Music school hosting guitar class for veterans

North Valley Music School has partnered with Veterans Upward Bound and the Kalispell Vet Center to launch a Learn to Play Guitar class for veterans.

This free group class is offered to qualifying participants who are eligible to take classes funded by the Veterans Upward Bound Program.

Group music lessons offer a sense of community, a healthy creative outlet, and a means to integrate back to the simple joys in life. Learn to Play classes are held in a safe, accessible, and supportive environment where participants are encouraged to learn, play, grow, and explore the life-changing power of music.

Kalispell Vet Center Outreach Program Coordinator Adam Jones believes veterans will positively receive the new classes.

“For our veterans, we are finding nontraditional therapy such as music is an extremely effective therapeutic tool to improve the daily life and functioning for individuals with trauma exposure and PTSD,'' Jones said. “We offered this class in 2020 and our veterans really enjoyed it. Unfortunately, the classes were cut short due to COVID. We are glad to be able to offer it again this year.”

The classes are being offered on Wednesdays beginning on Jan. 3, 2022, and running through March 23, 2022. Classes are from noon to 1 p.m. at North Valley Music School.

This group class is designed for beginning to intermediate musicians. Music books are provided. Instruments are possibly available upon request.

Veterans' Upward Bound is funded by a grant through the U.S. Department of Education and is charged with providing educational and support services to veterans. It is the only federal education program specifically created to serve the needs of veterans.

To register, one can go to northvalleymusicschool.org/veteransprograms or call 406-862-8074.