The Fremont Music School (Seattle, Wa.) is dedicated to providing the community with the opportunity to learn and explore the art of music. We offer academic classes, instumental group classes, band and ensemble classes, private one on one instruction and more. Our music teachers are professional musicians who have many years of professional experience in all aspects of teaching, performing, composing and recording! So whether the student is a beginning or an advanced musician, the Fremont Music School is here to help aid them with their individual needs as they realize their musical desires.
Don Clifton is the love child of a voodoo priestess and a madman, raised by wolves until about eight years ago. It was at that point he began teaching the guitar full time.
Don grew up blessed and bored in McAlester, Oklahoma. Surrounded by country music, he vowed to become a tower sniper. His training was derailed at age 11 by rock and roll and his first electric guitar. He began studying the guitar with a piano teacher who bore a striking resemblance to Bozo the Clown. After a year of playing Olivia Newton-John songs and other things he hated, all the while wanting to learn some rock songs, he quit. He resumed his path of delinquency, which was once again interrupted at age 16. Under the influence of raging teenage hormones, Don believed resuming study of the guitar would "help him with the ladies". By the time he figured out it did not, it was too late. He was hooked on the guitar (he also had spent his every last penny on gear).
Don learned rhythm guitar from a nearby backwoods preacher. For lead guitar, he turned to the only person of European descent in a low income housing project. An insane former Green Beret, the teacher was an excellent player. Don was forced to sneak to his lessons under the cover of darkness. If discovered it became necessary to outrun threats and pop bottles in a '66 Chevy. He thought it a reasonable risk. Don went on to study music composition with Frank Zappa's Peter Acaro in Junior College. After receiving his Associates degree in Music Composition, he went on to study at the University of Oklahoma. There he earned a Bachelor's degree in Music Composition with a minor in psychology. Believing he would starve to death slower in psychology, he went on to receive a Master's degree in the field. He began working as a child and family therapist, while writing and performing songs with the band, "The Restless Natives".
He moved to Bainbridge Island in 1992 and joined the band "Where's Bob?" before eventually pursuing a solo career. Don then released his solo EP "Don Clifton", which received national recognition and accolades from both family AND friends. Recorded with producer Tom Hall and the rhythm section from Heart, it received regional attention and airplay. Don teamed up with another act "The Dips" and began performing regionally. Don and the Dips recently acquired three new members and a new name, "Ruby Darby". Ruby Darby released their debut, "130 Pounds of Pep", in the spring of 2000. They eventually grew tired of looking at each other and Don moved to Seattle. Don then joined an all male, hard rock Madonna tribute band named Mandonna, which Don loved while simultaneously referring to the project as, "profoundly retarded".
Oddly enough, three fourths of the band went on to form a Southern rock band named Scattergun. The music is dangerously close to country, but is being monitored closely for hypocrisy in relation to Don's earlier statement's regarding country music.
As a member of the Fremont Music School in Seattle, Don teaches guitar fulltime. He stresses applied theory and building on the strengths of his students. His primary styles are folk, rock, surf, classic rock, hard rock, blues, Southern rock, harder than hard rock and, yes, even country. However, he tries to help his students know how to get by in all styles. He encourages them to learn improvisation skills and to try their hand at creating their own material. He also enjoys teaching his students the songs that they like, and he prays these aren't by Olivia Newton-John.
Paul Fischer began playing the guitar at the age of 12, taking lessons with jazz and rock guitarists in his hometown of Philadelphia . He gained his first professional playing experience with local Philadelphia bands.
Paul attended Goucher College in Baltimore , Maryland where he began a serious study of jazz and classical music. At Goucher, Paul had the opportunity to study with several world-class musicians including musicologist Fred Mauk, concert pianist Jeffrey Chappell, guitarist Steve Yankee, and West African percussionist Kwame Ansah-Brew. Paul graduated from Goucher in 2001 with honors in music and was awarded the Ruth Blaustein Rosenberg prize for creative potential. During this period, Paul formed the band Soft Shoe Shuffle, which performed throughout the Baltimore area. The band also enjoyed a month-long tour of France . During this tour, the band was featured at Le Bartloldi, Le Reservoir, and most notably, the world-renowned Jazz a Vienne festival.
After graduation, Paul was a participant at the 2002 Banff Centre for the Arts International Jazz Workshop. At Banff Paul performed and studied with several luminaries in the modern jazz scene such as pianist/author Kenny Werner and his trio, Jazztimes artist of the year Dave Douglas, Jazzpar recipient saxophonist Chris Potter, and Jazzpar recipient composer Django Bates.
