CUSD Scholars Create Music on John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
The acclaimed John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, a cutting-edge mobile recording and multimedia production facility, visited Centennial High School on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 where several Centennial and Dominguez High School scholars worked with the on-board crew of producers to write an original song, record it, and shoot a music video – all in one day.
CUSD Audio Production scholars with Centennial Audio Production Instructor Candice Boggerty at the AME Institute.
After visiting Centennial High on Tuesday, the bus began a residency at the AME Institute (Arts, Media, and Education) annual conference in Burbank, courtesy of the Dolby Institute, where it hosted the Centennial scholars and demonstrating their completed project.
Through CUSD’s robust Career Technical Education (CTE) department, the school district offers a variety of opportunities for scholars to learn about exciting businesses, such as music and entertainment, better preparing them for their life after graduation.
CUSD students create an original song on the John Lennon Bus.
CUSD is drawing on Compton’s rich musical history with Audio Production classes in all high schools, and opening a cutting-edge performing arts center in the new Compton High School next year.
The John Lennon Bus is a state-of-the-art mobile audio-video studio and travels the country visiting schools, colleges, and universities, focusing on providing experiential opportunities, as well as information on careers in music education, music products, and the music business. A large number of students tour the Bus and learn about the workings of a professional audio and video studio.
CUSD Superintendent Dr. Darin Brawley, Centennial Audio Production Instructor Candice Boggerty, and John Lennon Bus Executive Director Brian Rothschild
Inspired by John and Yoko's vision of embracing creativity and imagining peace, the Lennon Bus is committed to providing young people, communities, and schools across the nation with explanatory tours of the on-board studios, workshops, interactive experiences, and hands-on opportunities to create original audio, video, and broadcast projects that reflect their ideas and concerns.
The newly wrapped, newly equipped Lennon Bus has been on tour this year, making stops across the U.S. and Canada, with the esteemed RZA and hip hop pioneers Wu-Tang Clan, making use of the newly installed Dolby Atmos studio and Genelec monitors. The Bus is proud to be a proponent of sustainability with the help of Battle Born Batteries, which provide green power to the Bus.
Centennial Principal Dr. Bobby Walker and CUSD Board Member Ayanna Davis.
This Fall, the Bus plans to visit Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) as well as middle and high schools and other venues.
The Dolby Institute was established with the mission to educate, inspire, and empower the next generation of content creators. Collaborating with schools, colleges, and organizations worldwide, it aims to train professional, emerging, and underserved creators. Through a range of educational programs, strategic partnerships, workshops, and events, the institute strives to equip artists with access to Dolby's industry-leading content creation tools. Building on Dolby's rich history of innovation in entertainment, its educational initiatives are designed to provide the resources and guidance necessary to foster artistic expression.
About the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus:
The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is the premiere non-profit mobile recording facility that provides hands-on experiences for students of all ages. In its 26th year of touring, the Lennon Bus features a Dolby Atmos studio with the latest audio and video technology, gear and products. The concept began as an offshoot of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, dedicated to providing opportunities for both professional and amateur songwriters around the world; proceeds from which help support the Lennon Bus. The Lennon Bus travels across the U.S. and Canada year-round, providing free tours and workshops at schools, colleges and universities, festivals, on tours with headlining artists, and at major industry conferences. Lennon Bus Europe began providing these same opportunities to the young people of Europe when it launched in Liverpool, UK in May 2013.
The Lennon Bus is made possible by Yoko Ono Lennon and the following sponsors and contributors: Apple, Inc., The Dolby Institute, Battle Born Batteries, NAMM Foundation, Westlake Pro, Gibson Gives, Audio-Technica, Genelec, Apogee, Roland, Epiphone, Triple G Ventures, Triad-Orbit, Reason Studios, Solid State Logic, Neutrik, Blackmagic Design, Grace Design, Avid, Universal Audio, and Flock Audio.
About the AME Institute Burbank
The Arts Media and Entertainment Institute (AME Institute) is a leading educational non-profit dedicated to training AME educators and strengthening the pipeline from public education to the creative industries. 2024 Sponsors for AME Institute events include Adobe, BRIC Foundation, Certiport, CVL Economics, CA Film Commission, Dolby, Editmentor, Foundry, Soundtrap, Toon Boom, USITT, Visit Burbank, Wacom Technologies, Woodbury University, and Wix. The AME Institute is supported through funding from the Snap Foundation and Sony Pictures Entertainment.