time, but the high volume of requests that the staff receives results in the unfortunate reality that not all requests can be accommodated. Nevertheless, the Bus and its staff strive to reach as many people as possible in order to further music education.
The Bus' interior is divided into three separate studio environments that can be opened to create one large studio. The front studio is a cutting-edge audio and video production room. The rear studio offers pro-level recording and mixing at the highest possible resolution, as well as an iso booth for acoustic recordings, and a Chromatte (green screen) booth. Featuring Avid audio and video solutions, the studios are powered by Apple computers. Gibson and Epiphone guitars are provided along with M-Audio keyboards, and Roland V-Drums. The latest Sony HD professional cameras are available as well. At special events, the Lennon Stage is built outside the Bus for band and songwriter performances.
The Lennon Bus is very connected to the professional recording industry. Well-known recording artists, including will.i.am
Will.i.am
William James Adams, Jr. , better known by his stage name will.i.am and occasionally by his other stage name Zuper Blahq, is an American rapper, musician, songwriter, singer, actor and producer...
, Natasha Bedingfield
Natasha Bedingfield
Natasha Anne Bedingfield is a British pop singer and songwriter. Bedingfield debuted in the 1990s as a member of the Christian dance/electronic group The DNA Algorithm with her siblings Daniel Bedingfield and Nikola Rachelle...
and Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
have recorded on the Bus and participated in outreach programs. In addition to isolated recording sessions, the Bus has accompanied headlining artists, such as The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
, on their concert tours, allowing these artists to continue working on their records while they are on the road.
The Bus is made possible through the generosity of sponsors including Apple, Avid, Mont Blanc, NAMM, SAE Institute, Gibson, Epiphone, Sony, Audio-Technica, Neutrik, Reflecmedia, Roland, Mackie, Sonicbids, Disc Makers, Mobile Roadie
Mobile Roadie
Mobile Roadie is a self-service mobile app platform to create, customize and manage mobile apps.- History :Mobile Roadie was founded in 2009 by Michael Schneider and Brock Batten and officially launched at South by Southwest 2009. The first live app to be created using the Mobile Roadie platform...
, Ampeg, Boss, Digital Media Academy, Aphex Systems, Manfrotto Distribution, iZotope, Glyph Technologies, Music Player Network, Musician’s Friend, Harris Corporation, Apogee, Litepanels, Applied Acoustics Systems, Antares, McDSP, IK Multimedia, Native Instruments, Slingerland Drums, Noise Industries and an agreement with Yoko Ono Lennon.