Erik Olson

Another Saturday, another recording session! More musicians and more microphones this time.

Occasionally, my hands will fall into a familiar chord or progression on the piano something that I haven’t played in years but I still seem to remember. It’s kind of like riding a bike. I don’t remember the last time I played this before tonight, but here is the lovely hymn, This Is My Father’s World.

Catherine Daniel, along with Dr. Roger Admiral, presented this lecture/recital last night (via the Augustana Campus YouTube channel). It was thrilling for me to hear the music live as I recorded for this broadcast! What incredible musicians! I encourage you to check it out. https://youtu.be/1Y318Cy9-cE

Today was a wonderfully windy day and the perfect opportunity to take the Real Air Wheelchair out for a glide. My awesome uncle Karl Skaret is the brave driver in this photo. Happy Easter, everyone!

Any day I get to set up mics and cameras to capture incredible music in my favourite space is a good day! Happy Saturday, everyone!

Continuing my views of an Albertan travelling music teacher series, here are some photos from this past week.

Congratulations to Lily Squair for completing the 30-Piece Challenge! I challenge all of my students to learn thirty pieces of music between September and May of each year, and if they do, they receive a gift card to a local Camrose business, a certificate, and if they'd like, a short student profile video. Lily is the third student to complete the challenge this year. Keep up the great work, Lily!

I have a fun new vocal processor and had to try it out! Here is a weird little improv on "Twinkle, Twinkle" (kind of) with guitalele.

At the end of the teaching day I like to take a few minutes to play for my own enjoyment. Tonight my fingers fell into Hallelujah. It is overdone and tired, for sure, but I still find beauty in the simplicity.

Sunday afternoon views of an Albertan travelling music teacher. I am quite happy to wander around the countryside this time of year!

Saturday means a new listening assignment for my students! If youd like to play along, check out this performance of "Ill Fly Away" and let me know how many instruments are being played. Can you name all of them? https://youtu.be/hBd0FdBt0jk?t=24

Saturday means a new listening assignment for my students! If you'd like to play along, check out this performance of "I'll Fly Away" and let me know how many instruments are being played. Can you name all of them? https://youtu.be/hBd0FdBt0jk?t=24

When you find someone who is willing to spend their evenings sight reading rhythms with you, you know youve got it made. Hey students, get ready to lap/tap/clap/snap this week! Thanks to Teach Piano Today for the always-fantastic resources!

This year I am encouraging my students to join me in some intentional active listening. I will post something new to listen to every Saturday along with a question relating to the music. Feel free to play along! Details are on my website, found here: https://www.eriksound.ca/listening.html

Another September means another stack of custom lesson planners for my wonderful students. It has been so nice to reconnect with many of my students over the past few days and I look forward to more first-of-the-term lessons in the next few days. It may be different than usual with the need for masks and hand sanitizer, but the music continues! I have a couple of spots left in my schedule if anyone is looking for some instruction in piano, guitar, ukulele, bass, or music theory. Huge thanks to Minuteman Printing Press Camrose for their prompt and excellent work with the lesson planners!

I spy, with my little eye, a loop pedal? I think I have a new favourite thing! I had the opportunity to hang out in the glorious Augustana Chapel last night and spend some time with the recently refurbished Steinway. Definitely my happy place.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54041568

Photo credit: Blake Loates - Buffy Goodman Photography

I am a proud member of the Alberta Registered Music Teachers Association. If you are interested in music lessons for the 2020-2021 school year, now is the time to reserve your spot! More details at www.eriksound.ca

Who wants to learn a basic boogie-woogie pattern?

