Kim Erickson Music

This album will contain a cover of one of my songs.... I am intrigued.....

Last spring I would never have imagined that I would be doing all my teaching with Zoom, or that it was possible to do that. I long for in person lessons and performances to be able to return to us, but in the meantime, I am grateful to be able to do this at all.Last spring I would never have imagined that I would be doing all my teaching with Zoom, or that it was possible to do that. I long for in person lessons and performances to be able to return to us, but in the meantime, I am grateful to be able to do this at all.

This beautiful arrangement of the Purcell aria, by Annie Lennox and a non-audition community choir in London, is very moving. I post it today for the health of our planet, for the well-being of all of us during a global pandemic, for social justice and access to democracy - and in honour of my recently departed mother, who supported all three of those goals. Remember me.....

Happy New Year! Just listen to the birds.

Kim Erickson’s haunting album, ‘The Raven’s Wing’ is a poetic tour de force. The title song is just spine-tingling, and her voice is rich, theatrical, and absolutely mesmerizing. The songs feel at times both modern and ancient, which is a hard edge to walk.: a recent mini review from friend and musician Steve Baric. Thanks Steve for your support of my work, and of the work of many other indie artists walking their unique paths.... Visit https://www.kimerickson.ca/projects.shtml for your own cd copy of the album.

More on the qualities of music that help our wellbeing and health. From the Royal Conservatory of Music.

‘Don’t love me for beauty, or for youth, or for riches, but if you love me for love, well then, I shall love you forever!’ Clara was the distinguished pianist who, until fairly recently, was known mainly for her marriage to Robert Schumann. After Robert’s death, she was able to revive her career again, and to compose again, and she toured to support herself and her children. This poem by Ruckert is better known through its setting by Gustav Mahler, but has its own beauty. Edda Moser soprano, Erik Werba piano.

Having trouble sleeping? This post from the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Christa Ludwig. Geoffrey Parsons. Schubert. Gretchen at her spinning wheel, thinking of Faust and that burning kiss. Schubert was 17 years old when he wrote this setting of Goethe’s text. Oh Gretchen, nothing good could ever come of it!

You can listen to this while watching the beautiful just past full moon tonight. Or anytime you wish to be transported to the heavens.

The only thing better than singing is more singing - Ella FitzgeraldThe only thing better than singing is more singing - Ella Fitzgerald

Though goodness, doesnt it help?

This great singer of the cello.

Yes, I am in that kind of a mood. This to me from friend Jim Hobson. Hope it gives you a chuckle or two.

Michael Sobota found this for me. It reminded me of my first discoveries of African Music, while I was living in Holland, and this musician is a beautiful gentle spirit who plays the kora. Music for always.

Kathleen Battle in Montreal. And. Its Summertime....

For my Ukrainian background friends, and for all of us who love Ukrainian music and culture. John is from Edmonton originally and now lives in NYC and Vancouver. He performed a memorable concert here in Thunder Bay some years ago and is a wonderful bold pianist artist of mostly jazz style.

Here is a version of my 10,000 Miles song by Canto. We recorded this a few years before I released the version on my Ravens Wing album. Damon took the footage and made this video for the music, and I love watching the water! I like to acknowledge that much of the work that we put into the world goes through many hands before others receive it, and my time spent with Sage and Damon, as the trio Canto, allowed me to develop some of the repertoire that eventually winged its way to The Ravens Wing. Damon himself also winged his way to the studio in Toronto to add some mandocello to this song on the album. Blessings on my worthy colleagues of the journey

A friend sent me this link. Thank you Rosemary! Being able to get inside 8 European opera houses is so good. As one of the comments says, this is like the spring thaw at the end of a long winter as we watch these performers making great live music while physically distanced. Soon....

