In 2006, Notes for Notes was simply an idea that with hard work and a lot of support has turned into a growing non-profit organization helping kids get free access to music. Notes for Notes was the result of a need that Philip Gilley and Daniel De Angelis saw developing in Santa Barbara. As mentors with the Big Brothers Program, they sought a way to make a meaningful connection with their “little brothers” and pass on something that would stick with them forever. That something would be music. As guitarists they thought that introducing their “little brothers” to the instruments that occupied their time would perhaps inspire them. However, there was one problem, how would they get their hands on some guitars especially since the school music programs didn’t offer guitar. As it turns out, Philip’s ”little brother” didn’t even want to learn guitar but rather drums. Philip, not having a set, decided to take his “little” down to Instrumental Music and teach him on the demo kit in the store while Dan scraped some money together and bought a little travel guitar for his “little”. This became a regular thing with Philip justifying each visit to the music store with a purchase of a pack of strings or picks while he instructed on drums. However, he soon realized that this wasn’t a sustainable model.
After a long road trip returning from San Francisco the two realized that their inspiration from becoming “Big Brothers” could go farther and they decided that starting a non-profit organization would be that way. It was a long drive and a lot of ideas would be bounced around until they landed on the idea that would turn into Notes for Notes. Philip reminded them that the idea was right there all along, access to music! Thanks to Google and a job as a valet, Notes for Notes began to take shape. Neither Philip or Dan had a background in business however, they had a desire to help and through some internet research they discovered how to begin the process of creating a non-profit. Just days after returning from the road trip Dan stopped by a local legal service firm and began the incorporation process while Philip got to work at Lucky’s Steakhouse as a valet. One of the secrets to Notes for Notes’ success was this valet position because it was here that Philip would meet a variety of amazingly generous folks (such as a future advisory board members such as David Crosby, Jeff Bridges and Carol Burnett) including future board member Natalie Noone and her father Peter Noone (future advisory board member too). Natalie was a server, and of course a musician and when Philip proposed the idea of Notes for Notes she became immediately interested and involved in forming the organization to what it is today. Peter was instantly intrigued by the idea of introducing kids to music at a young age based on his own experience of performing and coming up in the music industry so young himself.
In the fall of 2006, Dan would come across an article in the Santa Barbara News Press about a local teen center being developed by the city with a plan for a recording studio room. Philip would take a meeting with city administrators and pitch the collaborative idea. Notes for Notes would equip, staff and run the studios while the teen center would provide the space. This collaborative model would grow to become the means by which Notes for Notes would grow with the Boys and Girls Clubs and keep costs at a minimum. After months of development Philip, Natalie and Dan opened the first MusicBox in March of 2007 in the 1235TeenCenter. They would scrape together some old gear, instruments and a few funds to outfit the studio and begin making their dreams to make other kid’s dreams of music come true, however, it wouldn’t be until a month later that Notes for Notes would truly begin to take form thanks to a chance encounter.
A month after opening, Rod Hare with the Santa Barbara Bowl’s Ed Outreach Committee would stop by the MusicBox due to an unrelated meeting he would have with another program in the Teen Center. When he saw the studio it immediately resonated with a similar idea he had had, also inspired by being a Big Brother back in college. Rod had also happened to stop by the same day that Michael Marans (future Board Vice President) would after reading about the organization in a local article. Rod would work with Philip to introduce Notes for Notes to the Santa Barbara Bowl which gave the organization its first chunk of funding to develop further and grow. Notes for Notes owes a huge debt of gratitude to the SB Bowl for taking a chance on a small organization with an idea. Rod would then aid in forming a Board of Directors, establishing 501 (c)3 status and helping turn Notes for Notes every step of the way into the organization it is today.
After a year of successful operation Notes for Notes was ready to take the next step with another location. Thanks to an introduction from Jodi Mitchell (Ed outreach Committee) to the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara and Executive Director Carolyn Brown the organization began developing a much larger MusicBox in the club. After nearly 8 months of development the new studio opened to a flood of excited youth looking to explore music. It was at this time that Dan would decide to pursue alternate goals that would take him away from the organization as well as see Natalie Noone pursue her music career in Nashville and lay the grounds of an expansion for Notes for Notes. The organization continues to grow and aims to help kids all over the country.
