The John Lennon Education Tour Bus

Next Destination: Diablo Valley College

Pleasant Hill, CA

 

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Students Learn Music Lesson Through Lennon

Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News


Students at a couple San Diego County high schools are learning some life lessons through making their own music. It’s part of the John Lennon Education Bus Tour.  KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis hopped aboard.


(Photo: About a dozen Kearny High students were selected to get a high-tech music lesson on the John Lennon Educational Bus Tour. Ana Tintocalis/KPBS)

The John Lennon Education Tour Bus is a high-tech recording studio. The tour’s mission is to tap into the musical talent of teenagers to promote Lennon’s vision of peace through music.

Tour organizers assemble a motley group of students at every school to produce a single music track and video. They strum on guitars, bang on drums and play the piano.

At this stop there are heavy metal fans, hip-hop enthusiasts and female vocalists.

Janeen Williamson says music is huge part of her family life.

“We do reggae, some Christian, some gospel,” Williamson said. “Today I’m doing something totally different. It has a rock feel to it. But I’m ready to roll with it.”

Freshman Audie Roseler has long blonde hair and plays guitar. His favorite band is Iron Maiden. He says this bus tour is even more special as more schools cut music programs.

“(Music) is how kids express themselves,” Roseler said. “Without music I would pretty much be nothing. So it’s horrible to hear about (the budget cuts).”


(Photo: The John Lennon Education Tour Bus makes stops at schools throughout the country. Ana Tintocalis/KPBS)

And tour organizer Seamus Harte thinks it’s horrible more young people have no clue who John Lennon was or what his music was all about. 

“Kids ask if (Lennon) is going to be joining us today or if he is on the bus,” Harte said. “And I think its really important to know your history, remember what John Lennon was about, using his celebrity to promote peace.”

The next stop for the John Lennon Education Tour bus is El Cajon Valley High School.

Imagine a studio on wheels.

- Leader-Post

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Video aboard the Bus

The increasing accessibility of digital technology has led to an amazing expansion of opportunity in the art of digital storytelling. The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus has been at the forefront of this new media explosion, having produced daily video projects with students since January of 2001. The Lennon Bus puts state-of-the-art digital video equipment into the hands of workshop participants and teaches the entire digital workflow from storyboarding to web publication and DVD burning. Students leave the experience having shot, chopped, scored, and (most importantly) finished an entire digital video production. Using the latest cameras and professional hardware/software solutions including Avid Media Composer and Pro Tools, participants are exposed to the exciting world of digital videography and learn hot techniques of the trade. The accessibility of professional-quality technology is making it possible for millions of new voices to be heard and the John Lennon Bus is putting these tools into the hands of tomorrow's great digital producers. Subscribe to our Youtube channel so you never miss any of the amazing videos produced on the Lennon Bus.