Mode Music Studios on Vashon, owned by musician and single mother Erin Rubin, will celebrate a grand reopening during Vashon’s First Friday art walk, from 5 to 8 p.m. on July 1, at 17205 Vashon Hwy SW.
Mode Vashon opened just before the COVID-19 quarantine of early 2020, but quickly moved to an online model of learning during the closures.
Now, Rubin and her staff are excited and looking forward to a new season of growth, with a return to in-person learning.
The studio’s location in Vashon Village, is a shared, multi-purpose space for music lessons, performing arts education, visual art, and record sales.
Not just for children, Mode’s music education approach is geared to all ages of students and includes mentoring programs that train young musicians to teach.
Tiny Modes, a group class focusing on movement, song, dance, play and story — and often including the music of Vashon’s own Caspar Babypants — is for children ages four years and younger. The class will be offered this summer, along with other group classes.
In addition, Mode will sponsor an all-ages open mic for students every second Thursday, outside in Vashon Brewing’s family-friendly beer garden at Vashon Village, or inside the pub, weather depending.
“I am excited to be back and in-person in the vibrant arts and music-loving community of Vashon, “ said Rubin. “The past couple of years have been tough. We are grateful to the students and teachers who stayed with their lessons online and are excited to be back in person with lessons, camps and classes. Community is everything, and this community rocks. Pun intended.”
The nonprofit affiliated organization of Mode, Mode Music Performing Arts (MMPA), has been involved in the community in Seattle by funding and providing classes to the homeless community through Solid Ground, partnering with Seattle Public Schools and Creative Advantage to offer music and arts partnership in the classroom, and taking over the music and arts elective offerings at Pathfinder K-8. MMPA also provides scholarships for private lessons and classes to make music and arts available for everyone.
According to Rubin, Mode Vashon is similarly invested in the community.
“We are excited to be partnering with Vashon Events and getting the word out about its incredible instrument library and finding new ways to engage with students of all ages all over the island,” she said.
Friday night’s celebration will include vinyl record spinning and sales, light refreshments and original visual art by Corianna Garrels.
With generous participation from Vashon Events’ instrument lending library and other resources, interested students can learn more about lessons and teachers available, as well as Mode Music Performing Arts camps and scholarships.
To find out more about Mode Music Vashon’s offerings, visit modemusicstudios.com.
