Artist Residencies - Erika Paul

1. CONTACT ERIKA FOR CURRENT LIST OF RESIDENCIES/WORKSHOPS - Current residency, workshop, and clinic history for 2008 and later available upon e-mail request.
2. WSCD Teachers Clinic at McQueen High School, Reno NV - August 21, 2007 - Professional Clinic in Improvisation for Washoe County School District band teachers. Teachers were introduced to and asked to perform important improvisation techniques and approaches, on instruments and voice, applicable to all music styles, to then apply in the classroom over the coming school year. 22 teachers participated from 22 different 6th-12th grade schools. "Thank you for your good work with the teachers".....David Branson, WCSD Specialist II in Music and Art.
3. O'Brien Middle School in Stead NV - May 21, 2007 - Gave 2 hour clinic on improvisation for Mrs. Lindquist's band students and Mr. Duke's choir students in support of a recently studied blues unit and of the required music standard for 75 kids
4. Eureka Elementary School, Eureka Nevada, 2007 - 5 day residency, March 12-16, for 26 k-6th grade children learning music skills, jazz vocal and instrumental skills and performing with a professional jazz quartet for the community concert exhibition at the Eureka Opera House. Funding provided by the Eureka Elementary School 21st Century Afterschool Program. "You were awesome, Erika. We all really enjoyed our time with you. The kids loved it. Thank you so much. I hope we can have you back again." ....AnnMarie Merritt, Site Supervisor "Excellent overall presentation, quality of content, professionalism, communication and rapport with the kids. Yes, we absolutely would like you to return in the future." ....Sandy Green, 21st Century Afterschool Program Coordinator "Fabulous...this is just what this community needed and the kids just loved it." ....Wally Cuchine, Eureka Opera House Director
5. Jan Evans Juvenile Correctional Center, Reno, NV, 2006 - A 12 week residency from February 13th to May 12th, with four other artists, to create a full three act play to be performed on the main stage of the Pioneer Theatre in downtown Reno for the community. Erika is the music artist/music director, Ellen Hopkins is the literary artist, Rita Geil is the drama artist, Erik Holland and Pan Pantoja are the set design artists. Between 17 and 20 children 14 to 18 years of age are creating this play together with the guidance of these professional artists, learning skills as creative artists and experiencing the learning process behind creating such an extensive project. This program and project is funded by the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts and directed by Chad Cornwell through Sierra Arts.
6. Risen King Community Church in Sparks, NV. November 2005. - Four week hands-on performance technique workshop with Rev. Karen Moore and her energetic, gifted singers. Comments: "Excellent exercises, directions, information, helpfullness, flow, attitude, cost and inspiration from the instructor". "Very good, I learned a lot". "You are a very good teacher. I have learned a lot and have heard a GOOD difference in my voice. Thanks so much!". "It was a large class so I was worried that we wouldn't cover much in 4 weeks, but it's been great!" "Yes, I would attend another workshop in the future". Attendees: Rev. Karen Moore, Abby, Denise, Caroline, Annie, Josie, Nathanial, Rick, Peggy, Jonathan.
7. Western Nevada Community College (WNCC) in Carson City, Nevada - Children's beginning piano course and keyboard lab, every Thursday afternoon from 4 to 5 p.m. for 7 weeks. 14 in attendance of ages 6 to 14. July-August, 2005.
8. Alf Sorensen Community Center Vocal Workshop in Sparks, NV - Vocal Workshop, all styles and levels. Comments: "Wish you offered more singing workshops". "You're Awesome! Let me know if you ever have openings for private lessons!". "Can you extend the next workshop from 4 weeks to 6 weeks?". "Fun and entertaining!" February-March, 2005.
9. Jazz Vocal Workshop #1 in Sparks, NV - Attendee comments: Excellent-I wish it was offered twice a week. Awesome attitude of the instructor-This was informative and I definitely enjoyed it! I would take this again...I wish the time frame and weeks could go on further-I will be looking foward to the next workshop. October-November, 2004.
10. Vocal Workshop #2, Sparks Recreation Gym Stage - A continuation of the Vocal Performance Workshop #1, attendees learned and sang new songs of many styles and continued "scat" applications, technical exercises and basically sang their way, non-stop, to stronger voices and technical control. Some more evaluations included, "Excellent Workshop! Yes, I would attend it again", "Very Good, helpful information, direction and exercises", "This was a very active class. We were on our feet the whole time. I like being on stage. I also like how we got to sing the entire class.", "Erika has a lot of experience and will help you when you need it.", "Excellent workshop. Would like even more training on how to read symbols, music charts, to follow the written music even better." April-May, 2004.
11. Vocal Workshop #1, Sparks Parks and Rec Building, Nevada - Four consecutive Thursday night vocal workshop, from February 12th to March 4th, 2004, on the stage in the Sparks Park and Recreation Building, learning more about singing, technique, confidence, jazz scatting, stage fright, and repertoire building, taught from a professional standpoint. Lots of good tips and guidance with an emphasis on having fun and growing. Attendees ranged from 10 to 60 years of age, and brought to the workshop an amazing mix of classical, rhythm & blues, jazz/swing, folk/christian, show tune and theatre music vocal stylistic backgrounds. Teacher/Workshop Evaluations: "My singing became stronger, I am singing with much more confidence and breaking out of my rut of always following others". "Excellent flow of workshop activities, attitude of instructor, interesting and inspiring information, reasonable cost and very helpful to me personally". "Excellent workshop. Need more than 4 weeks to master activities!" "Erika was very positive and made me feel comfortable. She is a great teacher, and I'll take her class again". "Instructor had great enthusiasm for the topic and imparted a significant amount of information and support to the students. Super class presented with passion". Please see workshop photos in the Snapshot section of Erika's website at www.erikapaul.com.
12. Washoe High School - Reno, NV - September 8th through October 8th, 2003. Four week residency, sponsored and provided by Sierra Arts, for the exposure to the art of music, jazz and improvisation. Songwriting in modern styles, exposure to background and history, listening and repeated practice in a hands-on performance setting. 100 kids, 9th through 12th grade.
13. Fernley Elementary School - Fernley Nevada - February 1 through March 31, 1999. 550 schoolchildren from K - 6th grade, twenty-six weekly classes, 45-minutes in length, discussing the history of jazz, listening to sound recordings of major jazz players/composers/styles, hands on performance of jazz through simple exercises on instruments and voice, certain dances associated with certain jazz styles, final community concert to showcase learning over the course of the residency.
14. Agnes Risley Elementary School - September 21 through October 31, 1998. 600 schoolchildren from K - 6th grade, twenty-four weekly classes, 45-minutes in length, discussing the history of jazz, discovering sound recordings of major jazz players/composers/styles and hands-on performance of jazz through simple musical exercises on instruments and voice. Final community concert to showcase learning over the residency period.

Jazz artist Erika Paul came to Agnes Risley School and taught us about jazz. We learned about it's history and listened to recordings by jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong, Sarah Vaughn, Miles Davis and Benny Goodman.

Erika brought the members of her own band to do a great concert for us.

Then we learned some songs to sing ourselves, and each class wrote their own "class blues" song which they each performed in concert. We even worked together to write "the Agnes Risley song".