317 Main Community Music Center

What 317 Main Community Music Center does

317 Main Community Music Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit music education and performance organization headquartered at 317 Main Street in Yarmouth, Maine. The center serves students, families, and adult learners across Maine and northern New England through a portfolio that includes individual and group instruction, the Little Roots early-childhood program (ages 0-5), summer camps, ensembles, community jams, ticketed concerts, and outreach programming delivered at public libraries, K-12 schools, recovery centers, and partner community centers statewide.

The operating surface is anchored by a year-round campus containing Founders Hall, teaching studios, the John Williams Front Porch, and the Fox & the Fiddle Cafe (operated by Black Tie Catering). The organization fields a faculty of 40+ professional teaching artists spanning classical, jazz, bluegrass, Cajun, Irish, Scandinavian, and folk traditions, and runs recurring community jams, the free Summer Deck Music Series, and seasonal student showcases. Technology is administrative rather than product-facing: Opus1 for registration and a student portal, LGL Forms for donations, Eventbrite and Arts People for ticketing, Google Calendar/ICS for event distribution.

Revenue combines recurring tuition and program fees (individual lessons, group classes, camps, ensembles), one-time event ticket sales, donations and an annual House Party fundraising gala, facility rentals, on-site cafe food and beverage sales, and revenue from an annual instrument sale. Go-to-market is community-led: word-of-mouth among student families, partnerships with five public libraries and community centers for Little Roots On The Go, and a sponsor stack anchored by MBC (presenting), with Island Treasure Toys at gold and multiple local silver sponsors. Scale metrics reported include 3,110 student registrations in a recent year, 1,000+ Mainers engaged annually through Community Outreach & Access programs, 50+ performances and events since 2023, and $20,000+ in need-based financial aid awarded in the most recent year.

Name

317 Main Community Music Center

Legal name

317 Main Community Music Center

Website

https://317main.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

317 Main Community Music Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Yarmouth, Maine that delivers music education, performance, and outreach programming for students of all ages across northern New England. It serves students, families, and adult learners through lessons, the Little Roots early-childhood program, camps, ensembles, community jams, statewide library outreach, and ticketed concerts, supported by 40+ teaching artists and a multi-tier local sponsor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Early Childhood Music Education (Ages 0–7) (EDAMANAD), Private Music Lessons (Instrumental) (EDAMANAA), Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Music Camps (Band, Choir, Instrument Intensive) (EDAMALAJ), Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB)

Keywords

• Music education services
• Private music lessons
• Community music programs
• Summer music camps
• Early childhood music

Headquarters

HQ city

Yarmouth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Program Fees: Revenue from private lessons, group classes, summer camps, and ensemble programs for students of all ages.
2. Event Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticketed concerts, showcases, and special events such as Winter Student Showcase Weekend, Tiny Disco, Classical performances, and more.
3. Donations and Philanthropy: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, 317 Main relies on charitable donations, annual fund campaigns, and the House Party fundraising gala to sustain operations and community outreach programs.
4. Facility Rentals: 317 Main rents out its campus spaces (Founders Hall, cafe, campus) for private events, community gatherings, and external programming.
5. On-site Cafe Operations (Fox & the Fiddle): The Fox & the Fiddle cafe operated by Black Tie Catering generates food and beverage revenue during events and serves as a gathering space for the community.
6. Instrument Sales: Annual instrument sale events offer donated instruments to the community, generating revenue from items beyond the organization's operational needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

317 Main Community Music Center is a nonprofit music education organization that delivers individual and group music instruction, summer camps, early childhood music (Little Roots), ensemble programs, student showcase performances, community jams, concerts, and recording studio access. Programs are taught by 40+ professional teaching artists on the Yarmouth, Maine campus and through outreach at partner libraries across the state. Revenue is generated through tuition, ticketed events, facility rentals, cafe operations, instrument sales, and charitable donations.

