Last week, student had the opportunity to witness The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus in action. This bus travels the world, offering students a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience what goes into making music and how visuals come to life. The tour bus aims to “amplify student creativity through art, music, and storytelling.” During their visit today, they collaborated with students to create an original song and a music video entirely from scratch. *The Digest* also spoke with several students about the exciting project they were involved in.
“To be in this environment with all of these amazing and talented people uplifts me, and it’s so inspiring,” says Serena Smith, a junior majoring in vocal performance. She shared how much this opportunity means to her. “Everyone should be open to the opportunities that come, even if it’s not their main interest—get your foot through that door,” she adds.
Triton Patin, a senior majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies, also expressed his excitement about the Tour Bus. “I love the visual elements, and I hope to learn more about video arts and how to create music videos, like we’re doing today.” The bus brought an immense amount of joy, and the students felt valued on this day full of new experiences and opportunities.
Two key individuals on the bus made the event possible: Senior Producer Bryce Quig-Hartman and artist-in-residence Khemist Mayfield. Quig-Hartman mentioned that the bus has plans to visit three additional HBCUs, including Southern University, Xavier University, and Grambling State University. He explained the goal of their stop at Southern: “I wanted the students to write an original song and shoot a music video, all from scratch.” These professionals have worked with young adults for years and are passionate about what they do.
Mayfield, on his second tour with the bus, emphasized his desire to provide students with the opportunity to explore and collaborate with their peers. “I want artists to express themselves and create a space for those who feel they are creative yet misunderstood,” he said. He shared how much he’s been enjoying the experience and looks forward to continuing the journey.
The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus has done an outstanding job so far, traveling across the country, empowering students, and giving them the opportunity of a lifetime.