Important dates for the 2020-2021 school year Lessons occur every week except for the dates indicated below (subject to change). SUNDAYS... September 13, 2020 - first lessons October 11, 2020 - no lessons [Thanksgiving Sunday] November 15, 2020 - no lessons [Fall Break] December 6, 2020 - no lessons [student recital - 3 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church or online (TBD)] December 20, 2020 - no lessons [Winter Break] December 27, 2020 - no lessons [Winter Break] February 14, 2021 - no lessons [Family Day Weekend] April 4, 2021 - no lessons [Easter Sunday] May 9, 2021 - lessons are optional [Mothers Day] May 23, 2021 - lessons are optional [Victoria Day weekend] May 23, 2021 - last lessons May 30, 2021 - no lessons [student recital - 3 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church or online (TBD)] MONDAYS September 14, 2020 - first lessons October 12, 2020 - no lessons [Thanksgiving Monday] November 16, 2020 - no lessons [Fall Break] December 21, 2020 - no lessons [Winter Break] December 28, 2020 - no lessons [Winter Break] February 15, 2021 - no lessons [Family Day] March 29, 2021 - no lessons [Spring Break] April 5, 2021 - no lessons [Easter Monday] May 24, 2021 - no lessons [Victoria Day] May 31, 2021 - last lessons TUESDAYS September 8, 2020 - first lessons November 17, 2020 - no lessons [Fall Break] December 22, 2020 - no lessons [Winter Break] December 29, 2020 - no lessons [Winter Break] March 30, 2021 - no lessons [Spring Break] May 25, 2021 - last lessons WEDNESDAYS September 9, 2020 - first lessons November 11, 2020 - no lessons [Fall Break] December 23, 2020 - no lessons [Winter Break] December 30, 2020 - no lessons [Winter Break] March 31, 2021 - no lessons [Spring Break] May 26, 2021 - last lessons THURSDAYS September 10, 2020 - first lessons November 12, 2020 - no lessons [Fall Break] December 24, 2020 - no lessons [Christmas Eve] December 31, 2020 - no lessons [New Years Eve] April 1, 2021 - no lessons [Spring Break] May 27, 2021 - last lessons FRIDAYS September 11, 2020 - first lessons November 13, 2020 - no lessons [Fall Break] December 25, 2020 - no lessons [Christmas Day] January 1, 2021 - no lessons [New Years Day] April 2, 2021 - no lessons [Good Friday] May 28, 2020 - last lessons [No lessons on Saturdays] https://www.eriksound.ca/

Thank you to the Battle River Community Foundation for their support of the music program at Our Lady Of Mount Pleasant School! I am excited for the coming year and making use of our new digital pianos and music recording/production gear!

Guess what song really got me hooked on the idea of learning the piano when I was a kid? "Good Vibrations" by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch! This was the hottest thing in 1991 and that piano solo at 3:18 blew my mind! Now I am putting together a collection of fun piano riffs/solos/intros to teach to my students. Do you have any suggestions? Favourite piano moments (any genre)? https://youtu.be/Zjk4CCVxWZM?t=198

I look forward to this day every year the annual Decoration Day outdoor church service at the cemetery just outside of Armena. It was really windy today, but our brass quintet showed up with ample clothespins to tame the flailing hymnal pages. Thanks to Norman Skretting for organizing the musicians. It was with Normans support and guidance that I started playing the trumpet at church services when I was in elementary school (and later the euphonium). It always feels like coming home to sit next to Norman and play hymns. It is also pretty neat to look out at the tombstones and see where many of my relatives have been laid to rest and to have the community gather in that place.

I just finished tuning a piano for the first time (it is not really finished or perfect). What a humbling experience! My hope, though, is that years from now I will have enough experience and confidence to offer services as a piano technician. It is a fascinating instrument and I think that learning about the inner-workings will also inform my teaching and playing. Pianos generally have 88 keys and can have as many as 236 strings!

Check out the video from which this screenshot was taken: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKPRmmcXVGQ

Every member of the Mustangz is under 12, and all have a connection to Maskwacis, Alta., south of Edmonton. The group came in second at the Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival, beating out stiff competition twice their age: www.cbc.ca/1.5629106

Lets keep the music going, despite COVID-19! Summer is the perfect time to try music lessons outside, enjoying the fresh air. Particularly suited to portable instruments like guitar, ukulele, or even keyboard, we can meet on your deck, yard, or at some other public space outside. Inside lessons are an option if we wear masks. We will clean our hands (wash with soap and water or use hand sanitizer) before and after every lesson. I also offer online lessons (Zoom or FaceTime).... Summer deal: six 30-minute lessons for $200 (flexible scheduling until the end of August) September-May weekly lessons: my schedule is filling up! Visit www.eriksound.ca for more details and an online registration form. PIANO | GUITAR | UKULELE | BASS GUITAR | THEORY

Check out this cover of "Let It Be" that I made with some friends! https://youtu.be/ojznqv3LxyI

