- At just 17, my next guest is changing lives
and bringing people together through the power of music.
It all began at the start of lockdowns,
when she decided to host a virtual
children's songwriting workshop.
It was a smash hit, so she gathered up a bunch of friends
to teach music lessons to kids coast to coast.
Now she has more than 250 volunteer teachers,
and 800 students giving and getting lessons all for free,
which is amazing.
Let's welcome the creator of QuaranTunes,
17-year-old Julia, give it up everybody!
(audience cheers and applauds)
You're spectacular, like, first of all,
what a beautiful thing to do
just from the goodness of your heart,
but then, you know it becomes a success,
and then you get all these people on board for free.
Like, that is amazing.
'Cause I was that kid that had no money to pay for stuff,
and would have loved that.
So, I mean, how did this all start?
- Yeah, no, it's been really, really amazing.
And when shelter in place hit, I was devastated
because I couldn't do the thing that I love the most,
which is practicing with my band,
and playing music with other people.
And I was just really looking for a way
to give back to my community, and share my love of music.
And then, as you mentioned, my mom's friend invited me
to teach a songwriting class to a local elementary school,
and I signed up to do it, not expecting much,
and I capped the class at five kids.
And then somehow, over 40 children signed up for that class.
- Oh! - So, I had to do
a lot of readjusting to my agenda.
- That's a lot reining in children.
Wow, (laughs) that's a lot.
- So we split it up into four separate classes,
but it was still a lot more than I'd expected.
And that was really the moment when I realized
that there were so many kids
looking for something to do right now,
looking for a way to keep themselves occupied,
because they were just getting so restless,
not being able to leave their houses.
And then so many parents also in the same situation,
looking for ways to keep their kids
out of their hair during the workday.
And then on the other end, there were so many teens
just like myself, musicians who were also bored at home,
looking for ways to use music to entertain themselves.
And yeah, that's how the idea of QuaranTunes came to me.
And it's just a platform that connects teen musicians
with children to provide virtual music lessons.
- And so, what kind of classes does QuaranTunes offer?
- Yeah, so we currently offer classes
in over 20 different instruments, including musical skills
like songwriting and music production.
And from the beginning, we've really been all about just
instilling our love of music into the children,
and doing whatever makes it the most enjoyable for them.
So, a little bit different from the traditional teacher.
Oh yeah, that's me and my student.
I was actually teaching her how to play "Stronger,"
your song, during that lesson. - Oh!
Oh, well, you have good taste, I'm just saying.
(Kelly and Julia laughing)
- Oh, I know, I really,
it was helping her learn how to play the piano,
and sing at the same time.
- Which is so hard, and I can't do.
Well, I've tried, Jason knows.
- It takes a long time. - Yeah.
- It takes a long time to get it right.
- How much have you raised?
- Yeah, so at the beginning, we all wanted to feel like
we were actually able to play a part
in this whole situation with COVID,
and none of us are able to work on the front lines,
or as first responders.
So, our kind of way of giving back was to raise money
for the CDC Foundation.
And after a few months,
we raised over $35,000 for the CDC foundation.
- Wow. (Julia laughs)
- Yeah, that was also, I think only three or four months,
which was crazy. (audience applauding)
- Wow.
- And then after that, well, after we met that goal,
we started thinking about, you know,
where else our money could be going.
And so, me and Lisa sat down,
and we're doing a lot of Google searches,
and looking into different charities.
And then we came across the Save the Music Foundation,
which we immediately fell in love with,
because they have an extremely aligned mission with ours.
And their mission is to sponsor music programs
in low-income public schools.
And we actually thought it would be a really cute
full circle moment, because a really,
really large percentage of our teachers
got their very first exposure to music in a public school.
And that's when they really just fell in love with it.
So we thought it would be really cool
to be able to give back,
and to be the reason why lots of other children
get their first exposure to music,
and possibly fall in love with it like we did.
- Yeah, I mean, and well, in public schools,
they don't generally have, I'm from a public school,
I went to public school, and they don't generally
have a lot of the funding to maintain those art programs,
so it's really important. - Absolutely.
