North Valley Music School
About North Valley Music School
North Valley Music School gives Whitefish and the Flathead Valley something rare: a place where music education is open to babies, adults, and everyone in between. It offers lessons, classes, ensembles, camps, scholarships, and performances, so a student can start with one instrument and end up in the middle of a community concert. If you care about access to music in Montana, this is one of the clearest places to support it.
What sets North Valley Music School apart is simple: it is Montana’s only nonprofit community music school, and it serves the whole arc of musical life, from early childhood classes to youth symphonies to free community jams. It also keeps access in view with scholarships, instrument rentals, and accessibility supports.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Private lessons
Private instruction in piano, violin, viola, cello, bass, voice, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, harp, percussion, flute, oboe, clarinet, trumpet, saxophone, ukulele, music theory, and jazz studies, with beginning Suzuki instruction available on violin.
Group classes
Group music classes for students of all ages and abilities.
Flathead Valley Youth Symphonies
Two orchestral ensembles for middle and high school string, wind, and percussion players, including Philharmonia and Symphony.
Community jams
Two weekly acoustic jams open to all levels of musicianship.
Children's choir
A free program listed among NVMS offerings.
Summer camps
Seasonal music camps for students of different ages and levels.
Workshops and masterclasses
Workshops, masterclasses, and special music events.
Scholarships
Need-based scholarships that help make music education accessible to students of all ages.
Early childhood music classes
Early childhood music classes, including Music Together curriculum offerings.
Ensembles
Student ensembles and performance opportunities for players and singers.
Instrument rental program
Short-term rental of violins, guitars, and a few keyboards for students.
About this work
In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.
Mission
North Valley Music School enriches our Montana communities through music education, appreciation, and performance by offering musical opportunities for all.
Who they serve
Students and community members of all ages, from babies to adults and from newborns to retirees, including people of all backgrounds, abilities, and incomes in Whitefish and the Flathead Valley.
Their impact
- Serves over 800 students a year through private music lessons, group classes, workshops, summer camps, and ensembles.
- Brings music to over 1,500 community members each year through faculty and student concerts and community performances.
- Ended the 2023-2024 program year with 871 students in private lessons, group classes, ensembles, and summer camps.
- Raised over $360,000 from 400+ donors in the 2023 Great Fish Community Challenge.
- Has raised over $1.5 million for the Be Instrumental capital campaign since the April 2024 groundbreaking.
How your donation helps
- Free and affordable music programs
- Scholarships
- Operational costs
- Maintaining the new facility
- Musical instruments and music
- Housing for out-of-town guest artists and teachers
- Endowment support for operating expenses and scholarships
Our story
North Valley Music School started in the fall of 1997, when Betty Lou Wambeke and Betsy Kohnstamm met at the Whitefish Post Office and began talking about music lessons for local students. That conversation led to a first chamber music concert, nonprofit status the following spring, and a school that opened in 1998 in church Sunday school rooms before growing into a larger home for lessons, performances, and more.
Need help?
How someone in need can access North Valley Music School’s services.
Students can request a trial lesson, register for lessons or classes, and apply for scholarships through the office. Scholarship applications are confidential, are based on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines, and can be mailed to PO Box 4446, Whitefish, MT 59937, or emailed to info@northvalleymusicschool.org. For accessibility questions, call or email the office, large print programs can be requested at least 72 hours in advance, and sign language interpreters may be provided for selected performances with at least two weeks' notice.
Stories
The people behind the work.
In their words
Music is a more potent instrument than any other for education because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul. — Plato
Music is important, not just fun.
As we look to the future, I’m filled with both excitement and gratitude.
Events
Contra Dance
A lively evening of music, movement, and community co-presented with Whitefish Community Center.
Stumptown Get Down
An all-ages show with sound, lighting, food and beverage vendors, a silent auction, and more.
Camp Festival Amadeus Faculty Concert
A concert celebrating the faculty who work with students during Camp Festival Amadeus.
Sitting With Songwriters
A VIP evening celebrating songwriting with Nashville songwriters in an intimate round format.
2026 Classical Guitar Series
A series featuring four internationally acclaimed classical guitarists in Stack Recital Hall.
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles North Valley Music School has shared.
Current needs
- Remaining funds for the Be Instrumental capital campaign
- Shelving for the Listening Library in the waiting area
- Instruments for the Outdoor Music Park
- Shade flags for the north courtyard
Volunteer opportunities
- Serve on the Board of Directors
- Serve on one of the board's standing committees
- Help with school volunteer needs by contacting the office
Recognition & press
In the media
- Flathead Beacon, coverage of North Valley Music School being awarded a $500,000 grant for a new facility
- Daily Inter Lake, coverage of Whitefish Community Foundation awarding a grant for the new music school
- KPAX TV, interview about North Valley Music School's groundbreaking on its new location
- Flathead Beacon, feature on the new Flathead Valley Youth Symphony
- Daily Inter Lake, coverage of the school's plans for a new building
- Whitefish Pilot, profile remembering the school's founder and dedication to music
Press & mentions
Partners & funders
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
What ages does North Valley Music School serve?
It serves students from babies to adults, including newborns to retirees. It also admits students of any race, color, nationality, sex, identity, ethnic origin, or religious affiliation.
What kinds of programs are available?
Students can take private lessons, join group classes and ensembles, attend summer camps and workshops, or participate in the Flathead Valley Youth Symphonies, early childhood music classes, Music Together, children's choir, and community jams.
How do scholarships work?
Scholarships are available for all ages and are based on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. Students reapply each year, and applications can be mailed or emailed to the office.
What accessibility support is available?
NVMS is fully accessible. It offers handicapped parking, large print programs for recitals and performances, and sign language interpreters for selected performances when requested in advance.
Can students rent instruments?
Yes. NVMS rents violins, guitars, and a few keyboards to students on a short-term basis for $10 per month.
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