Small Town News

Music Works Northwest - in tune with the Eastside

---

Looking for a music teacher can prove to be a much harder task than most parents and prospective music students imagine. Making sure the instructor will match the student's learning style and be able to teach the desired style of music is not an easy feat for the average parent. This is especially true for families in which more than one instrument is played. And with schedules only getting busier each year, we are constantly reminded of what a precious asset our time is.

While investigating Eastside music lesson options one gem that was uncovered is Music Works Northwest, a non-profit community music school founded in 1966 as the Imperials Drum and Bugle Corps and now located in the Eastgate neighborhood of south Bellevue.

Music Works Northwest has over 20 studios and classrooms in which private lessons, group classes, performance ensembles, and Music Therapy are all offered under one roof all year long. During the summer there are also skill building summer day camps offered.

The faculty consists of over 45 professional musicians and educators who have auditioned for and been interviewed by the school's artistic director. This fall, in addition to the extensive private lessons offered, there has been an increase in group classes offered matching a vast range of interests and ability levels. Options range from group guitar, voice, and piano to music theory, jazz improvisation, and digital multi-track recording. With their seven week-long sessions, these classes are an excellent way to try something new with a low-risk time commitment and financial investment.

"We teach the talented and those who don't yet realize they are talented," says Scott A. Ketron, artistic director of the school. "Our passion is in showing students that they have latent ability that can be woven into musical achievement." Another aspect of Music Works Northwest that really stands out is the number of performance opportunities offered to its students.

"Performance opportunities help students conquer stage fright, learn performance etiquette, and master playing in front of an audience or with a group," says Ketron. "Music Works Northwest offers its students many performance opportunities through studio recitals, Faculty Select Concerts, the Young 'Virtuoso Piano Festival and performance ensembles," he says.

Even if you are not looking to take music lessons right now, it is definitely worthwhile to check out the school's web-page (www.musicworksnw.org) as they also have free concerts monthly featuring professional musicians in addition to concerts featuring students to which community members are invited and encouraged to attend.

For more information, call Music Works Northwest at 425-644-0988 or visit www.musicworksnw.org.



Copyright 2009 Sammamish Review, Sammamish, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2009 Sammamish Review Sammamish, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from Sammamish Review