- Well, we have some of the people who take part
in QuaranTunes dialing in right now.
Let's bring Lisa, one of the teachers,
and Tamara, one of the students, into the conversation.
(audience applauding)
So Lisa, oh, first of all, hello.
- Hi, oh my gosh, I can't believe
I'm talking Kelly Clarkson right now.
- I can't believe I'm talking to like,
girls that I would've just totally
been friends with in high school.
I'm like, you're so rad.
Y'all are just amazing, or college, wherever,
but I just mean, like, you're just an amazing young women.
And it's impressive.
But Lisa, tell us about being part of QuaranTunes.
- Thank you so much.
I joined QuaranTunes in late March,
so early quarantine, and Julia reached out to me,
asking me if she wanted help with,
she asked me if I would help her with this idea that she had
of connecting teenage musicians with young students,
and I absolutely fell in love with this idea.
I quickly joined the board,
and started creating different projects,
and ways for us to get involved in the larger community.
But definitely, the most important part of this,
for me, has been being a teacher.
And it's truly inspiring for me,
I've seen how much music has helped me,
in terms of my emotional wellbeing,
especially during a time like this.
And I've seen my kids grow personally in their emotionally,
and I've seen their senses of humor develop.
It is so much fun for me.
And I'm so lucky to be a part of this organization.
- Man, it's amazing, and you're right.
Music is very healing.
Especially if you have a creative heart, you know?
Well, Tamara, I wanna bring,
first of all, I love your dress.
And secondly, you're learning a whole
bunch of instruments, right?
It's not just one, right?
What are you learning?
- Yeah, I actually learned music most of my life,
I was born with a music family.
Before QuaranTunes, I played violin, piano, and I sang.
But when I started QuaranTunes, I started guitar,
drums, oh, I didn't really start drums,
but saxophone, and yeah.
- Wow, glad you have that outlet.
It's hard being a kid right now.
You're not able to get out of your house,
and you're kinda stuck, and it's a really good outlet,
and it's amazing, this whole segment, I am in love with.
Julia, so you offer tons of classes,
but also provide kids instruments
when you can as well, right?
- Yeah, absolutely.
So when we first got started, we realized pretty quickly
that the children that we're really trying to reach
are the people that wouldn't be able
to sign up for our lessons,
because they don't have instruments to take them with.
And you probably know that instruments are very expensive,
and not many people are fortunate enough
to be able to afford them.
And so, actually me and Lisa got together,
and we devised the idea of the instrument donation program.
And so, we came up with this idea
of connecting instrument donors.
So, people that have old instruments
lying around in their homes,
with instrument recipients,
which are people that have wanted to play instruments,
but wouldn't be able to buy them.
And we started spreading the word, publicizing the program,
and immediately we just got such a flood of interest
on both sides, but specifically just so much generosity
coming from the donor side.
I was so astounded.
- That's really cool, and it just shows you like,
people wanna to help, they just don't know where
or how sometimes, you know?
And here at "The Kelly Clarkson Show,"
we love what QuaranTunes is all about,
it's magical, and we all believe that music heals.
Especially, there's a lot of musicians here.
So, some of the members of my band, Y'all,
they have something to share.
So let's start with our music director, Jason Halbert.
So, what do you wanna tell Julia, Jason?
- Hey Julia, as soon as we saw your organization,
I think we were all just blown away.
I mean, I remember a few years ago in junior high,
all I wanted to do was play keyboard,
and we couldn't afford, you know-
- A few years ago?
Just a few. (laughing)
- Yeah, just a few years back.
And we couldn't afford a keyboard,
we couldn't afford any instruments.
And I used to draw keyboards on my little Trapper Keeper,
and I'd practice on that.
- Trapper Keepers! - I did.
- Yeah, shout-out!
- I swore as soon as I'm, if I could ever
make a living playing music,
I wanted to give away a keyboard.
And I think this is the right time,
and the right organization.
So, I would love to donate this Yamaha Montage 6,
it's my go-to keyboard.
