By the end of the program in September 2020, students submitted final projects—ranging from original beats to full podcast episodes—which were later showcased on the Department of Sound SoundCloud . This initiative proved that even during a global shutdown, the next generation's voice could still be heard.
In 2020, while traditional summer camps shuttered due to the pandemic, the Sacramento-based nonprofit launched "Summer of Sound 2020," a free virtual initiative designed to turn isolation into inspiration for young creators. Founded in 2019 by John Hamilton and Tyler Garnett, the organization pivoted its usual in-person workshops to a digital format to ensure that music and podcasting education remained accessible to all. Turning Bedrooms into Studios
: Fundamentals of podcast production and structure. By the end of the program in September
The program provided a self-paced, online curriculum through a partnership with Soundtrap , a Spotify-owned recording platform. Students aged 13 and older were given the tools to produce professional-grade audio from home, regardless of whether they owned expensive equipment. The curriculum was divided into several key pillars:
: Lessons on beat making, song composition, and audio recording. Founded in 2019 by John Hamilton and Tyler
: Unique lifestyle sessions covering de-stressing through music and hearing loss protection. Community and Impact
The "Summer of Sound" was more than just a class; it was a mission to cultivate Sacramento into a media hub while supporting the mental health of its youth. To keep the community engaged, the organization even gave away an Epiphone guitar every day through its YouTube channel as part of the #HomeMadeMusic series. Students aged 13 and older were given the
: Practical education on marketing, distribution, and entrepreneurship.