The 30 members of the Flathead Valley’s New Horizons Band bring an abundance of life experience to the music group. The stories they have to tell should not be missed.

The band, with members ranging in age from 50 to 82 years old (with a few “honorary” members in their late 30s), performs around the valley as a way for older folks to learn music and make friends.

Eileen Alexander, who founded the Flathead Valley branch of New Horizons three years ago and remains the band director, said her group is always looking for more seniors to learn an instrument.

“New Horizons is leading a national movement of older people playing music,” she said. “The benefits are many. Mental stimulation, continuing learning and physical exercise are all parts of it.”

To welcome new members, Alexander is putting on an informative meeting at 7 p.m. tonight, Aug. 27, at the Kalispell Christian Center, 255 Summit Ridge Drive.

No previous music experience is necessary, she said. The purpose of the group is to teach people how to play or to improve their skills. Anyone 50 and older is welcome, but Alexander admits this isn’t a hard and fast rule.

“If they want to play, if they want to be around us, then that’s OK,” she said of younger people. “Sometimes we have social events just to get together and enjoy each other.”

The New Horizons International Music Association has dozens of chapters in several countries and nearly 10,000 dues-paying members. The Flathead Valley chapter is one of two in Montana. The other is in Helena.

To participate, people must be willing to rent or buy whatever instrument they want to learn and pay a $75 semester fee. With programs in all four seasons, people can learn as little or as much as they want. 

“Some of our members are snowbirds, and they play in Arizona chapters in the winter,” Alexander said. “Because we are a nonprofit, it runs on a dime.”

Eventually, participants can play gigs with the band, which hops around the valley year-round playing festivals, parades and other events.

“We play music from all over,” Alexander said. “From hymns to ‘Rock Around the Clock’ to marches. We’re a concert band, not a rock band.”

Alexander has decades of experience teaching music. She earned a master’s degree in music from the University of Colorado and spent nearly four decades teaching youths in Denver. 

Teaching seniors how to play music comes with an interesting set of problems. Dentures, for one, make it harder to play brass or woodwind instruments. Luckily, Alexander had enough experience teaching middle-schoolers with braces to work around it.

In the end, Alexander said she believes the interaction with fellow seniors is a healthy bonus of the band.

“It gets them out socially,” she said. “We’re social beings. Our seniors become better associated and are all young-spirited.”

The current and former careers of the several dozen New Horizon members include ranchers, farmers, bankers, accountants and a career Navy submarine man. 

Beginners’ fall music classes, which run from Sept. 16 to Dec. 17, are Tuesdays from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. Intermediate musicians learn Mondays from 5:15 to 7:30 p.m., and the experienced musicians practice from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays.

“I’m generous with my time,” Alexander said. “They can come early if they need help. We try to have a lot of fun; we’re a very healthy group.”

Age shouldn’t be a limiting factor for musicians, she said. 

“Music is something you can do for life,” Alexander said. “The age barriers kind of disappear. You are never too old to play music and learn.”

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.