Following this experience, Paul moved to Seattle and has become a part of its vibrant music scene both as a musician and teacher. Since moving to Seattle Paul has studied with Randy Halberstadt and performed in many styles with a variety of musicians and musical settings. Paul also has done improvisation workshops at Yenney music in Olympia , while teaching privately out of his home. Paul currently performs with The Nepottistas, Mixtape, and as a member of vocalist Kristen Woodbury's band.
Randy Hathaway holds a Bachelors of Music in classical guitar performance from Cornish College of the Arts and is the director of the Fremont Music School. Randy started professionally teaching guitar at age 16 and has accumilated over 23 years of experience in this field. His main studies have been in Rock, Classical and Spanish/Latin music but he has also studied a bit of Jazz and Blues guitar styles. Randy teaches both private and group guitar classes and an introduction to music theory class for all instumentalists.
Randy's main objective in the pedagogy of guitar is to give his students the necessary tools to help them become independent, creative and confident musicians. In accomplishing this he gives his students the basic knowledge and fundamentals of music and guitar no matter where their skill level or musical interests fall. Then Randy introduces his students to a diverse amount of musical styles and thought so that it may help aid them in enriching their own musical expression. In doing this successfully, Randy shares his many years of music education and performance experience, a balance which can greatly benifit the student.
In 1994, Randy was accepted through an international audition in New York to perform classical guitar duets and solos with the Rome Festival Orchestra in Italy. He has performed in various ensembles with members of the Seattle Opera, Seattle Symphony and Seattle Guitar Orchestra at various Universities, Concert Halls and Music Festivals in the Northwest United States and Canada. Randy has also been musically featured in newspapers and on radio and television.
In recent years, Randy has moved from performing into composing solo and ensemble works for the Classical Guitar, Voice, Viola and Flute. His compositions have been performed in the United States and Japan along with performances by the renowned Minneapolis Guitar Quartet. His compositions have also been heard on KCMU and KING FM radio. Randy makes frequent apperances at various universities and colleges as a guest composer where he coaches students and faculty prior to performances of his works.
Steve grew up not far from the exact center of the continental United States. He first picked up the guitar at the age of 7, and began taking lessons at 9. By age 13 he was studying classical guitar at a local University, and studying rock and roll in his bedroom. During his teen years he became interested in Jazz, playing in various combos and entering countless competitions. At age 17, he played his first bar gig and had earned Master's Degrees in Van Halen, Rush and Led Zeppelin. Upon high school graduation he was awarded a music scholarship to Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. During this time, he started giving guitar lessons at a local music store, sometimes being paid with records or farm-fresh eggs.
After college, Steve spent the next few years touring the Midwest, playing four sets a night in different Top 40 / Classic Rock bands.
In 1989, a friend from Seattle played Steve a tape (one of those little analog thingies that you have to rewind) of Soundgarden. Inspired by this new music scene, Steve moved to Seattle in 1990. Steve and said friend formed the band Spoonbender, which became a strong presence during Seattle’s “grunge” years. Over the next 5 years, Steve was in “wood-shedding” mode, practicing his guitar for 8 to 10 hours a day and supporting himself by teaching music. After this "shredding" phase, he became deeply involved with the music of Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan. He researched their influences, learning everything he could about the blues. To date, the blues is still one of his favorite genres.
In the mid-nineties Steve’s band morphed into Slow Gas Heater, and he also joined the band Get it Gurl. His musical tastes began to broaden. He fell in love with Sonic Youth, Chet Atkins, Stravinsky, The Beatles, Charlie Parker, Esquivel, Radiohead, and Sunny Day Real Estate – to name a few.
Steve currently plays in the band Upwell. www.myspace.com/upwell Their CD “Replica” and EP "Number Nine EP" were recorded and produced by Jack Endino, who joined the band for a brief period. Upwell's their 3rd CD "$ELL THE SKY will be release in the spring of 2008.
For the past 22 years Steve has been teacher, mentor, friend and therapist for aspiring musicians ranging in age from 6 to 60. He welcomes beginning to advanced guitarists and beginning to intermediate bassists. As an instructor, he focuses on reading, theory, chord / scale / arpeggio mapping of the guitar neck, modes, soloing, technique, song writing, ear training, rhythm and timing. He specializes in rock, alternative, country, blues, having fun, and making your guitar go “skrEEEEch warbley *sparkle* bOOm!”.
