 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. |
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GUITAR
BASS DRUMS PIANO VOICE |
DON CLIFTON
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. |
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.|
GUITAR
BASS DRUMS PIANO VOICE |
PAUL FISHER
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. |
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.|
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BASS DRUMS PIANO VOICE |
RANDY HATHAWAY 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. |
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GUITAR
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STEVE SCHNEIDER
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!”. *Steve can no longer be paid with eggs |
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.|
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ZACHERY STEWART
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. |
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.
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GUITAR
BASS DRUMS PIANO VOICE |
MIKE CATTS
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. |
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. |
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BASS DRUMS PIANO VOICE |
STEVE NEWTON
Steve has been teaching for more than 13 years and has experience with all age groups. He is knowledgeable in computer music software and rhythm section techniques and offers private lessons on electric bass and beginning to intermediate guitar as well as music theory. He may also be induced to teaching music software applications. Steve offers both half hour and hourly private lessons. |
Steve Newton has been living in the great city of Seattle for about three years now by way of New York, Miami and Austin, Texas. Steve holds a degree in jazz performance from the University of Miami, Florida. Steve has been playing bass for over 20 years and has been involved in many musical projects including performing with many bands, composing and recording music for video games, performing radio plays, which are similar to rock operas, many personal compositions, private, personal instruction and is currently performing in the glam-rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch.|
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EMILY PETERSON
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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 |
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BEN IRELAND
Ben spent a year and a half touring with r&b legends the Platters. He also has played with the Drifters. 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. 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 has 9 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. |
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.|
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BASS DRUMS PIANO VOICE |
ERIC EAGLE
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. |
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.|
GUITAR
BASS DRUMS PIANO VOICE |
LACEY BROWN
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. |
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. |
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BASS DRUMS PIANO VOICE |
MACK GROUT
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 90’s being as anti-80’s as possible… the 80’s 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. |
Mack Grout graduated magna cum laude in 2008 from Cornish College of the Arts, with a bachelor’s 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. Mack’s 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 today’s 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.” |
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ANDREW VAIT
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. For more information, please visit andrewvait.com. |
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. | Special Events | |
There are no events scheduled at this time. | |
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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 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 Class Tuition |
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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: Mar 29th - May 17th This class is held once a week. Introduction to Music Theory: Mondays (7:00 - 8:00pm) |
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Download our Class Registration forms here: Form 1: Microsoft Word Form 2: Microsoft Word |
Our Address: |
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Call us: 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. | |
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There are no band classes scheduled at this time. |
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There are no ensemble classes scheduled at this time.
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Beginning Guitar Class Instructor: Randy Hathaway Beginning Guitar Class: Monday (6:00 - 7:00pm) Intermediate Guitar 1 Class
Instructor: Randy Hathaway 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.
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Download our Class Registration forms here: Form 1: Microsoft Word Form 2: Microsoft Word |
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. Send to Address: Fremont Music School |
Mission Statement Non Discriminatory Clause |