Let's keep the music going, despite COVID-19! Summer is the perfect time to try music lessons outside, enjoying the fresh air. Particularly suited to portable instruments like guitar, ukulele, or even keyboard, we can meet on your deck, yard, or at some other public space outside. Inside lessons are an option if we wear masks. We will clean our hands (wash with soap and water or use hand sanitizer) before and after every lesson. I also offer online lessons (Zoom or FaceTime).... Summer deal: six 30-minute lessons for $200 (flexible scheduling until the end of August) September-May weekly lessons: my schedule is filling up! Visit www.eriksound.ca for more details and an online registration form. PIANO | GUITAR | UKULELE | BASS GUITAR | THEORY

Check out Stephs interview with Don Harder! Don has won Grammy and Juno awards for his work as a recording engineer. He has been so generous in sharing his knowledge and experience with me as I became interested in recording. He is an all-around great guy and this is a wonderful opportunity to hear about some of the ways that music has impacted his life.

Steven Hartman has a new video series called the ABCs of Music. This week we learn all about the bass. Check it out!

Check out Steph's interview with Don Harder! Don has won Grammy and Juno awards for his work as a recording engineer. He has been so generous in sharing his knowledge and experience with me as I became interested in recording. He is an all-around great guy and this is a wonderful opportunity to hear about some of the ways that music has impacted his life.

Who wants to learn to play the guitar? Its pretty fun! Details at www.eriksound.ca

My good friend, Steven Hartman, is also a music teacher. Check out his Facebook page and website (www.stevenhartmanmusic.com) for details about summer lessons and more!

Spring Recital 2020 is happening today! While it was originally planned to be an in-person live event at Bethel Lutheran Church in Camrose, we had to make some changes. Instead, please join us in viewing a pre-recorded recital video on YouTube. It will premiere at 3:00 p.m. today. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/iMu75kHGYEk

Chris Andrew is live right now! He is one of my former piano teachers and definitely inspires me every time I hear him play.

These "Tuesday Talks" chats Ive been having with musicians have filled me with joy, purpose, and the inspiration to create -- all the while showing my students... that "being a musician" can look a bajillion different ways and is as unique as the person creating the music. This week I talked to none other than Fred Penner. He told me all about how he believes SINGING and singing in CHOIR are crucial experiences for children, he names some of his most influential music teachers, he counts how many times hes sung "The Cat Came Back", and he even lets me in on what his favourite kind of sandwich is. Fred calls the experience of each individual performance, that brings a unique audience together with the performer(s), a "giant love fest", as the joy trickles past the doors of the venue and into our "outside" lives. Its my hope that this can offer yall a teeny little piece of that love, centred around the shared experience of making music, thats meant for sharing! Oh! AND he and I sing together. COVID-19 sucks, but sometimes things are ok, too.

These "Tuesday Talks" chats I've been having with musicians have filled me with joy, purpose, and the inspiration to create -- all the while showing my students... that "being a musician" can look a bajillion different ways and is as unique as the person creating the music. This week I talked to none other than Fred Penner. He told me all about how he believes SINGING and singing in CHOIR are crucial experiences for children, he names some of his most influential music teachers, he counts how many times he's sung "The Cat Came Back", and he even lets me in on what his favourite kind of sandwich is. Fred calls the experience of each individual performance, that brings a unique audience together with the performer(s), a "giant love fest", as the joy trickles past the doors of the venue and into our "outside" lives. It's my hope that this can offer y'all a teeny little piece of that love, centred around the shared experience of making music, that's meant for sharing! Oh! AND he and I sing together. COVID-19 sucks, but sometimes things are ok, too.

Happy Mothers Day to my first duet partner!

If you have not yet had the opportunity to hear Jacob Collier or the harpejji, this is a good introduction to both. Jacob Collier is an English singer, arranger, composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. The harpejji is an electric stringed musical instrument developed in 2007 by Tim Meeks. Here is Jacob playing "Dont Know Why", a song composed by Jesse Harris and usually associated with Norah Jones.

Partners in crime.

Fredrik V Thelander

Check out Ms. Olsons new episode of Tuesday Talks, this time with Jeremy Fisher! Check back every week for a new interview. Her website for her students at Norwood School in Wetaskiwin is www.stepholson.ca