Yoko Ono Takes Stage at NAMM to Kick Off Lennon 70th Celebration and Talk About Music Education

Yoko Ono appeared at the annual NAMM convention this week to kick off the year-long celebration of John Lennon's 70th birthday.  Joining her on the stage were Quincy Jones and Jackson Browne who spoke about the importance of music education for American youth.

Ono talked about Lennon's legacy and her continued support for music education, speaking at length about the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus which gives students hands-on experience with music and the digital arts.

“John’s voice was unique and beautiful and his voice is still here traveling all over the United States on the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, so that students across the country can make music.

"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."

Also appearing at the presentation were students from South Central Los Angeles' Fernando Pullman Performing Arts School, an institution that boasts a graduation rate of 100% in an area of the city that normally only graduates 30% of their students.  They performed a medley of Lennon's songs with Rickey Minor, musical director of American Idol.

From a press release on the Lennon Bus:

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, Gibson, Epiphone, Sony, Avid, Roland, Mackie, GHS Strings, Sonicbids, Disc Makers, Edirol by Roland, Blackheart Amps, Ampeg, Boss, Digital Media Academy, Aphex Systems, Audio-Technica, Glyph Technologies, Neutrik, Music Player Network, Propellerhead, Musician’s Friend, Harris Corporation, Ableton, Apogee, Litepanels, Applied Acoustics Systems, Antares, McDSP, IK Multimedia, Native Instruments, Slingerland Drums, Bogen Imaging, and Noise Industries. The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is made possible by an agreement with Yoko Ono Lennon.

For more information on ways to support music in your school system, go to http://www.supportmusic.com/.