Erika Paul Carlson-NCTM.AFM.BMI.MTNA.NAC AIR.JEN
Artist in Music Performance and Instruction
Instrumental and Vocal Improvisation, Songwriting

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, a consummate, versatile and original singer and pianist, Erika performs, inspires, empowers and educates audiences with her creative interpretations of classic American Jazz.

Her degrees include an A.A. degree at College of San Mateo and a B.A. at San Jose State University, CA in music performance and theory, in both instrumental and vocal music. Erika completed credential coursework and student teaching at San Francisco State University and became permanently certified, through the Music Teachers National Association as a private teacher of excellence in 2007 after 15 years of separate preparation.

Erika is a resident artist in music for the Nevada Arts Council since 1998, and works with classroom teachers to plan, organize and carry out learning goals through residencies up to 16 weeks long. Erika also stays involved with summer activities such as being a 2007 faculty member of the Great Basin Jazz Camp. To date, Erika has visited over 50 schools, introducing jazz to more than 40,000 students, teachers and parents in Nevada and California.

Erika composed, produced and performed with 14 local musicians on a cd she created entitled, "Scat's My Bag" that won three national awards: The Parents' Choice Award of Approval (2006), The Children's Web Award for Best Recording for older children ages 8 to 12 (2006) and the prestigious NAPPA Parenthood Magazine Honors Award (2007).

Erika is also an author arranger of original early level solo jazz piano pieces for Neil A. Kjos Publishing Co. in San Diego, CA, an artist member of Broadcast Music Inc (BMI) and a lifetime member of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM).

In 2001, Erika worked as a mentor teacher for, and also had the opportunity to "jam" with, world-acclaimed trumpet player and educator Wynton Marsalis and saxist Ted Nash, during a Jazz@Lincoln Center big band clinic and community concert that took place in the Truckee/Tahoe City area involving talented music students from Bear Creek, Truckee and Tahoe City high schools.

In 2003 Erika also had the opportunity to sing with the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) advanced big band and alongside saxist/arranger Bill Liston from the award winning movie musical "Chicago". In 1984, Erika performed the National Anthem with 200 singers in Galen Marshall's Masterworks Chorale at the U.S. Soccer Olympics at Stanford University in Palo Alto for a crowd of 85,000 sports fans. In 1982, Erika performed one of her first compositions (Farewell Till Summer) with the legendary saxist Stan Getz, whose positive comments and encouragement inspired her to continue writing and performing music.

Erika's trio performances include many jazz festivals, clubs, art galleries and special events throughout the west coast including performances at the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society opening for Bay Area trombonist Si Perkoff, concerts for the Smithsonian Institute's traveling Duke Ellington Exhibition and the Miles Davis/John Lennon/Gerry Garcia traveling art exhibition. Erika's groups have also given numerous concerts for the nationally known Concours D'Elegance Wooden Boat Show event in Carnelian Bay, CA for the last 8 years and for the national Artown event in Northern Nevada since 1998, including a night of Gershwin film and music for an audience of over 3000 in Wingfield Park Amphitheatre.

When at home, locally, Erika is a favorite touring artist over the last 8 years for the Sierra Arts Elder Care Concert Series (ECCS), an important community healing program for the elderly, originally created by gifted musicians Dallas Smith and Susan Mazer. Erika's jazz groups also go back to 1996, performing Concerts in the Atrium and Concerts in the Gallery for Sierra Arts. Over the last 15 years, Erika has also remained active sharing her musical talents on a regular basis with many local churches.

Erika has also had the opportunity to perform and teach throughout the U.S. including L.A. & S.F. CA, CO, UT, WA, NYC, and overseas in Paris France, Venice Italy, Zaragoza and Barcelona Spain and in Frankfurt Germany.

All 9 of Erika's current cd recordings and books are available for sample listening and purchase on her website at www.ErikaPaul.com. Click on the CDs/Books page to print out a mail order form or use the convenient and secure Paypal payment service to order. Look over the What's New page for more samples and most current information. Erika's performing and teaching schedule and Contact page can also be found on her website. Erika's individual mp3 song tracks are also available through iTunes.

Please direct all questions and booking inquiries to Erika's Contact website page or write to:

Jazz Q Music Education Services
P.O. Box 51701
Sparks, NV 89435-1701

SHORT BIO OR LONG BIO AVAILABLE UPON E-MAIL OR SNAIL-MAIL REQUEST