And literally, I'm gonna send this one on to you,
and it's, I've played this for 240 shows now
on the "Kelly" show. - Wow. (audience claps)
- So, I can't wait to see which one
of your students gets it,
and can't wait to see what they do.
- Yeah, that's so amazing. (audience applauding)
You know what?
I'm gonna say this, I think it's powerful when,
I didn't have money either,
and I think it's, it makes you want it so much,
when everything just isn't handed to you,
you have to really work for it.
And like, you're like the most amazing pianist ever.
And it's funny, that's how you started out,
on your Trapper Keeper.
I just wanna say Trapper Keeper again.
I just like a Trapper Keeper.
All right, well, let's move on to our guitarist, Jacko.
So what do you wanna share, Jacko?
- I'm gonna donate this guitar right here.
I used it on "Kellyoke" today,
and it's a Epiphone SG in classic red.
So it's really built to shred.
(everyone laughing)
And I use a guitar like this on the road with Kelly,
and then on the road with Miley Cyrus too.
So I hope your students get a kick out of it.
- Yeah!
(audience applauding)
I know, that's why, my band is so talented, y'all.
They play with everybody, they're so talented.
We also have Lester on the drums,
so I believe you have something
to say as well, right, Lester?
- Yeah, I've been playing Pearl drums for a very long time,
and all my friends know that this is kinda my go-to
kinda setup, in touring all over the world,
recording sessions, all that stuff.
And Jessi has our percussion rig as well, it's also Pearl.
I reached out to my friends there,
and they are sending a brand new Pearl Export drum set.
- Wow! (audience applauding)
And you're being very humble,
I love how humble my band's being.
They've literally played with everyone cool.
So like, well, you're being humble, but anyway, that's it,
this is like, this is so cool of y'all to do this.
So Kyle, we have Kyle on bass.
What do you wanna say?
- Hey, so this is an Epiphone Jack Cassidy.
It's one of my favorite instruments,
and I play one constantly on this show.
I've played it on the road with Kelly.
Sometimes with Katy Perry, when we go out and do shows.
It's not my personal, they wanted to donate a new one.
And I'm actually really jealous
'cause this Colorway just dropped.
So I enjoy that, and maybe I'll have one someday. (laughs)
(Kelly laughing) (audience applauding)
- Not a problem!
And last but not least, y'all,
Jessi, I tell you, Jessi Collins, y'all,
one of the most fantastic, incredible vocalists.
She arranges all my Billboard openings,
like for that show, like she helps arrange everything,
and she is incredible.
And you have something you wanna say, right, Jessi?
- Yeah, hi, I don't really have any instruments to donate,
because I'm new to percussion.
Lester, (Kelly laughing)
Lester set me up with this Pearl setup,
which I really like, but it's definitely my first one.
I do however, have an instrument in my body,
and know a thing or two about the voice.
So I would love to donate a voice lesson
over Zoom with one of your students.
If they wanna hang out with me for a little bit,
we can talk singing. (audience applauding)
- Which is actually pretty funny,
'cause actually, even like before on "Kellyoke,"
I was like, I always look at Jessi, she's,
oh, I always turn and go, is that like cool, what I did?
Or what should I do?
And she always has ideas. (Jessi laughs)
Like, she's such a great teacher.
So it's like the perfect thing for her to be doing too.
But what do you think, do you think, is that cool?
Them donating that stuff?
Is that good?
Is that helpful? (audience applauding)
- My God, I can't talk loud enough, this is so crazy.
This is unbelievable, oh my God.
- Well, I bet, you know, even getting the word out
to other musicians that people know too,
it just might be cool too, like,
they would love to donate, you know,
stuff to to these kids that were them, you know,
probably when they were younger.
So, thank you guys so much, it was so sweet.
I had no idea it was happening until this morning,
and I love my band, they're so incredible.
And you young ladies, y'all are unbelievable,
and I love what you're doing.
And Tamara, I mean, just keep playing every instrument,
just keep playing them all.
And we think that you're so amazing,
and we love what you're doing.
So we're also gonna donate $5,000 to Save the Music
on behalf QuaranTunes, (audience applauding)
because it's important!