The John Lennon Education Tour Bus

Next Destination: Guitar Center

Westlake Village, CA

 

Press

Media Coverage

Ribault students get taste of digital entertainment business

BY JOSH SALMAN -- Jacksonville.com


They had the lights, the cameras and the most action they’ve ever seen.

They had the singing, the dancing, the producing and the editing. They cut a record, made a music video and experienced all there is to experience in the art of music and Hollywood. And they did it in just one day.

Six students at Ribault High School ditched the textbooks and lectures Wednesday to learn all about the digital multimedia business through the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus - a studio and production showcase on wheels.

The Jacksonville students began their day writing lyrics to their own song. They then went into the studio to record it. They edited the audio tape and hit the campus.

The students danced, sang and did take after take as they filmed a music video.

“The experience has been unexplainable,” said Christopher Taylor, a Ribault junior who participated in the workshop. “I’m learning a lot about what it takes to be an artist. Some things don’t work out, but all comes together when you work as a team.”

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is a nonprofit organization that travels the country and visits schools, day camps and after-school programs. The goal of the workshops is to engage students and spark creative interest in digital multimedia careers, on-board producer Seamus Harte said.

“Hopefully, the experience will help them continue to produce their ideas,” he said. “The truth is, it’s really easy to do this stuff nowadays. We show them how it’s possible.”

The bus is equipped with a recording studio, two digital editing hubs, mixers, a surround-sound audio system, high-definition TVs and all of the needed camera equipment.

The rolling studio has the capability to record an album for a professional rock band or make a simple, homemade movie to post on YouTube, Harte said.

“The idea is you can get involved and be a producer, no matter your background knowledge,” he said.

Ribault was chosen by members of the organization and its sponsor, Apple, because of the lack of opportunity its students have to conduct similar activities in the classroom.

The students - Taylor and fellow juniors Wilton Howard and Shonquea Mckay, senior Mariah Bolton and freshmen Ketrica Smith and Regina Mckay - were then selected based on music inclination and interest.

“The level of technology here far exceeds what we could do in the school district,” said DeAndre Jackson, a Ribault technology teacher who spearheaded the event. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for these kids to integrate their talents and gain experience.”

To the students, it was an opportunity they’ll never forget.

“I never expected this to happen to us,” Ketrica Smith said. “I’m so honored and could definitely see myself doing this as a career someday. It’s hard work, but it’s fun.”

(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), (904) 359-4351
http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/schools/2009-05-28/story/ribault_students_get_taste_of_digital_entertainment_business

“This is precisely the kind of project John Lennon would have loved.”

- Yoko Ono Lennon

The Headlines

  • Live with Bootsy at NAMM

    Friday night at NAMM the Lennon Bus hosted an event to commemorate the launch of the 2012 tour, capped off with a funktastic performance by Bootsy Collins and Verdine White. The Bus produced a live webstream of the event using our new TriCaster 850 Extreme and TodoCast satellite connection; if you missed it live you can still catch it on the DVR here: lennonbus.org/live. Stay tuned for future live events, happening regularly!

  • JLETB’s 15th Year Anniversary

    The JLETB kicked-off its 15th year of bringing music education to students nationwide, with a special birthday party at the 2012 NAMM Show. The Bus unveiled a new arsenal of equipment for the 2012 year, including Avid® Pro Tools®|HDX, and live streaming capabilities made possible by NewTek and TodoCast that will allow the whole party to be seen live via www.lennonbus.org. Learn more here.

  • Best Buy

    The Bus wrapped up the 2011 tour with a stop at Best Buy in Plantation, FL. Thanks to everyone who came out for tours of the Bus and to experience our state-of-the-art Avid audio and video solutions. See you next year!

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.