Changes to Tuition: Sales Tax Requirement Begins Winter 2026

Starting with Winter 2026 programs, Seattle JazzED will be required to charge sales tax on tuition, following a new Washington State law (ESSB 5814) that took effect on October 1. 

ESSB 5814 changes the state’s tax code to include youth arts education like music, theater, and dance, in the definition of “live presentations.” As a result, youth arts organizations across Washington state are now required to collect retail sales tax on class tuition. For JazzED families, this means sales tax will be applied to any tuition amount up to our standard tuition rate. 

As an organization, we recognize that this new law places an additional financial burden on families seeking arts education opportunities for their children, making access to music education more challenging for some. 

That’s why JazzED remains deeply committed to keeping our pay-what-you-can tuition model in place. This model ensures that no student is turned away due to cost. We hope families who can pay above the standard tuition, and community members who are able to make a contribution, will consider doing so to ensure no student is ever turned away due to cost.  

Affordability and access are at the heart of everything we do. We want families to know that while this new law affects how we process tuition, it doesn’t change our mission. Every young person who wants to play music at JazzED will still have that opportunity.

Liz Riggs Meder, Executive Director 

We will continue to work alongside arts advocacy organizations across Washington to ensure our legislators understand how such budget decisions impact access to the arts. 

Seattle JazzED remains steadfast in our mission: to make high-quality, joyful, and equitable music education available to every student who walks through our doors. 

“You Can Make It Your Own Way” - Gaby's JazzED Story

Each student who joins our programs brings a unique story.  

For Gaby, that story began with Seattle JazzED at the 2024 Summer Foundations Camp. She continued in Foundations through the school year and most recently joined our Second Line Project Camp. 

Gaby is deeply interested in all forms of art and dreams of becoming an artist. Alongside JazzED, she has studied piano and performed in numerous musical theatre productions with Missoula Children’s Theatre. She also dances flamenco and sings with Seattle Children’s Chorus.  

Her younger brother started with Seattle JazzED in early 2024. That’s how Gaby’s mom found out about the other classes we offer for students. At home, Gaby has always been surrounded by music. Her family enjoys many genres, but jazz holds a special place.  

Seattle JazzED seemed like the perfect place for Gaby to explore that interest. Adventurous by nature, Gaby never shies away from trying new things. Today, she plays piano and saxophone.  

For Gaby, JazzED is “fun, calming, and challenging.” Learning to play an instrument isn’t always easy because it requires time and dedication, but she gets a lot of joy from jazz. She loves how jazz can change with her mood. Sometimes it’s upbeat and energetic, sometimes bluesy and soulful, and sometimes smooth and calming. What excites her most is the freedom to improvise. “You can make it your own way,” she says. 

Playing in a band has also been a highlight of her experience. To Gaby, music feels more alive when everyone’s parts come together. This summer at our Second Line Project Camp, she marched with the band in the Torchlight Parade, a moment that made her feel part of something bigger than herself. 

That doesn’t mean everything came easily. At first, Gaby was nervous. Many of the campers were older, taller, and more experienced, and the music felt intimidating. She struggled with the music and learning the notes at first. 

But one of our interns noticed. During break, he asked her if she was having a difficult time with the music and spent the next couple of days at camp sitting with her and helping her through it. That kind of support, Gaby says, is what makes JazzED’s community different. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without the teachers.” 

Gaby keeps coming back to JazzED, stating how hard it is to find another program like this elsewhere. Not many organizations provide the freedom to play music without pressure, or the experience of playing as part of a band.  

Beyond her musicianship, she’s grown in other ways. She’s built friendships, learned how to keep going when things are hard, and developed a deep love for jazz. When she struggles with a piece of music now, she doesn’t give up, she persists. She says this helped her get through challenges more easily. 

When asked what advice she would give to new JazzED students, she encourages them to pick an instrument they love, ask for help when they need it, and most importantly, just enjoy the music. 

Looking ahead, Gaby sees herself continuing to play jazz.  

For Gaby, JazzED is more than just learning notes and rhythms. It’s a place to belong, a community to grow with, and a chance to find joy in music every single day. 

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Interview by Seattle JazzED Summer Intern, Denise Chang

What Does Seattle JazzED Mean to Families?

Many families find a safe place to build relationships and enjoy music at Seattle JazzED. But why do families keep coming back to our programs? I had the chance to chat with Amy, a parent of two siblings who attend Seattle JazzED to learn their story. 

Could you share a little about yourself and your children? How and why did your children join Seattle JazzED? 

We learned about Seattle JazzED five years ago, during the pandemic, when our family began homeschooling. When we all went into lock-down mode, I knew my kids needed something to give them happiness without a fear of failing, and a musical community that supports mental health and development. They also needed an outlet for learning something fun and new, something unrelated to virtual school. 

JazzED was a quick Google search away and I'm so glad I found it!  

My kids found the virtual classroom at JazzED space to be comfortable, with small groups of kids and caring teachers. A child may not know the meaning of 'pandemic' but they understand music. My kids needed something familiar to be creative with and JazzED opened a door for my kids that I couldn't have given them on my own.  

What prompted you to register for our programs? 

JazzED offered something the school community didn't – fun, improvisational skills, which put the "playfulness" back into playing an instrument. The dedicated teachers could focus on individual instruments and instruction while maintaining an engaging and fun learning process. 

JazzED programs are positive experiences that keep kids coming back! My kids have formed long-lasting friendships with familiar, returning faces over the years. 

How has JazzED allowed your children to grow musically or on a personal level? 

They've become inspired to try out new instruments and take risks they hadn't considered before, such as seeking out opportunities like busking around the city or participating in the drumline. 

Do your kids sometimes get frustrated when practicing their instruments? What kind of joy do they get out of music that makes them continue? 

My kids have grown resilient and persistent. One of my twins learns quickly and enjoys trying to reach perfection, while the other needs more time to work through his learning process. JazzED has been a great place for them to learn about themselves because there is no end to musical learning. There is always more to learn.  

It was good for one of my kids to learn that music will always challenge and offer more to those who play. It was also great to see my other child realize that his learning speed didn't hold him back from participating in group settings. He never felt behind or not as good as the others. 

As a parent, why is music education important to you and your family? 

I have dyslexia and struggled in school as a kid. But when I joined band and made first chair in my music section, I realized music was different from school. Band taught me to stand taller and feel prouder than I had before. Music made me a happier person. 

Music is a vital component of a balanced and healthy lifestyle. It supports us through our moods and emotions. It feeds our curiosity. It allows us to connect to our community. Without the passionate educators and leaders at JazzED, Seattle would lack a vital tool for continuing to build its historical musical foundation. 

Please tell me more about how music feeds into a balanced lifestyle. As compared to before joining JazzED, have your children picked up healthy habits? 

Absolutely! They are more strategic in their learning across all disciplines. They have become more thoughtful about setting goals and reaching them. They make notes in their music, write their own tunes, and record their playing and practice sessions. They even use their metronomes without being told to! The skills they have learned in JazzED and through practicing music can be applied to other aspects of their lives, which is so rewarding to see.  

Over the last five years, JazzED’s programs have provided invaluable opportunities to Amy’s children. She especially appreciates the sliding scale tuition and instrument rentals.  

She leaves off by saying, “Seattle JazzED leaves no barriers and continue to open doors for so many families!”  

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Interview by Seattle JazzED Summer Intern, Denise Chang