Seattle's Child

Your guide to a kid-friendly city

Rock 101: Local music school offerings

Help your little one channel her inner rock god with a roundup of local music schools, camps, and classes.

Kids aren’t so different from rock stars. Their daily demands often read like backstage riders: NO BLUE M&Ms, 3½ ice cubes in juice, oranges with all the “white stuff” removed. Here’s a roundup of music school offerings that will help your little one channel his inner rock god.

Meter Music:
Established in 2011, Meter provides music lessons and classes for all ages and levels. Their goal is to create a welcoming and supportive environment for learning an instrument in private lessons or group classes, while having fun. With locations in the Central District and Columbia City, faculty offer lessons for guitar, piano, drums, electric & upright bass, voice, ukulele, violin, fiddle, cello, viola, saxophone, clarinet, flute, trumpet, trombone, tuba, harp, mandolin, and banjo. metermusicschool.com

Off the Wall School of Music: Kids walk out of the first lesson able to play a little something to impress their friends. This school emphasizes making music fun. Private lessons include piano, guitar, drums, bass, voice and violin. Charge is $145 per month for four weekly half-hour private lessons. 206-407-9610. offthewallschoolofmusic.com

School of Rock: Founded in Philadelphia in 1998, this franchise now boasts 210 locations, including five in the Seattle area, in Greenwood, West Seattle, Lynnwood, Bellevue and Issaquah. The school’s philosophy is that the best way to learn music is to play it. It offers a separate program called Little Wing for kids ages 2 to 5. The classes are filled with music and movement and exposure to skills such as song structure. Guitar lessons can cost $150 t0 $250 per month, depending on the specific program. 206-417-7625. schoolofrock.com

Rain City Rock Camp: Sorry, boys: this camp is for girls only, focusing on playing an instrument, songwriting and social justice empowerment. The week culminates with girls performing their original songs with their band at a local live music venue. No prior music experience is necessary; instruments are provided. The organization also holds occasional workshops thoughout the rest of the year.  206-659-5471. raincityrockcamp.org

Mode Music Studios: The studio offers rock band classes, camp, group classes, Kindermusik and private piano, vocal, guitar, bass and drum. The school’s teaching style incorporates technique, ear training, sight reading, chart reading, composition, arranging, and singing and songwriting. Rock-band camps are held in the summer. 206-659-4018. modemusicstudios.com

The Music Factory: This school believes music is important to all walks of life. The Factory employs professional working musicians from the area. Classes are available in guitar, piano, voice, ukulele, violin, woodwinds, banjo, mandolin, bass, drums and flute.  206-420-3896. musicfactorynw.com

Kaleidoscope Rock Academy: Bills itself as the “Eastside’s original rock band program” and offers private lessons in diverse rock styles, including metal, punk and pop, on a variety of instruments. The school blends academics with real-world performance experience, and offers a variety of bands and camps. 425-443-5033. issaquahrockschool.com

Seattle Drum School: Founded in 1986, this vocational music school offers instruction in drum set, guitar, bass, voice, piano, horns and musical studies. The school, home to an auditorium, recording studio and music venue at its Georgetown location, offers rock-band classes for $90 a month to students also enrolled in private lessons. 206-364-8815. seattledrumschool.com

About the Author

Debra Vaughn