Core Values

Neighborhood Music School was founded in 1914 as a Settlement House created to provide music and English instruction to the immigrant communities who had settled in Boyle Heights. Neighborhood Music School is deeply rooted in equity and inclusion. Our community is our core and our strength and we serve students, families and community with the love and respect they have come to know and trust since 1914.

Value 1: We are a safe space and a place of comfort. Founded as a Settlement house in service to the multicultural community of Boyle Heights, we continue to ensure that our core values welcome and accept all who come into our house with kindness, patience, openness and caring. We understand that every journey is unique and deserves equal and unbiased opportunities.

Value 2: We are an artistic home with a deep history and exciting future at the intersection of music study, mentorship and community engagement. We uphold the values and engagement of creative training, exploration, and development.

Value 3: · NMS strives to connect our students, teaching artists, and community with the vast cultural, creative, and generative opportunities that the Los Angeles landscape has to offer. We actively seek out partnerships, collaborations, and professional development to ensure that the music created at, in and through NMS is anchored in growth, transformation and creative inquiry.