There seem to be so many varieties of song birds in our neighbourhood this year. Corvids too - crows, blue jays, ravens. The ravens are causing havoc in the park as the song bird known as Kim walks by, and one very large one eyes me from the ground, its beak occupied with some treat. I talk to them all, these birds, imitate their songs and calls, and like to imagine what life would be like viewed from above, soaring with air currents under ones wings. Summertime has arrived and it is time to rejuvenate after the long, strange winter and spring that we have all gone through. Keep singing!

In This Lovely Summertime .... Frifot. I love this group and I love the long days that lead to the summer solstice. Happily awaited and now it is right on our very doorstep.

Do not sing for me, beauty. The Met Opra announced a little while ago that they will cancel the first months of their coming season. Lets hope that we will not have to wait much longer than that to once again listen to beautiful singing in public performances everywhere. American soprano Rene Fleming with Russian pianist Olga Kern.

These days, this week, this time....allow this song to fill your heart with its peaceful water. Bernice Johnson Reagon.

The larger spring waters are more dramatic. But the smaller waters also have their unique charm. I am reflecting on all the voices of singers here and around the world, their distinctness and varied beauty. As a teacher of voice, I like to facilitate the emergence of each individuals true voice as it reflects who they are. Many types of waters, many types of voices.

It feels like it is time to be sharing some of what it is that I do. And this COVID time is a time of self reflection and questions about our lives that are the turf of this song - part traditional song and part newly created by me. If you havent seen this video before, I would love your comments. If you have, I would still welcome your comments. Take care of yourselves.

This is the piece that made me love classical music when I was quite young. Music that took my young imagination on a journey down this river. And I still love this piece....

For todays CJ, friend Arley Cox gave a great interview about the plight of musicians during this time, and proposed that we all support the artists we stream and listen to by buying hard copies of their CDs (or, I will add, vinyl if thats available). Because that puts real money into the hands of the artists (as opposed to streams at .000008 cents a play and iTunes downloads which pay half the price of an album sale). So.... I do have some CD copies of The Ravens Wing and you can message me if you want me to send you one - or go directly to kimerickson.ca and buy one right from the website. Thank you!

As someone who normally works from home much of the time, I know that I require the structure of a schedule to keep me from getting unfocused. Part of that schedule these days involves practicing in the morning, taking a break, and then going for a brisk walk around noon. Today it was cloudy and damp, almost misty, but not cold. I was brought up short by a familiar sound. It was a loon flying high just under the cloud cover, making its typical Im back and Im flying to the ...big lake! sound. It put a big smile on my face because the loon is also a singer, and we have had a special relationship over many years. I frequently hear loons flying overhead near my house during the months they are in our area, and its surprising since I live downtown. I guess they will find you if you want to be found! And. I live in the north. I am fortunate to live so close to nature. There is nothing quite like a northern spring song.... See more

Live music in front of a live audience. When will we be able to do this again? Or are we forever doomed to remote transmissions from our living rooms and basements?Live music in front of a live audience. When will we be able to do this again? Or are we forever doomed to remote transmissions from our living rooms and basements?

Not the best sound balances in this live recording, but the flashing smiles of Dima and Anna, and rapturous, adoring attention of the audience makes this a complete winner. How the world misses Dimitri Hvorostovsky! He must have been the best stage partner to his female colleagues. So kind and supportive, guiding Anna so she doesnt walk into the monitor speaker, for example, and so many other things evident. On this warm Moscow night.

If you have nothing to do while in self isolation, why not work on your High C? Lots of great role models to learn from in this video. And wich one is your favorite? (If its even possible to choose.)

I salute my LU voice students who are completing a year of deep learning, all of them. Our collective disappointment has been not to be able to do the end of year performances they normally do that allow them to share their work and themselves with an audience. Still, the work was done, and I know they will build on it next year. I am so pleased for them.I salute my LU voice students who are completing a year of deep learning, all of them. Our collective disappointment has been not to be able to do the end of year performances they normally do that allow them to share their work and themselves with an audience. Still, the work was done, and I know they will build on it next year. I am so pleased for them.

