Notes For Notes Opens Nashville Studio With Help From CMA Foundation

Pictured (L-R): Kos Weaver, Executive VP of BMG Nashville; Stephen Dashiff, Notes for Notes student guitarist; Tiffany Kerns, CMA Director of Community Outreach; Rod Hare, Board President/Co-Founder of Notes for Notes; Lindsey Ell, Stoney Creek recording artist; Phillip Gilley, CEO/ Founder of Notes for Notes; Ron Samuels, CMA Foundation Board Member; Justine Avila, Executive Director, Music City Music Council. Photo: Caitlin Harris/CMA

Stoney Creek Records artist Lindsay Ell joined forces Monday with the CMA Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee, and Lowe’s Renovation Across the Nation, to officially open the flagship Notes for Notes recording studio at the Cleveland Park Boys and Girls Club in Nashville.

Ell performed Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” with Stephen Dashiff, a promising guitar player from the Notes for Notes studio. The performance was recorded by Executive Vice President of BMG Nashville Kos Weaver, who is a Notes for Notes Nashville Soundboard Member. Ell also performed her current single “Waiting on You.” The songs will be included in a future EP of live recordings from the studio featuring a variety of artists and student musicians.

The CMA Foundation made an initial donation to the first Nashville Notes for Notes chapter in 2014 and has since supported the opening of recording studios in Boys & Girls Clubs and other facilities in several markets. The CMA Foundation receives the bulk of the funding to support these and other worthwhile programs from CMA Music Festival. To date, CMA and the CMA Foundation have donated nearly $2 million to Notes for Notes.

The new Nashville studio features a plethora of gear recently donated by Converse including an API 1608 console. Notes for Notes is also thankful to have the support of so many music instrument and gear manufacturers like Avid, Audio Technica, Casio, Dell, DW, Gibson, Kala Ukuleles, Native Instruments, and Stagg.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee received a grant from the Lowe’s Renovation Across the Nation program, which provided support for construction and many willing hands to transform Clubs for kids. Clark Construction, a national construction firm, generously helped manage the project working with a variety of local trades who also supported the buildout.