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MISSION AND HISTORY
Music Works Northwest is a nonprofit community music school, dedicated to changing lives through accessible music education and experiences.
Founded in 1966 in Seattle’s Central District as the Imperials Drum and Bugle Corp, Music Works relocated to Bellevue in 1999. Each year Music Works provides individual music lessons, music classes, music therapy, summer and winter camps and free concerts to thousands of King County residents. Music Works students excel in their school music programs, winning WMEA recognition and regularly participating in award-winning area ensembles such as the Bellevue Youth Symphony, the Seattle Youth Symphony and Youth Theater Northwest. Music Works faculty members are professional musicians who perform with the Tacoma Symphony, the Seattle Opera, the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, and other area ensembles. All have advanced music degrees, and 65% hold graduate degrees in music from such prestigious institutions as the Eastman School of Music, Julliard, Rice University, Boston University and Cornish College of the Arts.
Music Works grants tuition assistance, sliding scale pricing and scholarships to dozens of students each year who would not otherwise be able to access private instruction. Concerts given by Music Works students and faculty are free and open to the public. Public school music students benefit from coachings and master classes at their schools presented by Music Works faculty members, at no cost to these students or to their schools.
Music Works Northwest
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1331 118TH AVE SE, SUITE 400 BELLEVUE, WA 98005
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M-F: 1pm - 9pm | Sat: 9am - 5pm | Sun: Closed
Why take lessons at Music Works?
Why take lessons at Music Works? Studies overwhelmingly point to the value of music education. Music study improves critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills, enhances self-esteem, stimulates memory, and fosters team work. Students who study a musical instrument score higher on standardized tests. In addition:
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Music Works faculty members all have college music degrees, 65% hold graduate music degrees, and all are professional, performing musicians.
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Students have a wide variety of performing opportunities, from studio recitals to Student Showcase recitals in professional venues. Music Works does not charge students a “recital fee,” and all concerts are free for family and friends to attend
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Students have performance opportunities in Music Works ensembles, including the Honor’s Jazz Ensemble, the Cello Choir and the Afro-Cuban Jazz Combo
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You pay no registration fee at Music Works
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Private lesson students receive 30% discounts on class and ensemble tuition
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Scheduling Options – we work to accommodate families, doing our best to schedule siblings/multiple family members at the same time with different teachers, or back to back with the same teacher if possible
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We teach all ages and abilities
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We offer music therapy services, adapted music lessons and therapeutic music lessons
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We offer tuition assistance for all of our programs
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Students can audition for merit-based scholarships
As a non-profit organization, Music Works gives back to the community through:
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Educational outreach in public school music classes
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Free concerts presented by our talented faculty
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Free community events such as our Instrument Discovery Days
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Tuition Assistance
Social Justice Statement
Music Works Northwest is a music school and community comprised of a wide variety of people. We are diverse in age, passions, cultural background, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, ethnicity, body shape, artistic preferences, physical abilities, and education. As much as we are different, we share a love for music, learning, teaching and skill development. The gift of music is of immeasurable importance to humankind and all are welcome at Music Works to pursue their musical aspirations.
We live, work and play in a diverse community, and we affirm our commitment and focus on engaging and collaborating in teaching, service, and scholarship that allows every student, every instructor, and every staff member to nurture their gifts and talents to the greatest possible extent. We strive to be an anti-racist and ethnically unbiased community, purposefully identifying, discussing and challenging issues of race, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation and the impacts they have on students, faculty, staff members, and the greater Music Works community.
WE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF OF MUSIC WORKS NORTHWEST, STAND COMMITTED:
1. To affirm explicitly and in united solidarity our identity as a music community that stands together against racism, sexism, and ableism; a community which supports Black Lives Matter and other anti-oppression organizations.
2. To continuously examine implicit bias and systemic advantage/oppression such that our anti-racism commitment is reflected in the life and culture of our community through our policies, programs, and practices as we continue to learn about racism and ethnic oppression.
3. To the development and implementation of organizational strategies and best-practices toward equity in all aspects of our community.
4. To providing opportunities to learn and create music which are available and open to all people, including underserved populations in our geographic area.