WELCOME TO NEMA
North Eastern Music Association
Working for the Enrichment of the Community Through Music
WANT TO PLAY?
We Can Help
Are you new to music? Have you played for a while and stuck playing the same old tunes? Have you always wanted to play but didn’t know where to start?
The time is NOW. Book your lessons with us and start your musical journey today. You’ll find the most competitive prices anywhere, and qualified instructors who are always willing to lend a hand. Need help finding an instrument? We can help with that too.
Want to learn more about our services? Contact us today.
HISTORY
Over 30 years in the Community
The North Eastern Music Association is a volunteer-driven non-profit organization providing Violin, Guitar, Piano and Voice instruction. NEMA was founded in 1986 to provide quality, affordable music instruction to the St. Paul community and area. We currently offer lessons to students of all ages, styles, and levels. Our experienced instructors offer a fun and safe environment to explore your creativity through music.
We are located at 4729 52 Ave, St. Paul, AB)
INSTRUCTORS
Passionate, experienced, talented and friendly. What more could you ask for?
JOHN CALVERLEY
Violin
John Calverley (johncalverley.com) is an active freelance violinist, composer, improviser, session musician and instructor. As music director for Vinok Worldance he performs diverse styles of traditional music from various cultures. He studied violin at the University of Alberta under Norman Nelson where he received his Bachelor of Music. In addition to his classical training he has also competed nationally for Canadian old time fiddling and explores improvisational styles as the founding member of his gypsy-jazz group, the Felt Hat String Band.
John has been teaching violin for over 25 years. He teaches both in his home studio in Edmonton, Alberta and for the North Eastern Music Association.
Some performance highlights include: Recording for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremonies ‘Fiddle Nation’ medley composed by Calvin Vollrath, the Canada Day Millennium Celebration on Parliament Hill with Vinok Worldance, Alberta Spirit: Party of the Century Centennial Celebrations all of which were live televised performances.
John performs with Alfie Zappacosta, Crystal Plamondon, the Strathcona String Quartet, Opera Nuova, Vinok Worldance, and many other chamber music, pop, rock and folk acts.
BRANDON BAKER
Guitar
Brandon Baker is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, session musician, and bandleader. He performs his guitar-driven originals under the name Electric Religious, and his music has been described as "bursting with inspiration, insight, and hope."
He was recently honoured with a nomination for “Métis Artist of the Year” at the 2021 Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards and earned an Honourable Mention for “Best Music Video” in the June 2021 International Music Video Awards. Earlier in 2021, he released "Catherine," a single from his 2021 album, Tragic Lover. "Catherine" premiered on CBC Reclaimed and was added to 180 terrestrial/satellite stations across North America. The single quickly rose to #1 on SIRIUS XM Ch.165 IPR chart, and hit #7 on the Indigenous Music Countdown. The music video is also nominated for FAVA's Award of Excellence for Most Outstanding Music Video. The debut Electric Religious album, Yeah, Yeah, No (2018) featured the single “Revolution,” which spent multiple weeks at #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown and garnered him a coveted spot in the 2019 CBC Searchlight Top 100.
Baker has performed for audiences as large as 50,000 during the opening ceremonies for Red Bull Crashed Ice, broadcast to 1.7 million viewers. Other accolades include an “Artist to Watch” nomination at the Edmonton Music Awards (2015), and a nomination for Aboriginal Artist of the Year at the Saskatchewan Country Music Awards (2009).
Baker attended MacEwan University to study jazz guitar under to tutilige of Jim Head, and has completed 2 years towards a Bachelor's degree. He is a life-long student of the guitar and still takes lessons whenever he can, including with players like Jon Herrington (Steely Dan), Joey Landreth (The Bros. Landreth), and Ariel Posen. Baker has been playing the guitar for 25 years, and has taught at various music camps across the prairies. He loves to share his knowledge of the guitar with both young and mature students alike. His philosophy is to have fun first, while using his student's inherent interests to develop more complex skill sets!
KATHI JOHNSEN
Piano Guitar Voice
Ever Since she could sing, singing has been part of Kathi's life. When she was a young girl, her family travelled often. Her mom played guitar and the kids sang along. When she was nine, she took to writing as a therapy. It was her father's passing that sparked writing and she's continued with it since. At 17, she started playing guitar on her Mom’s Yamaha acoustic. She played throughout her school years, and afterwards, singing with various schools, church choirs and bands.
She's had a lot of experience performing, mainly on the west coast, where she moved to after school. Gigging around town with both a band and as a solo act, taught her a lot about performing and has sharpened her abilities. Busking on Granville island was one of the favourites of her 20's!
Being able to record her first acoustic CD downtown Vancouver at 24 years old was a highlight and something she hopes to do again in the near future.
All the studio recordings scattered throughout the ten years of music in Vancouver were also a lot of fun and learning.
After moving back to Alberta to have a couple of babies, Kathi was able to do choir productions and choral directing at her home church here in St. Paul, Alberta. "It gave me a confidence to trust myself more as an artist and leader.", she recalls. "Writing gave me the ability to pull on traditional songs and not be afraid to mix and bridge into new. Working with some awesome musicians and singers was such a Joy! That was also our choir title.".
She teamed up with Wakefield productions made the music video ‘Chocolate” while living on the coast. This also helped to garnish skills for bettering her music abilities.
Currently she is trying to keep up singing in Spanish to hold on to the Spanish learned in Mexico, after living and doing bits and pieces of music there for a few years.
"Music has been the best medicine I know and I’m so thankful to be able to share it with you."
FEES
The lesson year runs 32 weeks, divided into two terms. Lessons begin in September and end in May.
NEMA Membership Fee/Family $25
Term 1 & 2 $400/each*
Volunteer deposit cheque $100/term
Fees are collected at the beginning of each term. Students are welcome to register at any point in the season. Fees are due by your start date.
*Based on 30min lessons
VOLUNTEER
N.E.M.A has no compulsory volunteer requirement, though it is encouraged. For those who volunteer, the volunteer deposit cheques are returned. Information on volunteer opportunities is available at the Spring Concert as well as at Community Awareness night in September.
REGISTRATION
Registration forms are available for download. Once your lesson time is scheduled, please fill out the form and submit it by email or in person.
GET IN TOUCH
Lesson Address
4729 52 Ave, St. Paul, AB T0A 3A2
Mailing Address
Box 86, St. Paul, AB T0A 3A0
NEMA is made possible through the efforts of our members and the generous support of our sponsors.