Zach is best known for his guitar work in the Seattle based funk/rock group Flowmotion. He has shared the stage with guitar great Steve Kimock, Jesica Lurie, Briggan Krauss, Tony Furtado, Pequito D'Reviera, Julian Priester, Jerry Granelli and many other jazz and rock greats. He continues to tour the United States sharing bills with such greats as Micheal Franti and Spearhead, Bill Frisell, Steve Kimock Band, Medeski Martin and Wood, Galactic, Garaj Mahal and has also had the honor at performing at the High Sierra Music Festival. Zach can also be seen performing with Don Goodwin's avant electric jazz group, Freefire or his own group, the Skiff Feldspar Band.
Zach moved from Spokane WA to Seattle in July of 2000 in order to surround himself with a more active and creative music scene. He attended Cornish College of the Arts and studied jazz guitar, theory, jazz piano, arranging, and composition with Dave Peterson, Dave Peck, Jim Knapp, Randy Halberstadt and jazz legend Julian Priester. Aside from Cornish, much of Zach's musical education was also gained on by constant gigging and touring which gave him the much needed experience in the professional music world.
Zach's teaching style focuses on learning the fundemantals as well as developing practice skills, creativity and a strong musical ear. Lessons with Zach will cover such areas as chord/scale construction, improvising, sightreading, transcribing, composition and technique. He also strongly encourages his students to take interest in learning from many styles and genres of music in order to develope their own. Zach is available for 1 hour and half-hour lessons and welcomes everyone of all skill levels.
Michael Catts is an upright and electric bassist/composer transplanted from the East Coast. He is a Cum Laude graduate of Cornish College of the Arts, as well as an alumni of The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and the recipient of a full scholarship to Centrum’s Jazz in Port Townsend, under the leadership of Jazz master John Clayton. Michael has been a featured performer in many workshops, including those with Wynton Marsalis (Artistic Director, Jazz at Lincoln Center, NY), Carl Allen, Joe La Barbera, and Ron Miles.
His approach to teaching bass, guitar, and piano focuses on a balance between the fundamentals of technique (learning how to play the instrument), and developing the sensitivity to interpret the subtleties of music- actually creating music instead of just reading from a page or recreating a recording. Believing that music should always be enjoyable and rewarding, he teaches his students to follow their personal interests and work towards their own goals.
Aside from studying with such Seattle Jazz legends as Julian Priester, Chuck Deardorf, and Denney Goodhew, he has been fortunate enough to gain a real education on the bandstand by performing at many notable venues including Tula’s, The Musiquarium at The Triple Door, Seattle Art Museum’s Olympic Sculpture Park, Broadway Performance Hall, The Century Ballroom, and Nectar.
I have taught music for the last twenty years. My degree is in Electric Jazz Bass Performance from the University of Miami in Florida. Primarily I teach Electric Bass and Guitar, but also enjoy teaching theory, composition, voice and midi programming/sound recording.
My approach to teaching is to focus on whatever the student wants to do with music. Most of my students start off bringing in tunes they love so that they can learn to play them. From this starting point the discipline of practicing and the joy of playing can grow.
Without an understanding of time, ear training, scales, reading and theory, people wont want to play with you. And if you dont play with others and /or for others, then practice doesnt become music. The goal of teaching music is to cultivate both the playing and practicing of music.
Some of my local shows have been:
Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Bass and Bandleader)
Sissyfist (New Years Eve at the Crocodile)
Buttrock Suites Live (Bass and Bandleader)
And my current project RagnaRok and Roll
Emily began her life as a cellist at 10 years old. Her early involvement in the music community consisted of multiple chamber groups, North Texas' Five-Pointed Star Quintet, Forth Worth Youth Orchestra, and Chamber music Coaching. Since that long time ago, her involvement in the surrounding music community has only increased. She has performed in venues both big and small - Bass Hall (Fort Worth, TX), Triple Door , Benaroya Hall (Seattle, WA), Hemmle Hall (Lubbock, TX), and Sanctuaries, Pubs, and Bars (across the Nation.) She has studied cello under great names such as Myrna Trent, Vincent Pugh, Dr. Alexander Ezerman, and Dr. Nathan Whittaker. She is a member of the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Rock Orchestra. She received her training as a Suzuki teacher through intense and excellent one-on-one pedagogy lessons from Dr. David Evenchick who has 30+ years of Suzuki teaching under his belt.
