Yoko Ono Lennon Kicks Off NAMM Show in Anaheim in Honor of John’s 70th
By Terry Miller
Published: Thursday, January 14th, 2010
Yoko Ono Lennon keeps John’s legacy alive as she kicked off 2010 with a press conference at NAMM, the international music products association, supporting music education in celebration of Lennon’s 70th birthday. Quincy Jones and Jackson bBrown spoke out out the importance of music education on behalf of American youth. Students from South Central Los Angeles’ Fernando Pullum Performing Arts School performed a medley of Lennon songs with Rickey Minor, the musical director of American Idol, Jackson Browne and Fishbone. Yoko is utilizing this year to celebrate John’s legacy and is showing her continued support of music education and the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, which gives students across the country free hands-on access to music and the digital arts.
As Yoko says, “The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is a non-profit outreach program with the mission of giving kids a chance to express themselves through music and video productions. It has been a living legacy to John’s passion for musical expression and artistic freedom. By utilizing the on-the-road John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and its fine studio set-up, thousands of students have written, recorded and produced original songs and videos – students who otherwise might not have had the opportunity to explore these avenues of creativity. At a time with music education in the schools is facing tough funding challenges, the Bus has been a rolling testament to the enduring, positive power of music making.”
The students from the Fernando Pullum Performing Arts School are a shining example of what music education can do. In an area of Los Angeles where only 30% of students graduate from high school, 100% of Fernando’s students graduate from high school, and 99% have gone on to college. To learn how to keep music in your local community, go to www.supportmusic.com, a non-profit outreach initiative of the NAMM Foundation.
The NAMM Foundation is a non-profit organization with the mission of advancing active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs from the international music products industry. For more information about The NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org. For more information of how to support music education programs in your local community, go to www.supportmusic.com.
The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is a non-profit state-of-the-art mobile Pro Audio and HD video recording facility that provides hands-on experiences for students of all ages. In its 12th year of touring, the venture is proud of its brand new bus and its studios, which boast the latest audio and video technology, gear and products. The concept began as an offshoot of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, which is dedicated to providing opportunities for both professional and amateur songwriters around the world.
The Bus travels across the U.S. and Canada year-round, providing free tours and workshops at schools, retailers, festivals, on tours with headlining artists, and at major industry conferences.
The Bus, a 501(c)(3) venture, is made possible through the generosity of sponsors including Apple, Maxell Corporation, NAMM, The Beatles: Rock Band, Roland, Sonicbids, GHS Strings, Disc Makers, Edirol by Roland, Avid, Mackie, Blackheart Amps, Ampeg, Boss, Digital Media Academy, Aphex Systems, Audio-Technica, Glyph Technologies, Neutrik, Music Player Network, Propellerhead, Musician’s Friend, Ableton, Sibelius, Digidesign, Apogee, Sony, Litepanels, McDSP, IK Multimedia, Native Instruments, Gretsch Drums, Bogen Imaging, Noise Industries, Applied Acoustics Systems and Harris Corporation. The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is made possible by an agreement with Yoko Ono Lennon.
Photos by Terry Miller
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