Product overview

317 Main Community Music Center is a community music education and performance organization offering a unified portfolio of music programs. The core offerings include Classes & Lessons (individual and group instruction across multiple instruments), Events (regular concerts, jams, and seasonal performances including Bluegrass Jam, Cajun Jam, Irish Session, Scandinavian Strings Jam, and Summer Deck Music Series), Summer Camps (Music Sampler, Instrument Adventure, and Genre Immersive camps for children), Little Roots (early childhood music education for ages 0-5), and a Recording Studio. The organization also operates the Fox & the Fiddle Café, offers Facility Rentals, and runs Community Outreach Programs bringing music education to libraries, recovery centers, and classrooms statewide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Classes & Lessons Individual and group music instruction across multiple instruments and skill levels, taught by 40+ professional teaching artists at the Yarmouth, Maine campus. Designed for students of all ages and abilities.
• Events (Concerts, Jams, Sessions) Regular concerts, community jams, and seasonal performances hosted at 317 Main's Yarmouth campus. Includes recurring weekly/monthly jams across multiple genres and special ticketed concerts and showcases.
• Summer Camps Music-focused summer programming for children including Music Sampler Camps, Instrument Adventure Camps, and Genre Immersive Camps. Held at the Yarmouth campus and targeted at school-age children.
• Little Roots Early Childhood Music Early childhood music education program for children ages 0-5 and their caregivers. Offered on-site at the Yarmouth campus and via Little Roots On The Go at Freeport Community Library, Portland Public Library, Walker Library, Prince Memorial Library, and Wescustogo Hall & Community Center.
• Recording Studio Professional recording studio facilities available on the Yarmouth campus for student and community use.
• Student Showcase Events Seasonal student performance events including Winter Student Showcase Weekend, Spring Student Showcase, Rock & Blues Night, Jazz Night, and Acoustic Night showcases. Provides performance opportunities for students of all levels.
• Facility Rentals Spaces available for rental on the Yarmouth campus, including Founders Hall and other campus facilities, for private events and community gatherings.
• Community Outreach Programs Programs bringing music education to libraries, recovery centers, classrooms, and serving adults 55+ and individuals with varying abilities statewide across Maine. 15 unique outreach programs delivered in a recent year.
• Annual Instrument Sale Annual instrument sale events offering donated instruments to the community, generating revenue from items beyond the organization's operational needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,110 student registrations in a recent year — record-breaking growth
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MBC (Maine Business Collateral)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMBC serves as the Presenting Sponsor for 317 Main's community events, which celebrate and support students, teachers, and programming multiple times each year. Their sponsorship helps fund these community-building events.
• Black Tie Catering / Fox & the Fiddle CafecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack Tie Catering operates the Fox & the Fiddle Cafe on 317 Main's campus, providing food and beverage service during events. During the Summer Deck Music Series, Black Tie Catering serves a casual summer menu featuring hot dogs, nachos, tacos, pretzels, popsicles, ice cream sandwiches, and seasonal cocktails. This partnership creates a key revenue stream and enhances the community gathering experience.
• Freeport Community LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFreeport Community Library hosts Little Roots On The Go — 317 Main's early childhood music program for children 0-5 and their caregivers — at its location in Freeport, ME. This extends 317's reach to families in the Freeport area.
• Portland Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortland Public Library hosts Little Roots On The Go — 317 Main's early childhood music program for children 0-5 and their caregivers — at its location in Portland, ME. This extends 317's reach to families in the greater Portland area.
• Walker Library (Westbrook, ME)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWalker Library in Westbrook, ME hosts Little Roots On The Go — 317 Main's early childhood music program for children 0-5 and their caregivers.
• Prince Memorial Library (North Yarmouth, ME)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrince Memorial Library in North Yarmouth, ME hosts Little Roots On The Go — 317 Main's early childhood music program. The library also sponsors Little Roots programming at Wescustogo Hall & Community Center.
• Wescustogo Hall & Community Center (North Yarmouth, ME)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWescustogo Hall & Community Center in North Yarmouth hosts Little Roots On The Go programming, sponsored by Prince Memorial Library.
• Hogfish ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHogfish Arts collaborates with 317 Main on an annual Regenerative Arts Seed Project. Hogfish artists-in-residence develop new works-in-progress and present excerpts at 317 Main's Founders Hall, followed by facilitated Q&A with the audience to nurture artistic development. This is the third annual collaboration.
• Classical Uprising / Portland Bach ExperienceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClassical Uprising (executive director Emily Isaacson) and its Portland Bach Experience program co-present performances at 317 Main, including the Penelope concert by composer Sarah Kirkland Snider. The two organizations' executive directors have a personal connection, and this collaboration represents a genre-crossing partnership.
• Bath SavingsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor of 317 Main Community Music Center.
• IO Tech ServiceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor of 317 Main Community Music Center.
• Island Treasure ToysminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor of 317 Main Community Music Center.
• Town and CountryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor of 317 Main Community Music Center.
• ZachauminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor of 317 Main Community Music Center.
• Brown ChiropracticminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver sponsor of 317 Main Community Music Center.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Settlement Music School: Philadelphia-based nonprofit community music school offering private and group instruction across instruments and ages, plus early childhood and outreach programming. Highly comparable operating model and nonprofit mission to 317 Main's educational + community-access focus.
• Old Town School of Folk Music: Chicago-based community music school offering group classes, private lessons, ensembles, and concerts across diverse genres (folk, jazz, blues, world). Directly comparable to 317 Main in mission, programming breadth, nonprofit status, and emphasis on community-based music education for all ages.
• Community Music Center of Boston: Nonprofit community music school in Boston providing private lessons, group classes, early childhood programs, and outreach to underserved communities. Closely parallels 317 Main's combination of tuition programming, financial aid, and statewide/community outreach.
• Levine Music: DC-area community music school providing private instruction, ensembles, early childhood programming (Music for Young Children), and community outreach. Direct peer in nonprofit music education with multi-site community programming and similar program taxonomy.

Regional players

• Maine Arts Academy (K-8 charter): Maine-based arts-integrated K-8 public charter school with music programming. Regional comparable in serving Maine families and embedding music into educational programming, though as a K-8 school rather than a community-wide music center.
• Portland Conservatory of Music: Music education organization based in the Portland, Maine region offering private instruction and community programming. Comparable to 317 Main in geographic market and nonprofit music education focus, though with a more conservatory-style positioning.
• Bangor Symphony Orchestra: Maine-based arts organization offering concert programming and educational outreach in northern New England. Overlaps with 317 Main on community performance programming and regional music education, though primarily presenting rather than instructional.

Broad incumbents

• Interlochen Arts Academy / Interlochen Center for the Arts: Major nonprofit arts education institution offering intensive instruction, summer camps, and performances across music and other arts. Comparable as a broader nonprofit arts-education institution with summer programming and community performances, though at significantly greater scale.
• New England Conservatory: Boston-based conservatory with Preparatory School and Continuing Education division offering private lessons, ensembles, and community programs for learners of all ages. Broader incumbent in the same region that also serves the community music education market.

Emerging players

• Fender Play: Subscription-based online music learning platform offering instrument lessons and structured curricula. Not a community center but a partial competitor for beginner/intermediate learners considering digital alternatives to in-person instruction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/317main
• Facebookfacebook.com/317music
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/317-main-community-music-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 317 Main Community Music Center