Students of all ages taught under Emily receive the best type of positive, honest, and specific attention while spurring them on towards great character and achievement. She values not only musicians but quality human beings who love others - this is her goal for teaching. For more information on her teaching philosophy click here. Children hold the sweetest and purest love for others. Emily desires to nurture this type of love in children through music and the cello specifically. She is a firm believer that music can be a food for love - if not, certainly the best environment for it.
As well as classical, Emily is a talented improvisational cellist. She has performed with numerous types of musicians from blue grass, country, alternative rock, hard rock, jazz, mellow, to folk - the list goes on and on...
As a businesswoman, she gives consultation to other musicians who need "that special something to amp up their act" - business advice and a business mentoring relationship is key to making your life self-sustained as an artist. She received her Bachelor's of Business Management from Texas Tech University with a special emphasis on entrepreneurship and making something out of nothing. She is the founder and executive director of a non-profit project called Turkish Delight, which was featured in local TV and newspapers.
Ben Ireland currently plays drums for Seattles legendary space rock band SKY CRIES MARY. SCM has recorded albums for Warner Brothers and Capitol records, and has toured the US and Japan extensively and had their rock videos appear on MTV. They were featured guest's on the Conan O'Brian Show as well as The John Stewart Show. SCM did Both legs of The Horde Tour playing alongside Neil Young, Primus, Squirrel Nut Zippers and Ben Folds Five. Was the first band to ever play on the internet live, beating the Rolling Stones by one week. The band played a large role in the Windows 95 launch for microsoft and helped in the creation of the worlds first interactive c.d.
Ben spent a year and a half touring with r&b legends the Platters as well as other soul,R and B, and Motown Soul Revues. He also has played with the Drifters and The Chordettes. Ben recorded and toured with Nirvana bass player Krist Novoselic's band Sunshine Cake. He worked as a show drummer in Atlantic City playing the most popular shows in the largest show rooms. This same show became a hit in Monaco in southern France and was the featured entertainment for the Grand Prix Race and Princess Stephanies wedding.
In the early part of his career he played with various punk and glam outfits in New York and Seattle. Recent studio work includes playing bass and drums on Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossards solo album dedicated to Hank Williams. Bens musical education includes 2 years of classical snare drum lessons with Seattle Symphony percussionist Cathy Ramm.He started playing professionally at age 15. He has 10 years of teaching experience. Ben welcomes students of all ages. He teaches rock, blues, r&b, jazz and punk. His lessons are fun and informal. His Blues Class has been an ongoing popular ensemble class for 3 consecutive years. "I love people and I love music!!" "Everybodyhas a star inside that is just waiting to shine"- Ben Ireland
Eric Eagle was born in Nashville, but was quickly transplanted to Redmond, WA where he started banging on Tupperware containers at age 9, graduating to a real drum set two years later. He hasnt stopped banging away since. In the mean time he has studied with some jazz greats (Billy Hart, John Riley, Rufus Reid, Bill Stewart, and Steve Turre) and attended the prestigious jazz school at William Patterson College in New Jersey.
Not interested in limiting himself to any one particular style but rather finding the common elements that exist in all his favorite music, he sought a wide range of musical outlets. He has performed and recorded with artists ranging from modern jazz (Tom Harrell, Wayne Horvitz, Victor Noriega, Kenny Kirkland) to avant-garde (Eyvind Kang, Aiko Shimada) to songwriter/ rock and roll (Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter, Nicolai Dunger, Lawnmowers, Laura Veirs). Recently he has been touring the US, Canada and Europe with Jesse Sykes, Wayne Horvitz and Victor Noriega. Eric also enjoys passing on his passion for music and drumming to others and has taught privately since 2002.
Lacey Brown received her Bachelor of Arts in Percussion Performance at Seattle Pacific University and is pursuing a Master of Music at the University of Washington. Brown has performed most recently with three-time Grammy Award-winning artist, Michael W. Smith. She has also played with Orchestra Seattle, Thalia Orchestra, The SPU Wind, Percussion, Mallet, and Ethnic Ensembles, SPU Concert Choir, Cascade Youth Symphony, Grace Experimental Orchestra, Seattle Youth Jazz Orchestra, and various Seattle rock bands (Dolour, Tableland, Graham Travis) among many others.
Her musical theater credits include the Village Theatre, Music Theatre Works, and the Highliners. Brown is also known for her own songwriting. She has written, produced and recorded two albums of her own: Walking Holding Dreaming Dying (2007) and Already Home (2008) under her record label and recording studio, Nervous Breakdance Records. She has shared the stage with indie artists Feist, Death Cab For Cutie, Damien Jurado, & Pedro The Lion.
