This week, we sat down with Notes for Notes founder/CEO Philip Gilley to talk about the organization mission to help kids with music education, and so much more.

How did the idea for Notes for Notes come together? Founded by Phil GIlley, Roderick Hare and Natalie Noone. Phil and Rod were both involved as Big Brothers and recognized how powerful the relationship was when built on making music together. Phil would frequent the local music store, justifying the visit with a purchase of picks/ strings, all the while making use of the instruments on the floor to teach/jam with his little. The idea of Notes for Notes spawned from this experience. Why wasn't there a place where youth could go to get their hands on instruments/ gear, learn how to play and create original music... for free. It didn't exist so they set out to build it, opening the first studio in Santa Barbara before eventually connecting with the local Boys & Girls Clubs and opening two more studios. In 2011 N4N opened its first (and third) studio outside the state in Nashville. And in 2014 a fortuitous introduction to the CMA Foundation would instigate a strategic five year grant that would launch 13 new studios across the US. 

What does the organization look like today? Today, N4N has 25 studios across 13 states/ 15 cities. Every studio has a full time Producer that educates, inspires and empowers the next generation of artists, producers, engineers through the experience of recording. N4N Studios are located inside public schools and after-school programs including the organization's three Nashville studios (Cleveland Park Community Center, Andrew Jackson and Preston Taylor Boys & Girls Clubs). Every studio is FREE and open to any and all youth regardless of experience. At our core is a dedication to Freedom of Expression to empower youth to utilize music in discovery of themselves. 

What's been the secret for getting so many celebrity artists involved? Every artist wishes they had an N4N studio when they were younger, a place to go that would allow them to cut their teeth on the process of making a record while collaborating with others... and making Noise! Therefore, it's never been a hard sell when presenting N4N to the music community. There is great joy for artists who get to witness the younger versions of themselves benefitting from a space they used to dream of. Additionally the studio is inherently a creative environment. It's not a school so when artists swing by to hang, it's just that, a place to hang around other creatives where the energy to make something from nothing. It's not about giving speeches or teaching a class, it's about connecting through music regardless of your background, experience or any of the numerous ways in which we may appear to differ. Established and up and coming artists bond in ways only music could facilitate. Just ask Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco who co- sponsored an N4N Studio in his hometown of Las Vegas in 2020!

Can you share one amazing moment where you saw your vision for the organization in action? In 2015, we opened a new studio in Atlanta and our long-time Nashville Producer relocated to open the studio leaving a vacancy in our then two Nashville studios. At the ready were two recently graduated members of our program, Will and Cam who expressed interest in working in the studios. They were both very green but talented and grew up in the program which rooted them in our culture. This year they celebrate 10 years with Notes for Notes, 8 of them as full time Producers giving young artists the same opportunity they had coming up. And one of those young artists was GAYLE. A member of the studios since she was 12 after finding us at a pop-up activation at CMA FanX, GAYLE was a regular member up until her signing with Kara DioGuardi. The rest is history which was fun to reminisce on when she returned to the studios in late September for a reunion and podcast (coming out soon). N4N has become way bigger than I could have imagined but seeing the taproot of our culture embodied in our team here and abroad inspires me everyday to strive to take N4N to new heights.

How can people get involved? 25 Studios is just scratching the surface. We could have 25 studios in Nashville alone and still not reach every youth looking for a studio to record at. We need help in many forms to expand and amplify the mission. Are you an artist on tour? would you want to add a $1 per ticket that might fund the building of an N4N Studio in your hometown in your honor! Are you a Producer/ Engineer? Maybe you have studio/ gear to donate that might level up our studios! Are you an MI professional? Volunteer and give your expertise/time in the studio to educate up and coming young artists.  There are many ways to support be that giving time, money or opening doors that might put an N4N Studio in every state... and then international. Visit us at notesfornotes.org and reachout at hello@notesfornotes.org to get involved.