Playing music isn't about being a professional

“Music is that beautiful medium, it’s that vehicle, that allows me to teach young people not just how to discover the sound of an instrument, but to them discover their unique personal significance. I call it discovering your sound. Everyone (in here) has their sound,” says Mickey Smith Jr. Grammy honoree for Music Educator of the Year.

Finding your sound is made easier here in the Flathead Valley where we have such an incredible pool of music educators and the only nonprofit community music school in the state of Montana, North Valley Music School. And you’re never too old or too young to find your sound.

My 8-year-old daughter, Pearl and I went to our first NVMS Community Orchestra rehearsal recently. We got to play Bach chorales and traditional fiddle tunes along with several other beginner musicians, of all ages, who are finding their sound.

Conductor Gustavo Dudamel, a Venezuelan “Maestro,” who leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic, was recently quoted in a CBS interview, “The music saved me.”

We come together to play not always to be professional musicians, “It’s to touch art, you know, and to have art as part of your life.” Make art a part of your life. Find your sound. To read the full impactful article on Conductor Dudamel, https://tinyurl.com/ur9derm

If anyone got any video of the crowd singing the Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star at the parade please call the Music School at 406-862-8074.

Deidre Corson is the Executive Director of North Valley Music School.