Lacey teaches a wide variety of percussion instruments and techniques, including hand drums, orchestral percussion (timpani, mallets, snare, etc.) and drum set. While she tailors her approach to student interests, all of her students receive training in the fundamentals of music theory and performance technique. Brown has been teaching private and group percussion lessons for over ten years. She enjoys getting to know her students and inspiring them to cultivate a passion for music.
Mack Grout graduated magna cum laude in 2008 from Cornish College of the Arts, with a bachelors degree in piano performance and has won several awards including the prestigious Louis Armstrong award. He has been playing professionally in bands and as a soloist since he was fourteen years old, and has been running a successful private instruction studio for the last six years. Macks forte is in jazz and blues piano, but he has also spent an extensive amount of time playing and studying classical piano. Mack believes that in todays world, to be a successful musician you have to appreciate and be able to play all different styles of music. The first professional band Mack ever played in was a Hawaiian band, and you can catch him playing in jazz bands, rock bands, country bands and hip-hop groups around the northwest. Mack is the keyboardist for the popular Dudley Manlove Quartet, which is raved by the Seattle P-I as The quintessential party band suave hits, eclectic misses and cocktail favorites.
Mack started taking piano lessons at the age of three, from his babysitter in the thriving metropolis of Port Orchard, WA. For about ten years, he went through standard classical piano training with several different teachers (Nadean Clarke, Helen Richardson). When entering junior high, Mack decided he wanted to be in a rock band (This is in the nineties, when keyboards were not popular in rock bands. I think it had something to do with the 90s being as anti-80s as possible the 80s had a plethora of keyboards!). He switched private instructors, and started studying with Larry Key in Belfair WA. Larry promised to teach Mack to play rock and roll, but first he had to learn how to play the blues. Long story short, Mack fell in love with playing blues and jazz piano, and decide to make a career out of it. Mack attended Cornish College of the Arts on scholarship where he studied with some of the most talented, and respected professional musicians in the northwest.
When approaching teaching, Mack believes in catering to the needs of each student individually. There are some traditional piano techniques that he believes all of his students need to know and understand, but outside of that Mack believes playing the piano should be fun, and he will help each student discover and achieve their individual musical goals.
Andrew Vait is a recent Cum Laude graduate of the University of Miami Frost School of Music, where he received a Bachelor’s of Music in jazz vocal performance and was named the Outstanding Graduating Senior in jazz voice. At UM, he studied with world-renowned vocal and instrumental instructors on alto, tenor and baritone saxophone, flute, clarinet, and jazz piano. He sang in award-winning jazz vocal and chorale ensembles and was cast in numerous musical theatre productions in the Miami area, including Hair, Company, Baby, and Elegies For Angels, Punks & Raging Queens. Andrew has played across the United States in rock bands that have toured the Northeast and the Pacific Northwest; he has independently released two Cds; and he has composed and arranged music for saxophone quartets, big bands, jazz vocal ensembles and popular music horn sections.
Andrew now works in Seattle as a professional singer/songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist. He recently joined the Fremont Music School as a private vocal and instrumental instructor, where his goal is to give students the training necessary to “inspire confidence in musical and performing ability.” Andrew continues to write music for himself and other vocalists, record and produce his own music, and perform throughout the Northwest.
Special Events
The are no events scheduled at this time.
Private Lessons and Class Tuition
Private Lessons
Students of the Fremont Music School prepay a one month tuition fee for private lessons.
Students will generally receive 4 lessons in a one month period. Some months will have 5 weeks
others may only have 3 weeks due to a holiday closure but the monthly tuition remains the same.
Private Lesson Tuition Cost
$130.00 per month for half hour lessons per student.
$195.00 per month for half hour lessons for 2 students.
$220.00 per month for hour lessons per student.
$330.00 per month for hour lessons for 2 students.
(F.M.S. students receive 20% off any group/class of their choice.)
Classes
Students register by pre-paying for classes to the instructor.
The Fremont Music School offers a variety of classes each quarter.
Some classes will be offered every quarter while other classes will
rotate throughout the year. Generally, our classes are one hour long
once a week and run for 8 consecutive weeks unless otherwise noted.
Quarters
Winter: January - March
Spring: April - May
Summer: June - July
Fall: October - November
Class Tuition
$220.00 per student for 8 one hour classes unless otherwise noted.
FMS Students get 20% off any class.
Instructor: Randy Hathaway
Instructor: Randy Hathaway
Prerequisite: Open to all instrumentalists and vocalists. Students must have at least a basic understanding of their instrument and have one available to practice on.
