AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today November 2, 2026
Meter Music School Ends 15-Year Run in Central District
After offering a variety of music lessons for fifteen years, Meter Music School has closed its East Union Street location in Seattle's Central District. The closure comes as the school faces significant building issues and city citations related to its historic facility, with all programs now consolidated at its Columbia City headquarters.
Building Issues Lead to Closure
The shutdown was confirmed by Meter Music School director Brendan Bosworth, who addressed the closure in an announcement to current and former students. "Our building in the Central District needs major upgrades, so we made the decision to bring all of our programming over to our Columbia City location," Bosworth said. "It was a wonderful 15 year run on East Union Street."
Concerns about the building's compliance surfaced after a 2026 annual fire inspection. According to city filings, the inspection found "unpermitted or non-compliant basement wiring" and structural issues linked to previous unpermitted work on the 1900-era property. Further city action followed in July, when the Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections issued a notice of violation regarding unpermitted conversion work and the school's failure to obtain the correct change of use permit as a music institution.
City Response and Pre-application Process
Meter Music School initiated the pre-application process with the city in hopes of resolving the violations. However, the costs to address the necessary upgrades and legal requirements proved prohibitive for both Bosworth and the property's longtime owners, real estate investors Charles Ragen and Wenjun Chen.
The closure mirrors similar challenges faced by other older commercial buildings in the area. In September, structural problems and costs forced the exit of three businesses from a 96-year-old commercial property on 15th Ave E, highlighting the difficulties of maintaining historic buildings for modern use.
Impact on Students and Families
The decision to close Meter Music School's E Union location affects families and young students who participated in-person. Families now have several alternatives in the area. The School of Rock chain operates a studio in Montlake, offering music lessons to interested students. Brendan Bosworth also shared that Gentle Giant Jiu Jitsu in Madrona will be taking over the "MiniMeter baby & toddler classes" for affected families, ensuring some continuity for early childhood music education.
Going forward, the Columbia City headquarters will expand to operate seven days a week, consolidating instructors and programs previously split between locations.
Continuing Music Education in Columbia City
Despite the closure, Meter Music School continues to serve the community by providing guitar, singing, piano, banjo, drums, and ukulele lessons at its Columbia City location. The move aims to preserve the school's mission and ensure ongoing access to music education for Seattle families. As area families and music instructors adjust to these changes, the string of businesses along E Union just west of 23rd will have one less local institution, but music lessons remain accessible elsewhere in the city.
Maintaining Community Music in Seattle
The closure of the East Union branch of Meter Music School reflects broader challenges of operating community-focused programs in historic Seattle buildings facing compliance and renovation costs. As the school's presence continues in Columbia City, Seattle's families can still access group and private music education, keeping the spirit of community music alive despite the loss of the long-running Central District location.
Source: capitolhillseattle.com.
