North Valley Music School’s grand opening on Aug. 24 was just that – grand. Hundreds of community members turned up to see the school’s new digs and share in a celebration that included live music, a silent auction and lots of good feelings.

The school’s executive director, Deidre Corson, described the first two months in the new location as “beautifully overwhelming.”  

"All the things that we really were looking forward to – like to have more studios, to have a recital hall, to have a bigger group classroom, to have the soundproofing -- all those pieces are really incredible and yes, there are hiccups and learning curves ... that's normal,” Corson said. 

The Stack Recital Hall was put to use soon after the opening, and the docket is filling. It hosted a Montana Chamber Association event in September, the collaboration “Wheels of Harmony” is scheduled for Oct. 29, the Fall Faculty Concert is Nov. 17, and in April, “Acoustic Broadway” will take the stage. 

Group and individual lessons are available for all ages and all abilities. Corson said the “music for all” approach is in the school’s mission. 

During North Valley Music School’s first several weeks at the Smith Fields location, 24 teachers have been working with 409 registered students -- 65 enjoy group classes and 344 take private lessons. Students currently range in age from 0-84 years. 

In addition to its Music Together program for children up to age 5, the school hosts a free glee club and weekly acoustic jam sessions. 

“Come to the acoustic jam,” Corson said. “There are a bunch of people here who just want to hang out with each other playing music and they're learning how to play music together. It's not this elitist group.   

“Everyone's welcome to sit. We have teenagers in there who are playing and there are seniors and everything in between,” Corson continued.  “How many opportunities do you get for intergenerational relationships?” 

The three Coleman sisters have been taking music lessons at North Valley Music School for around four years. They each take two lessons a week as part of their home school curriculum. 

Kassidy, 11, studies violin and piano. Ten-year-old Zoey plays guitar and piano, and Marley, 9, studies the ukelele (some people call them “ooks,”) and piano. She’s excited to begin mandolin lessons soon and said she prefers smaller instruments because she is a small person. 

Nancy Thompson has donated to North Valley Music School for years and has recently joined the board. She began taking music lessons about 10 years ago – mandolin from Christian Johnson.  

“I also was taking the violin, and I kind of switched between the two of them,” Thompson said, adding that she returned to playing the piano about a year and a half ago. "I love it. I have definitely progressed at a more rapid pace than I did with the string instruments.” 

Having spent time in the school when it was on Spokane Avenue and in the new facility, the students had glowing reviews of the current building. They noted improvements in everything, from the sound to the lighting, the views to the temperature. 

“We got a nice new room,” Zoey said of the piano practice space. “We were in a shed before. It was like a shed with two sides on it. It was actually pretty big, but it would get a little cold in the winter.” 

She was quick to add that, in the new building, nearly every room has its own thermostat. 

The students said in the old school, they could often hear other lessons in progress and at the new school, almost every teacher has a room. 

“If there's a lesson right next door, you still hear it sometimes, but it's a little better than what it used to be,” Zoey said. “It's way quieter because it's more separated.” 

“And they have sound stuff on the wall, so you can hear what you're doing, and you're not hearing a bunch of other stuff,” Kassidy added, shifting her attention to another aspect of the ambiance. “There are all of the long windows, so it's a lot more light that gets in there.” 

“It's very relaxing in the rooms -- the lights are nice,” Zoey noted, and said that in some of the rooms, the lights face upward, toward the ceiling for a softer glow. 

“For those of us who drive, the parking situation is much nicer,” Thompson chimed in. “We don't to park on the street anymore and walk down the icy alley in the winter.” 

At the old school, Marley said she could hear trucks roaring by, and the window shades would shudder each time. In comparison, the new school is “very mellow” and “way more peaceful.” 

“Our teachers are very awesome,” Kassidy said. 

“Yeah, we really like our teachers,” her sisters agreed. 

Each pianist said Robinson is excellent and gave precise examples of her quality. 

“Catherine, she'll help you,” Zoey said. “If you get one note wrong, she'll let you know what you did wrong and let you fix it the next time.” 

“Every time I come, she gives me something I never thought about,” Thompson said. “I mean, a hint of how to practice better, how to play a chord that's difficult to play, in a different way. She always has a tip.” 

The fact that Johnson met Dolly Parton was a big hit with all the students, regardless of age, and his work as a luthier is impressive. 

"My D string won't go back to normal,” Kassidy said. “I tried to tune it, and he said, ‘Here, let's see,’ and he just tightened it up, moved the bridge a little bit, and then he gave it back to me. So that was cool. He just seems like he knows everything about instruments.” 

In keeping with its mission of providing music opportunities for all, North Valley Music School has a scholarship program, something that is unique to schools of its kind. Last year, 52 students received scholarships totaling $30,100. 

“It feels really good to be able to provide that to our community,” Corson said. 

Corson has been the executive director of the music school for 10 years and served on the board for three years before that. She is well suited to her job. 

“My life has been, the last decade plus, so wrapped around spreading the joy of music in the valley, and I love it,” she said. “I really love it.”