Save a Music Education Legacy
Our North Seattle school is at risk of closing when our lease ends in October 2026. Help secure a permanent home for community-centered music education by donating to our Building Fund.
With 17 classrooms, the Lake City School sustains our Georgetown campus and hundreds of students each month. Your support will not only help us with a down payment on the building (and keep the lights on at both facilities), but it will also sustain community-centered music at SDSM.
Community-centered PROGRAMS at SDSM
As of 2022, It is now publicly available for community members to hold their own events including private parties, all-ages shows and jam sessions, presentations and meetings, stand-up comedy performances, film screenings, memorials, art and vendor shows, and professional photo and video shoots. Designed for versatility, the venue fosters creative expression while offering high-quality sound and production support.
SDSM has served as the first place where young musicians have performed, launching hundreds of bands and thousands of friendships. In addition to providing the first performance opportunity for young musicians in our own venue, we also collaborate with community organizations to provide them an opportunity to perform at public events such as the NW Folklife, Lake City Summer Fest, Georgetown Carnival, and Sustainable Ballard.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING COMMUNITY-CENTERED MUSIC EDUCATION.
PRESS RELEASE 9-24-25
Celebrating with Steve Smith’s new book, a live concert, and a campaign to purchase the Lake City campus
Seattle, WA – As it approaches its 40th year in 2026, Seattle Drum School of Music (SDSM) is marking a rare triple milestone: the release of founder Steve Smith’s new book Keys to the City with Hudson Music; a live release concert on October 5, 2025; and the launch of a fundraising campaign to purchase its Lake City campus and protect its legacy for generations to come.
Keys to the City presents “a new approach to understanding rhythm, time, and its expression through drumming,” with a forward by Jason McGerr, drummer for Death Cab for Cutie. The book will be published digitally by Hudson Music, with limited physical copies available at the event.
The book release concert will take place at The LAB @ 1010, SDSM’s Georgetown venue, and will feature Steve Smith (drums), Reuel Lubag (piano), Dean Schmidt (bass), Steve Tressler (sax), and Nathaniel Paul Schleimer (flute) performing Chick Corea classics, plus a set from local rockers The 350s. Doors at 6:30pm, show at 7:30pm.
Tickets: eventbrite.com/e/steve-smiths-book-release-live-show-tickets-1625587559149
Proceeds benefit the school’s building fund campaign.
SAVING A SEATTLE MUSIC EDUCATION LEGACY
“We’ve been able to keep this going for nearly 40 years without owning a building or relying on public funding–thanks to the commitment of our staff and community support. But we can’t keep operating with this much uncertainty. We need stability, not just for ourselves, but for the students and artists who count on us.” — Kristy Smith, Co-owner & Instructor
The Lake City campus-the school’s flagship with 17 classrooms serving hundreds of students monthly-is now under pressure. The property owner intends to sell in 2026, the same year SDSM will celebrate its 40th anniversary. Without ownership, both campuses are at risk and the hundreds of students who study with SDSM each month would be deeply impacted, echoing the displacement of 2016 when the school lost its original home of 30 years.
To meet this challenge, SDSM has become a fiscally sponsored project of Allied Arts Foundation, allowing the campaign to accept tax-deductible donations and pursue grants, sponsorships, and foundation support.
A COMMUNITY HUB AT 40 YEARS
Founded in 1986 when Steve Smith began teaching drums, Seattle Drum School of Music has grown under the leadership of Steve and Kristy Smith, expanding to two campuses and nearly all instruments, from drums and guitar to piano, voice, and more. Over nearly four decades, SDSM has taught tens of thousands of students, from beginners to professional performers. Today, it serves more than 400 monthly students and is currently hosting over 150 events annually.
Its Georgetown campus houses The LAB @ 1010, an all-ages performance and recording venue that serves as a hub where students, emerging artists, and cultural organizations come together. The LAB hosts youth showcases (2nd Sundays at 2), recitals, and rehearsals, while also welcoming nonprofits and community partners for their podcasts, fundraising events, dance practice, workshops and film screenings, to private gatherings. With recording and livestream capabilities, it has become a hub for creatives to connect.
“Seattle Drum School of Music has always been about more than lessons; it’s about giving people the joy of music, of having a creative community, and keeping music alive in our city.” — Steve Smith, Founder & Instructor
The release of Keys to the City, the upcoming 40th anniversary, and the urgent building campaign together represent a moment of reflection, celebration, and action for one of Seattle’s most resilient arts institutions.
SUPPORT SEATTLE DRUM SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Community members, funders, and partners are invited to help ensure that Seattle Drum School of Music remains a vital, accessible resource for the next generation of musicians.
Donations: