Notes for Notes was founded by Philip Gilley with a friend while the two met volunteering for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program in Santa Barbara. The organization was formed through a desire to give back to the community and being musicians that led to the inspiration behind Notes for Notes.
The idea spawned when they realized that music was going to be an obvious gift to their “little brothers.” Philip began taking his “little” to a local music shop to teach him drums on the demo kit since that was their only access to a kit. It didn’t take long to realize that this “borrowed” time in the music store was not a sustainable model for drum instruction.
In addition to the reality that music and arts were being cut from schools, it was clear that Santa Barbara needed a place for youth to go and engage in positive activities. The idea was instantaneous for Philip and Notes for Notes was created in April of 2006. The two scraped together enough money to incorporate and begin putting together an organization with a lot of hard work and research. Serendipitously they read an article in the paper about a City teen center being developed with a plan for a studio. Philip quickly contacted the City and began pitching the idea with instant success in partnering with the City on a recording studio. Notes for Notes would equip, staff and run programs at the studio they now call the MusicBox.
After months of preparation and a lot of luck, Philip with the help of Natalie Noone and her father Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits opened the first MusicBox at the 1235 Teen Center on March 17th 2007.
Shortly after opening, Notes or Notes received the boost it desperately needed with the help of its soon to be Founding Board President and Vice-President, Roderick Hare and Michael Marans. Rod and Michael serendipitously stopped by on the same day to check out the MusicBox they had been hearing about. Rod, a member of the Santa Barbara Bowl Education Outreach Committee saw in Notes for Notes the implementation of a similar dream for a music based youth organization. Michael, a music technologist and the President of MVPro Audio was intrigued by the concept of a studio providing positive alternatives for youth.
Rod and Michael became immediately interested in taking the organization to the next level with the guidance and support that it needed. Rod introduced the “fledging” Notes for Notes to the Santa Barbara Bowl’s Education Outreach Committee which gave the organization its first financial boost and Michael opened the door to the music industry introducing Notes for Notes to the technology and resources it needed to grow.
Notes for Notes ended 2007 with a one of a kind fundraising concert at SoHo music club in December of 2007. “An evening of Notes for Notes” hosted by Peter Noone featured performances by local musicians and special appearances by Natalie Noone and Jeff Bridges. The night also featured a spectacular performance by six youth from the MusicBox in their first stage show ever. One of those youth, Caesar Valenzuela, would eventually become staff with Notes for Notes. In 2008, Notes for Notes continued to grow through a unique partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara, Inc., and generous support from the Santa Barbara Bowl and its chair Sandy Stahl, who continues to advocate and dedicate her time to the organization’s success.
After nine months of development with the Club, Notes for Notes opened the doors of the new MusicBox on December 1st to a rush of excited youth. The new MusicBox marked a major collaborative and strategic partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs which has led to an on-going relationship and the development of additional locations. In 2011, Notes for Notes opened a third MusicBox at the Santa Barbara West Boys and Girls Club and a MusicBox in Carpinteria, CA is in the works as well as two studios abroad in Nashville.
The MusicBox has become a positive environment for youth to go after-school. Philip found it extremely important to offer the musical resources and instruments that truly excite youth and allow them to create the types of music they listen to with electric guitars, basses, keyboards, turntables, drums, computer generated music and the ability to record it all and make their own album. Music is a universal language that transcends all barriers. While not every youth that comes to the MusicBox will grace the stages of the SB Bowl or Staples Center, they will learn about all the opportunities around the industry and create music proving to them “if I can do this, what else can I do!”
