Northwest Music Mentors creates partnerships between music educators and professional musicians, providing students with focused instruction in group settings.
Current Highlights
The 2022-23 school year has come to a close, and there have been some significant milestones achieved. Through funding provided by our donors and from the Federal Government ESSER funding, we achieved the following results:
- Schools Serviced: 7 (Highline School District)
- Number of Participating Students: 388
- Sessions Delivered: 741
- Active Mentors: 13
Our mentors worked with students on nearly every instrument available in the school music programs; trumpet, trombone, euphonium, French horn, flute, clarinet, saxophone, violin, viola, cello, upright bass, piano, and percussion.
Of the students who participated in our programs, nearly 90% continued to be enrolled in their school music programs through the entire year. Over 65% of our students are registered for music next year. The majority of students who didn’t register cited schedule conflicts as the primary reason for not continuing, with several of these students indicating they would work to adjust their schedule to fit music in after school begins next year.
Here are a few quotes from our students:
“Band is a class where I feel comfortable and I can play something without being made fun of when I make mistakes, and I can just have fun.” – Middle School Band Student
“Our mentor helped us gain confidence. I like the sound of the cello and how it’s deeper than the violin and viola. I like the vibe of the other classmates and it made me more confident to speak and work with them.” – Middle School Orchestra Student
“Band is the only class I look forward to and it’s the reason why I show up to school most days” – Middle School Band Student
“Band makes school more enjoyable because you get to learn new things and make music with instruments that you probably didn’t know about until you were shown, also it makes beautiful memories with others.” – Middle School Band Student
“Everyone is together, more like a family, and there is no border between us.” – High School Orchestra Student
Thanks again for all of your help. This has been a tremendous help to our program.
Christopher Jones, Chinook Middle School
Your Donation Makes a Difference
$70 funds a single mentoring session.
$80 funds a master class presentation.
$250 provides a classroom with a mentor for a full quarter/semester.
$1000 places a mentor in a classroom for the entire school year.
We thank you for your past and continued support, and the difference it makes for the students participating in our programs. We believe music programs are important in the development of our young people, and during these extraordinary times your support is even more critical to ensure that students remain active and engaged in their pursuit of music, as well as in their overall participation in academic studies.
If your company offers matching funds for your charitable gifts, you can donate to us through your workplace to maximize your contribution, or submit your donation receipt to your company to qualify for a corporate match.
Call for Mentors
We anticipate expanding our programs in South King County and Tacoma in the upcoming school year. Our focus has been in the Highline School District, but we will be looking to offer our programs to other schools in these regions.
If you have experience teaching music, have flexibility in your daytime schedule and would be able to work in these areas fill out our contact form and we will be in touch with you!
The Mentorship Difference
Many music students do not have access to after school programs or private lessons. In our programs, mentors work with students in break-out sectionals during classroom hours. Mentors focus on material designated by their music director, further developing students’ musicianship by helping them improve their skills, increase their level of participation and overall enjoyment of performing music.
Our programs match mentors with students on the same instrument or family of instruments. Each mentor works with students when they first begin to play or join an ensemble, and continues to work with them as they move to the next level of their education – middle school or junior high, then to high school, through the end of secondary education, providing additional instruction and guidance during each step of their journey as a musician, and helping to answer the question “What’s next?”
If you’d like to donate, just click the button above to donate through PayPal. To join in the discussion of supporting music in schools, visit and follow us on Facebook – we’d love to hear from you and find out how we can make a difference in your community!