Cost for 8 classes: $176 for F.M.S. Students. $220 for Non Students.
Materials: Handouts will be given to students at no charge. Students will purchase a theory book recommended by instructor.
Max Enrollment: 8
Appropriate Age: 16 - Adults
Class Dates: Oct 4th - Nov 22nd This class is held once a week.
Introduction to Music Theory: Mondays (7:00 - 8:00pm)
1. Understand notes and symbols on the music staffs.
2. Understanding the Major and Minor qualities of scales and chords.
3. Knowing all the interval distances between notes.
4. Building triads and 7th chords off of a scale.
5. Reading all the Major and Minor sharp and flat keys.
6. Understanding and executing various rhythm patterns.
7. Building modes off of a scale.
8. Putting chords into progressions.
9. Understanding basic ways to modulate harmony.
*Please include your telephone # when sending the FMS an email*
The Fremont Music School is 7 blocks south of the Woodland Park Zoo
on the corner of Fremont Ave N. and N. 43rd st.(Red Brick Church)
Students must enter through the door on 43rd st. where our schools name is posted.
Please do not park on 43rd!
Parking is available in the parking lot located 1/2 block north of our facility on the east side of Fremont Ave.
The are no band classes scheduled at this time.
There are no ensemble classes scheduled at this time.
Instructor: Randy Hathaway
Prerequisite: This class is designed for the total beginner to advanced player who desires to fully grasp playing guitar with solid technique and a confident understanding of music and the guitar. Best styles suited for the class are Rock/Pop, Blues and Jazz.
Cost for 8 classes: $176 for F.M.S. Students. $220 for Non Students.
Materials: Handouts will be given to students at no charge. Students will purchase a guitar book recommended by instructor.
Max Enrollment: 8
Appropriate Age: 16 - Adults
Class Dates: Oct 4th - Nov 22nd. This class is held once a week for 8 weeks.
Beginning Guitar Class: Monday (6:00 - 7:00pm)
1. Learning notes on the fretboard.
2. Reading standard notation and tabulature.
3. Playing a variety of scales
4. Learning 15 open chords.
5. Playing power and bar chords.
6. Learning a variety of different musical styles.
7. Working on playing songs.
8. Learning how to begin improvising.
Instructor: Randy Hathaway
Prerequisite: A great follow up to a beginning guitar class or for the guitarist who has been playing less then one year. Please read what is covered in the Beginning Guitar Class.
Cost for 8 classes: $176 for F.M.S. Students. $220 for Non Students.
Materials: Handouts will be given to students at no charge. Students will purchase a guitar book recommended by instructor.
Max Enrollment: 8
Appropriate Age: 16 - Adults
Class Dates: Oct 4th - Nov 22ndd This class is held once a week for 8 weeks.
1. Students work on 2-3 rock/pop songs in their entirety.
2. Learn a 12 bar blues progression.
3. Learn a Spanish progression.
4. Work on improving scales with a partner.
5. Advance students reading skills.
6. Learn advanced right hand picking techniques.
7. Understand how to exucute rhythm patterns with strumming.
Periodically, the Fremont Music School will have openings for music teachers to join our staff. You may at any time send your personal information to us for future consideration. If you do not see an opening here for your specific field of teaching, we will still keep your information on file and contact you if an opening should occur.
Information to send:
1. Cover Letter.
2. Resume.
3. Demo CD or DVD of a live performance.
Send to Address:
Fremont Music School
4272 Fremont Ave N.
Seattle Wa, 98103
Fremont Music School Mission Statement
Fremont Music School is committed to providing music instruction to people of all ages, musical styles and abilities in a nurturing and professional environment. Fremont Music School is a non profit organization with an application for 501(c)(3) status pending.
We offer the community an opportunity to participate in learning, teaching and volunteering in the musical arts. We believe making music education accessible to all people will enrich the lives of both the participating individuals and our community as a whole. Our teaching staff is well educated in the art of music and, among them, have many years of experience in teaching, performing and recording professionally.
We offer music students the opportunity to study one-on-one with qualified teachers of their choice. In addition, we offer students the opportunity to enroll in various music classes, group lessons, workshops and camps throughout the year. We also offer students the opportunity to participate in various performances and recitals within the community.
Fremont Music School keeps the tuition cost for private lessons and group classes at an affordable rate and provides scholarships.
