There's a bus coming to a town near you that says yes, yes, and yes again. So it's not literally a bus, but it's definitely on the move and it's absolutely transporting people to whole new worlds.

Call it the Electric Bus. Just off an American road trip in late February in Los Angeles, the Bus is the brainchild of the Experience Music Project, Seattle's newest cultural -- and architectural -- icon. While the aerial view of the sprawling interactive music exploratorium supposedly resembles a smashed electric guitar (for the record, no Seattleite we know can tell!), the Electric Bus looks a lot more like a series of tents than it does a yellow school bus.

But the direction it's taking the nation's schoolkids is toward the kinds of opportunities that few traditional schools can provide. By appealing to high school kids' sensory appetites, their seemingly limitless curiosity, and their technological instincts, the Electric Bus is turning children into musicians, songwriters, music historians, critics, sound engineers, and producers and opening them up to the very real possibility of a creative future. This spring, the Bus rolled its 10,000 square foot, curriculum-based laboratory onto university campuses for three-day stints in some of the greatest bastions of American music, including Nashville, Atlanta, St. Louis, and Austin, and the local high school students have come out in full force. And their parents and teachers. And the college students. And their professors. In the thousands.

Whether it's the Origins and Impact part of the Bus, or its Artists and Artifacts section, or its wildly popular Song Lab, the Electric Bus packs a serious punch. Origins is a spin through the world of songwriting and the creative process. Artists and Artifacts takes kids backstage and behind the scenes for a look at what's involved in turning ideas into songs. And once they're fully inspired and energized, Song Lab lets them do it all -- every bit of the songwriting process -- themselves. "When the kids walk out, they say, "That was so cool!'" says John Morrison, the Bus' tour manager. It's educational without being arduous. It energizes kids who don't thrive in traditional school environments and gives them something to get excited about. As Morrison acknowledges: "Music is just not all that complicated."

At every stop along the Electric Bus' route, educators are acknowledging its unique value. Susan Clagett, a Special Assistant to the President for University Relations at The University of Texas at Austin, says the Dean of the University's College of Fine Arts championed the Bus. "He was supportive of the initial campus visit and hosted a second visit in order to locate the Bus in the fine arts complex on the plaza of our Performing Arts Center." The Bus provided the campus community with a model of interactive educational tools that have applications of interest to students, faculty, and staff. Adds Clagett: "It turned out to be a marvelous, educational opportunity for the larger Austin community, as well."

So music is creative. It's beautiful. It's connective. It's political. It transcends geography, exposing us to places and cultures we'd never experience otherwise. And it's constructive and instructive, too?

Who says music doesn't matter?

GOODTHINGS (e-mail us)

[what did you think of this story?]



TALK ABOUT IT
Does music matter? Can it change lives? We want to hear your stories of how music has opened doors and broadened horizons for you or someone you know.

LEARN ABOUT IT
The Electric Bus plans a late summer swing through North American cities on the "northern route." Find out where it will be.

Music Works Northwest is a bona fide recording studio, having been involved in the creation of more than 25 movie and video soundtracks in the past two years. Its programs range from music therapy for people with special needs to a "kindermusik" early-educational program for musicians as young as a few months old.

DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT
The National Association for Music Education Web site has resources for teachers and parents, as well as some wonderful music-related games for kids.

Get information from American Music Conference on the widespread benefits -- including physical and psychological wellness -- of music. This site is full of common-sense ideas for getting involved in music education. Ever considered donating that dusty old saxophone to a school music program?

Talk to other GoodLetter readers about the value of music and try out the new GoodThings discussion boards!

Readers Respond

Want to share your thoughts or ideas with other people who care about good things? Send 'em our way.