The Pedagogue
Joy Courage and Individual Expression
Since her childhood, it was natural for Elisabeth to move freely between different genres; jazz, pop and soul music, musicals and show where dance and theater were also included as a standard feature.
Elisabeth´s own training is broad and qualified; initially at the local music school in Boden with flute, violin, guitar and orchestra playing. She continued her classical vocal and music studies at music college in Piteå Sweden.
Then she took a teacher´s degree in vocal and ensemble at the Music Academy in Gothenburg. Further on trained as a musician in jazz and contemporary music, with subjects like improvisation, composition, rhythm and interdisciplinary artistic and counters.
When Elisabeth in 1985 was hired at Malmö Academy Of Music was the task of building up the first Swedish vocal training in the jazz- and rock genres from the ground and she was met with a blank slate. There was neither curriculum, literature,notes and materials. In the baggage she had with her ideas and thoughts on a completely new method of singing other genres and began to develop a methodology in parallel with the classical. The new methodology became an established vocal training at the Academy Of Music in Malmö. The methodology was also Implemented at other music academies and music schools in the country. This innovated trying led to considerable interest also in other nordic countries, where Elisabeth conducted workshops, gave courses and lectured in various institutions and other educational contexts.
Elisabeth is a lecturer and teaches singing, ensemble, improvisation and vocal methodology.
”My identity is to be both a singer and teacher. To keep up my professional singing and giving concerts develops and inspirers me also in my educational work”.
”What is most exciting about being a teacher, is the unique meeting with each individual, to inspire and support each one to find the desire and the courage of personal expression, musically and technically”.
In addition to her work at Malmö Academy Of Music she has also being a guest lecturer within her specialisation at different music academies. At Ingesund college, she was for more than ten years, the guest teacher in singing and ensemble together with Sweden´s and the nordic´s leading jazz musicians.
Leif H Gustafson