Half Note Studio
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Studio History

Beginnings - June 1996
In June 1996 after having studied and/or taught music since 1970, Jack Dowdell established The original Half Note Music School in Bellevue, Washington. The first lessons taught were only guitar and done so in a converted 3rd bedroom in a single family house in Bellevue. Within three months, enrollment doubled and the Half Note had clearly outgrown the home-business.

Halfnote lobby

Going Legit - Sept. 1996
In September of that year, in order to serve the demands of a growing enrollment, the Half Note leased commercial space in the Overlake area. As word spread about the Half Note, musicians other than guitarists began inquiring about lessons for their particular instrument. Such inquiries persuaded Jack to put together a teaching staff able to meet needs of students of genres and instruments other than guitar. What began as a single room, home guitar “studio” had become a full service music school.

Growing Legit - Oct. 2005
After having built an additional classroom in the original space, then leasing a 2nd unit next door to the first, it was clear the Half Note had again outgrown its space. In October of 2005, to accommodate the growing enrollment, the Half Note relocated to a larger facility in the same area. Half Note Bellevue has plenty of room, ample free parking, a fully equipped ensemble room for jam sessions and a comfortable WIFI waiting lounge.

Seattle Half Note - April 2006
In order to meet the demands of his University of Washington guitar class students who wanted a more convenient (local) placed to continue their studies after the class ended, a second campus was opened. Half Note - Seattle is located in the Phinney Ridge/Greenlake area near Woodland Park.

Locations

Half Note Bellevue Half Note East
1809 130th Avenue NE, Suite 120
Bellevue , WA 98005
Half Note Seattle Seattle Half Note
809 N. 49th Street, Suite 201
Seattle, WA 98103
Half Note UW

University of Washington
Beginning Guitar for Adults
($8/hour)

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