The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus helps kids write songs, record tracks, and film music videos — all in one school day. The bus is the brainchild of Yoko Ono Lennon, who keeps her husband’s musical legacy alive by sending the interactive mobile recording studio to teens in cities, suburbs, and rural communities across the country. Thanks to her and more than 30 corporate sponsors, the nonprofit production facility is now in its 14th year, keeping up with the latest audio and visual gear, courtesy of big-name companies like Apple and Avid. With help from three intrepid on-board video and recording engineers, kids have access to free workshops on songwriting and digital production, from storyboarding all the way to DVD burning, until they’re finished with an entire digital production. We took a ride and found some pictures and videos by the kids themselves. Is the next YouTube sensation somewhere in there? You decide.
Courtesy John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
“The Penguin Performers of Wallaby Street” by The Stalkers (University High School, Fresno, CA) Courtesy John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
Fernando Pullum, Yoko Ono, Quincy Jones, Courtesy John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
“Black and White” by Love Salvation (Arlington High School, Riverside, CA) Courtesy John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
Courtesy John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
Courtesy John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
“There is Always Drama” by Dramarama (Bay Shore Community Center, Daly City, CA) Courtesy John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
Courtesy John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
Courtesy John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
“This is How We Roll” by Little Z (Grady Middle School, Houston, TX) Courtesy John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
Courtesy John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
Courtesy John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
“The Zombie Dilemma” (Daphne High School, Daphne, AL) Courtesy John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
Courtesy John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
The Black Eyed Peas Courtesy John Lennon Educational Tour Bus