And for Italy right now, this - the unofficial anthem of the Italian people.

I thought I would like to put something up today that is....uplifting! Love these two dancers. They put spring and stardust in my step.

These women. This Nina Simone song.

There is no such place as Youkali. And yet..... Teresa Stratas. My heart. One of our finest ever Canadian international stars.

One of the nicest aspects of being a mezzo soprano is pants roles like this one. Kate Lindsey rocked it as a teenage Nero in the recent Met production of Handels Agrippina.

Spring is coming, believe it! Bernard Kruysen worked with Poulenc and the two premiered several of Poulencs works in Paris. Kruysen was the teacher of my teacher Anna Menso, and I sang for him on a couple of occasions. Such an artist he was, his partnership with pianist Noel Lee was long and productive, and this song always makes me smile.

The art of singing is a lifelong journey that requires continuous effort and curiosity. The joy of discovering new music and new ways to access ones self expression is unsurpassed. I have been blessed with wonderful teachers, mentors, role models, colleagues, students and listeners. And I look forward to encountering many more. Thank you.The art of singing is a lifelong journey that requires continuous effort and curiosity. The joy of discovering new music and new ways to access ones self expression is unsurpassed. I have been blessed with wonderful teachers, mentors, role models, colleagues, students and listeners. And I look forward to encountering many more. Thank you.

Shirley Verrett singing the Liebestod, with the New York Phil conducted by Zubin Mehta (such a singers conductor!). But not just singing. If this doesnt give you shivers and lift you out of your chair before it breaks your heart, well.....I dont know what to say. Happy Valentines Day!

I love Cole Porter songs. I love this particular Cole Porter song. And I love Betty Carter and her rendition of this song. I was introduced to her music by Bruce Moffet - thanks Bruce! - and then saw her perform with a trio at the Vredenburg Muziekcentrum in Utrecht. So focused and such an artist.

One of Hollands most esteemed composers. This song was given to me by Anna Menso, my Amsterdam singing teacher, as a parting gift when I returned to Canada. I was finally able to perform it with cellist Peter Cosbey and pianist Evgeny Chugunov a couple of years ago at LU Music. But this lovely rendering is Dutch soprano Elly Ameling, cellist Richte van der Meer and pianist Dalton Baldwin.

Well its January and I am back in my teaching studios again. I love learning from La Callas about singing. Here is a short clip in which she seems to be saying, dont limit yourself in what kind of singer or voice type you think you are, but work on your technique so that you can sing whatever you like.

I have always loved Glenns music and energy, since we met at festival stages in Winnipeg and Sudbury. In a recent CBC Q interview, he said True happiness is based on the joy of being alive. May this music be food for a bright crisp January day of hope, possibility and healing.

Live performance music-making is an ephemeral art. It disappears and cannot ever be reproduced quite the same way twice. It can live in the memory of those who have experienced it, however, and I always feel it is the ultimate tribute to have an audience member approach me after the fact - sometimes years after the fact - and tell me they remember! They remember because something touched them and opened them at that moment. And we none of us forget such things in our lives. L...ive performance music-making differs from audio and video recordings of music, which transmit the listening experience through filter and lens, and end up creating something finite like a painting or a book. Both have their place, and a well done recording, or a recording of even inferior quality experienced at the right time and place, can also change someones life. Today however, in this time of seemingly limitless recorded music products for us to consume from artists who may or may not be authentic or skilled voices, I pay tribute to live performance with all its tiny imperfections, inconsistencies and its unique power to affect us, and especially acoustic music making which removes another kind of filter, the sound amplification process. There is nothing quite like experiencing the partnership of pure music from skilled practitioners in a good acoustic space that enhances and makes its mark on sound creation. In my ideal world, such acoustic spaces - grand ones and smaller intimate ones - would be the norm in every town and city, and would be financially accessible to all artists because citizens would place great value on them. And after that, we can talk about beautiful acoustic pianos in all of those spaces as well :) See more