Students come together over John Lennon Educational Tour Bus

Some MU students combined their talents to create a new production.

By Mariah Hibbard

Published Oct. 23, 2009

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus rolled its way onto campus Oct. 19 to combine the talents of several students from the School of Music and the School of Journalism. Since 1998, this non-profit outreach program has sought to fulfill a simple mission of "providing students with increased access to music, audio, video and broadcast technologies."

Keith Politte, manager of the Technology Testing Center at the Reynolds Journalism Institute, represented the School of Journalism at the event.

"This is a rare opportunity for students to get hands-on experience with cutting edge equipment," he said. "It brings the schools together."

The program was originally affiliated with the John Lennon Song Writing Contest, founded by Brian Rothschild and Yoko Ono Lennon. It has since evolved into its own entity, but it has maintained the original vision of encouraging the next generation of musicians and songwriters.

"The bus teaches kids how these things work," senior Chelsea Secktnan said of the recording and production equipment. "It gives the opportunity to come together and create something."

Students have one day to complete all aspects of the production process. Within nine hours, those involved have written, recorded and mixed their own original song or have produced and shot an accompanying video.

Kevin Hoy and the other engineers on board spend up to 10 months of the year living on the bus, traveling nationwide for the cause.

"We're trying to expose students to a recording experience they wouldn't otherwise have, we're not looking for the next big band," he said. "Our goal is to foster a sense of creative self-expression."

There is no talent prerequisite or previous experience required to take advantage of this program.

"We're interested in showing them how to create anything they can come up with in their minds, regardless of talent or money," project engineer Doug Larson said.

The bus mobilizes an impressive arsenal of audio and visual weaponry divided into two studios, including Godin guitars, PA technology by Mackie and high definition monitors by Apple.

Also on board is what Hoy playfully describes as "the only Imagine Peace Tower replica-refrigerator combo in the world," which is actually just a refrigerator with a model tower on it.

The traveling studio brings this state-of-the-art technology to students across the country. Although the program focuses on high schools, it delivers its creative energy to all ages, from kindergarten to college, with the help of 36 corporate sponsors, such as Sony and Apple, and some celebrity support. Famous names such as Will.i.Am, John Legend and Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead have found themselves on board, both recording and working with students.

Students were selected from the jazz studies program within the School of Music. In addition, two students from the J school worked alongside in the video production aspect.

The combined talents came to be known as "Tiger Lizzy and the Mizzou-Keepers." Their production "Peace and Harmony" can be found on the Tour Bus Web site, www.lennonbus.org. From Columbia, the bus is headed to Case Western Reserve University in Ohio and beyond, continuing its ongoing mission of carrying the message of creativity and free expression from coast to coast.