Audio-Technica has long been involved in youth music education, both in and out of schools, helping to foster a lifelong love of music. Below, we’ve rounded up some of our sponsored organizations that inspire children to continue learning about music and keep their interest in music alive. Check out how these organizations give back to youth, schools, and communities using mobile recording studios, live events, and more. 

Playing for Change

Playing for Change was created in 2002 by co-founders Mark Johnson and Whitney Kroenke. They wanted to create a movement that would inspire and connect individuals through music, and chose to create a mobile recording studio that travels across America to give people everywhere an opportunity to record music.

Together, Johnson and Kroenke traveled across the world creating Song Around the World videos and even formed a band to connect people through concerts and live events. Through these events, the organization was able to launch its non-profit division, the Playing for Change Foundation, which is dedicated to providing music and art education primarily in impoverished communities for marginalized youth. The Playing for Change Foundation’s programs can be found across the globe, in 11 countries and multiple cities.

These educational programs are free to all children and educate them on vocals, dance, instruments, and musical theory. Not only does the Playing for Change Foundation provide children access to music education, but it also provides basic needs to these communities, like clean water, food, solar power, medicine, school supplies, and clothes. Today, the Playing for Change Foundation has made a difference to more than 40,000 lives through their music education and development efforts and programs.

Notes for Notes

The non-profit organization Notes for Notes (N4N) was founded in 2006 to solve the problem of the lack of musical equipment and programs in public schools, as well as to create recording studios across the United States for youth. The goal of N4N was to not only provide equipment but to educate and inspire through the art of music.

Today, N4N spans across 11 states and provides over 8,500 youth access to 23 studios in 14 cities. Located inside Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the US, N4N is completely free to access, create and record music. Beyond the creation of music, N4N also educates children on the different career paths available through music.

As a proud sponsor of N4N, A-T has provided various audio equipment to the organization, including headphones and microphones to enhance the N4N studio experience.

Co-Founder Phillip Gilley expressed how providing professional audio gear to these children has made a huge impact in the way they perform. In our interview with him, Gilley explained, “The currency of the studio is respect. We respect your right to express yourself through music and we ask that you respect us, your peers, and the gear. Our gear is very well taken care of because we focus on empowering our members to treat it as if it’s their own. Give them the best and they will rise to their best.”

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is a non-profit, state-of-the-art mobile audio and HD video recording facility created in honor of John Lennon. It’s dedicated to providing music and art opportunities to students, schools, and communities through performances, remote recordings, studio sessions, and more.

The Lennon Bus is outfitted with the latest equipment, including powerful audio equipment from A-T like the ATH-M50x headphones, and is committed to providing youth access to music through their educational programs. Not only were the ATH-M50x headphones available in the mobile studio, but they were also used when the Lennon Bus stopped to make music at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Show. In addition to NAMM, A-T was proud to support one of the many Lennon Bus programs, the Creator Station, with pro microphones. The Creator Station gave students the opportunity to learn and enhance their knowledge of recording basics.