New York City has officially co-named West 8th Street “Jimi Hendrix Way,” marking the historic block where Electric Lady Studios still stands as one of the most continuously operating recording studios in the city. The ceremony, led by NYC District 2 Council Member Harvey Epstein and spearheaded by Experience Hendrix, L.L.C., served as the public launch of a new national education partnership with Stevie Van Zandt’s TeachRock, bringing a brand new multimedia Hendrix curriculum to middle and high school students across the country.
The new TeachRock lesson, Jimi Hendrix: Rock’s Trailblazing Innovator and Influential Guitarist, traces Hendrix’s journey from his Blues and R&B roots to his revolutionary impact on rock, sound design, and live performance. Co-developed with educator and musician John Anthony, it features exclusive archival footage from Experience Hendrix, L.L.C., including Hendrix’s iconic 1967 Monterey International Pop Festival performance. TeachRock partnered with NYU’s MusEdLab to build interactive tools that let students experiment with the guitar effects and sonic innovations that defined his sound.
Van Zandt frames the mission with characteristic directness. “Jimi Hendrix didn’t just play guitar, he reimagined what art could be,” he says. “I want TeachRock to transport students into that same sense of possibility and discovery I felt the first time I saw Jimi perform. His story, lyrics, and sound remind young people that creativity has no limits.” Janie Hendrix, President and CEO of Experience Hendrix, L.L.C., echoes the sentiment: “This collaboration speaks to the heart of our mission, carrying on Jimi’s legacy through education. His music is a powerful gateway for young minds to connect with history, creativity, and their own potential.”
TeachRock, founded by Van Zandt with support from Bono, Jackson Browne, Martin Scorsese, and Bruce Springsteen, has now reached more than 80,000 educators across all 50 states and over one million students worldwide. The free Hendrix lesson is available now at teachrock.org.