Non Discriminatory Clause
Fremont Music School is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our community and ensuring that educational and employment decisions are based on an individuals abilities and qualifications. Consistent with this principle and applicable laws, it is Fremont Music Schools policy not to discriminate in offering access to its educational programs and activities or with respect to employment terms and conditions on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
Fremont Music School
provides partial and full scholarships to youths and adults who have financial restrictions but demonstrate strong enthusiasm for music.
Music Study Scholarship
FMS provides private lesson and group class scholarships.
Our private lesson scholarships include a 30 minute lesson once a week.
Our group class scholarships include summer rock band camp, ensemble, academic and various group classes which vary in length and may be age appropriate.
Student Instrument Fund
A student who receives a partial or full music study scholarship or is otherwise studying with FMS, may be eligible for either an Instrument-On-Loan scholarship or repair of a personal instrument. At the sole discretion of a student’s teacher and in conjunction with the FMS Board of Directors, a student receiving an Instrument-On-Loan scholarship may reapply or be eligible for full instrument ownership after a 6-month period.
Scholarship Eligibility:
Applicants must
be U.S. citizens and reside in King County.
be four years of age or older.
The FMS Board of Directors will review all applicants’ scholarship requests on a case-by-case-basis. However, please click on link below for further pubic assistance and information regarding some examples of eligibility.
Link
To apply for a FMS Scholarship, please click on one of the links below. At any time during the application process, if you have any questions please contact FMS by email or telephone
Information Regarding Meal Programs As a youth under the age of 18, if you qualify for free or reduced price meals at school, you are eligible for a partial or full scholarship.
How do children qualify for free and reduced price meals?
Any child at a participating school may purchase a meal through the National School Lunch Program. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals. Those with incomes between 130 percent and 185 percent of the poverty level are eligible for reduced price meals. (For the period July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010, 130 percent of the poverty level is $28,665 for a family of four; 185 percent is $40,793.)
Please use this tool to determine your eligibility.
As an adult, if you qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),
you are eligible for a partial or full scholarship whether or not you are receiving assistance.
Click on the link below to determine your eligibility.
Nine music teachers, who had worked together in the Fremont community over a period of 10 years, started the Fremont Music School in a blistering 10 weeks which opened for business in January of 2008. With no outside assistance, a group of these music teachers used their personal resources and solely financed the school with the mission to become a non profit community music school. They dedicated this mission to providing music and instrument scholarships to individuals in need and to serve all the people in the community with the highest level of musical education through their personal experience and expertise.
The Fremont Music School teaching staff is a group of successful professional musicians who have numerous years of teaching, performing, recording, arranging and composing experience. You will find that our teacher’s musical vocabulary range is extensive from Rock, Classical, Jazz, Country, Blues, World and more. All our teachers have a great knowledge in a variety of these musical styles and many play and teach multiple instruments as well. Most of our teachers have obtained music degrees from various universities, colleges and conservatories throughout the United States and have performed and recorded with a long list of famous music artists and organizations along with many other professional successes. All FMS teachers have also received background checks.
For specific details about our staffs cum laud degrees, MTV appearances, Grammy artist’s collaborations, instrumental competition winners, members of major label recording groups, prestigious music awards and much more, please read our teacher’s personal bios to see their outstanding music credentials and achievements.
The Fremont Music School
Don Clifton is the love child of a voodoo priestess and a madman, raised by wolves until about eight years ago. It was at that point he began teaching the guitar full time.
Paul Fischer began playing the guitar at the age of 12, taking lessons with jazz and rock guitarists in his hometown of Philadelphia . He gained his first professional playing experience with local Philadelphia bands.
Steve grew up not far from the exact center of the continental United States. He first picked up the guitar at the age of 7, and began taking lessons at 9. By age 13 he was studying classical guitar at a local University, and studying rock and roll in his bedroom. During his teen years he became interested in Jazz, playing in various combos and entering countless competitions. At age 17, he played his first bar gig and had earned Master's Degrees in Van Halen, Rush and Led Zeppelin. Upon high school graduation he was awarded a music scholarship to Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. During this time, he started giving guitar lessons at a local music store, sometimes being paid with records or farm-fresh eggs.
Zach is best known for his guitar work in the Seattle based funk/rock group Flowmotion. He has shared the stage with guitar great Steve Kimock, Jesica Lurie, Briggan Krauss, Tony Furtado, Pequito D'Reviera, Julian Priester, Jerry Granelli and many other jazz and rock greats. He continues to tour the United States sharing bills with such greats as Micheal Franti and Spearhead, Bill Frisell, Steve Kimock Band, Medeski Martin and Wood, Galactic, Garaj Mahal and has also had the honor at performing at the High Sierra Music Festival. Zach can also be seen performing with Don Goodwin's avant electric jazz group, Freefire or his own group, the Skiff Feldspar Band.
