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.
Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
