In my baby boom generation, arts education was prevalent and almost everyone I knew learned to play an instrument in public school. So, when I attended middle school in Michigan, I took up the flute. I was not very diligent about practicing. But I did have a lot of fun playing in the school orchestra. And in my teens, I began to enjoy noodling around with friends in impromptu jam sessions. I even joined a rock band for a while.<\/p>\n
My flute has been sitting in the closet for decades. But a few years ago, I remembered how much I used to love singing. Suddenly, I found a new creative outlet and began to sing with others and in duets with my piano-playing husband. I\u2019m even thinking about dusting off my flute.<\/p>\n
Thankfully, adults have many outlets in the Seattle area where we can learn and perform music as passionate amateurs\u2014even if you\u2019ve never plunked a piano or strummed a guitar but would love to try.<\/p>\n
Here are some of the local programs that will help you get back to speed, pick up a musical skill for the first time, or just meet some new friends to jam with:<\/p>\n
For other places for adults to take classes, check out <\/strong>Sound Music School in Seattle<\/a>, Federal Way School of Music<\/a>, 4\/4 School of Music<\/a> (locations throughout King and Snohomish counties); and Bellevue School of Music<\/a>.<\/p>\n Misha Berson<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0writes about the arts for\u00a0<\/em>crosscut.com<\/a>\u00a0and many other media outlets, teaches for the UW Osher program, and is the author of four books, including\u00a0<\/em>Something\u2019s Coming, Something Good: West Side Story and the American Imagination\u00a0(Applause\/Hal Leonard).<\/em><\/p>\n Making Music for the Soul at Centrum\u2014<\/a>Centrum is a nonprofit arts center located in a converted military base in Port Townsend, Wash. Centrum hosts many programs for writers and other arts practitioners throughout the year. But what beckoned to me was their participatory summer music programs. They were like summer camps for teens and adults, but promised a full immersion into music for several days or a week, with instruction from seasoned professional musicians and instructors.<\/p>\n Express More of You Creatively? Yes, You Can!<\/a>\u2014”everyone can sing once they find their natural \u201cnaked\u201d voice. I learned to stop judging every note and instead learned to witness my voice. “<\/p>\nMore on Making Music on 3rd Act<\/em><\/strong>:<\/h2>\n