Michael Catts is an upright and electric bassist/composer transplanted from the East Coast. He is a Cum Laude graduate of Cornish College of the Arts, as well as an alumni of The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and the recipient of a full scholarship to Centrum’s Jazz in Port Townsend, under the leadership of Jazz master John Clayton. Michael has been a featured performer in many workshops, including those with Wynton Marsalis (Artistic Director, Jazz at Lincoln Center, NY), Carl Allen, Joe La Barbera, and Ron Miles. 
Hi there,
Emily began her life as a cellist at 10 years old. Her early involvement in the music community consisted of multiple chamber groups, North Texas' Five-Pointed Star Quintet, Forth Worth Youth Orchestra, and Chamber music Coaching. Since that long time ago, her involvement in the surrounding music community has only increased. She has performed in venues both big and small - Bass Hall (Fort Worth, TX), Triple Door , Benaroya Hall (Seattle, WA), Hemmle Hall (Lubbock, TX), and Sanctuaries, Pubs, and Bars (across the Nation.) She has studied cello under great names such as Myrna Trent, Vincent Pugh, Dr. Alexander Ezerman, and Dr. Nathan Whittaker. She is a member of the 
Ben Ireland currently plays drums for Seattles legendary space rock band SKY CRIES MARY. SCM has recorded albums for Warner Brothers and Capitol records, and has toured the US and Japan extensively and had their rock videos appear on MTV. They were featured guest's on the Conan O'Brian Show as well as The John Stewart Show. SCM did Both legs of The Horde Tour playing alongside Neil Young, Primus, Squirrel Nut Zippers and Ben Folds Five. Was the first band to ever play on the internet live, beating the Rolling Stones by one week. The band played a large role in the Windows 95 launch for microsoft and helped in the creation of the worlds first interactive c.d.
Eric Eagle was born in Nashville, but was quickly transplanted to Redmond, WA where he started banging on Tupperware containers at age 9, graduating to a real drum set two years later. He hasnt stopped banging away since. In the mean time he has studied with some jazz greats (Billy Hart, John Riley, Rufus Reid, Bill Stewart, and Steve Turre) and attended the prestigious jazz school at William Patterson College in New Jersey.
Lacey Brown received her Bachelor of Arts in Percussion Performance at Seattle Pacific University and is pursuing a Master of Music at the University of Washington. Brown has performed most recently with three-time Grammy Award-winning artist, Michael W. Smith. She has also played with Orchestra Seattle, Thalia Orchestra, The SPU Wind, Percussion, Mallet, and Ethnic Ensembles, SPU Concert Choir, Cascade Youth Symphony, Grace Experimental Orchestra, Seattle Youth Jazz Orchestra, and various Seattle rock bands (Dolour, Tableland, Graham Travis) among many others. 
Mack Grout graduated magna cum laude in 2008 from Cornish College of the Arts, with a bachelors degree in piano performance and has won several awards including the prestigious Louis Armstrong award. He has been playing professionally in bands and as a soloist since he was fourteen years old, and has been running a successful private instruction studio for the last six years. Macks forte is in jazz and blues piano, but he has also spent an extensive amount of time playing and studying classical piano. Mack believes that in todays world, to be a successful musician you have to appreciate and be able to play all different styles of music. The first professional band Mack ever played in was a Hawaiian band, and you can catch him playing in jazz bands, rock bands, country bands and hip-hop groups around the northwest. Mack is the keyboardist for the popular Dudley Manlove Quartet, which is raved by the Seattle P-I as The quintessential party band suave hits, eclectic misses and cocktail favorites. 
Andrew Vait is a recent Cum Laude graduate of the University of Miami Frost School of Music, where he received a Bachelor’s of Music in jazz vocal performance and was named the Outstanding Graduating Senior in jazz voice. At UM, he studied with world-renowned vocal and instrumental instructors on alto, tenor and baritone saxophone, flute, clarinet, and jazz piano. He sang in award-winning jazz vocal and chorale ensembles and was cast in numerous musical theatre productions in the Miami area, including Hair, Company, Baby, and Elegies For Angels, Punks & Raging Queens. Andrew has played across the United States in rock bands that have toured the Northeast and the Pacific Northwest; he has independently released two Cds; and he has composed and arranged music for saxophone quartets, big bands, jazz vocal ensembles and popular music horn sections. 
