Department of Sound

Founded in 2018 by John Hamilton and Tyler Garnett, Department Of Sound began as a local program in Sacramento, California, offering in-person music production and beat-making workshops to youths in collaboration with established community centers. Since then, we have expanded our reach and developed a suite of live, virtual, and hybrid programs and resources to provide students with high-quality, technology-enabled education in music and podcast production. To date, we have reached over 5000 students in 17 countries worldwide, and we've partnered with 13 schools in 4 districts and trained more than 25 teachers to seamlessly integrate our programs into their classrooms, whether in person, remote, or combined. Throughout the Sacramento area, we engage a diverse network of young people and community members through our live events and partnerships with local leaders, working hand-in-hand to deliver innovative music education and arts exposure to students of diverse backgrounds, particularly disadvantaged youth.

Through our collaborative, project-based approach to learning, Department of Sound aims to not only provide opportunities for music and podcast production education but also help students build their resumes and prepare for college, trade school, internships, and the workforce in whatever field they choose to pursue. For students who are interested in the professional and entrepreneurial aspects of music and podcasting, our programs serve as an opportunity for them to gain practical skills that will support them to enter the growing media and entertainment industry and tap into the significant potential value in the creative economy.