Northside School of Music

The Northside School of Music (NSM) is a cornerstone for accessible and inclusive music education in the heart of the North Minneapolis community. We are dedicated to nurturing creativity, building confidence, and fostering collaboration in students of all ages and backgrounds. 

The staff and leadership at NSM value community partnership,  collaborative leadership and supporting the whole student.  We strive to create an environment in which students may find their voice, build lifelong confidence, and engage with their peers in a supportive and inclusive setting.

We Value Accessibility and Inclusion

NSM ensures that high-quality music education is a reality, not a privilege, for all North Minneapolis residents. The sliding-scale tuition model is explicitly designed to dismantle financial barriers. Our commitment to inclusion means proactively creating a learning environment where diverse abilities, cultural backgrounds, musical traditions, and learning styles are not just welcomed, but celebrated and integrated into our teaching. We believe that music is a universal language that should be spoken by everyone.

Our Teachers are our Strength 

Our strength lies in our diverse and experienced staff, who bring a wide range of musical and cultural expertise. They employ a responsive pedagogy, ensuring that instruction is relevant and engaging to each student's life and heritage. Instructors act as mentors, fostering a supportive atmosphere where students are encouraged to take creative risks, leading to greater creativity and confidence both in and out of the lesson room.

We are Rooted in our Community

Central to NSM's mission is collaborative leadership and deep community partnership. We actively seek out and prioritize listening and engagement with local residents, organizations, and existing cultural centers to ensure our programs genuinely reflect and serve the needs of the North Minneapolis ecosystem. By emphasizing collaboration—through ensembles, workshops, and community performances—we build vital social and artistic connections, strengthening the fabric of the community one note at a time.

Relational vs. Transactional

We are a Relational Music School.

In many traditional music programs, the experience is transactional—students pay for a lesson, drop in for a half hour once a week and thats where the interaction ends.  We reject that model. Building a holistic relationship with every student and family is part of our commitment to our community and vision for a thriving music school.

To hear the voices of our students, click on the Marco's Story tab above.