Lisbeth-Anita Grimsø Olsen

In Karlsøy municipality in Troms, Lisbeth-Anita grew up with classical piano from an early age. She had no plans to work in music, but during a piano lesson her teacher discovered that she had a beautiful voice and encouraged her to apply for a music degree. She hasn't looked back since.

From the music department at high school in Tromsø, the path continued via a year at Sund Folk High School to a comprehensive education in music. Lisbeth-Anita has a bachelor's degree in rhythmic vocals, a bachelor's degree in jazz, pop, rock and music pedagogy, a master's degree in jazz and improvised music with a specialization in improvisation and songwriting, as well as further education in anatomy and physiology for musicians.

Freedom in teaching

Today, Lisbeth-Anita is a performing music teacher, in addition to working as a singing teacher for established artists, choristers and actors. She has taught extensively at the high school level, but has no doubt that she prefers the setting of a folk high school.

– At folk high schools, we can adapt the teaching to what the student wants to learn. It makes little sense to spend time on classical music if you are really passionate about jazz, pop or rock. We work with crafts and techniques to give the students the tools – so they can use them themselves to find their own musical expression.

A large part of Lisbeth-Anita's everyday life is one-on-one singing lessons – something she describes as the most fun thing she does.

– I have a personal goal of finding out where the students want to go, and how I can help them get there. No one gets the same set-up: some need to feel it, some need to understand the anatomy, while others just have to try their hand. There are many roads to Rome, and for me the joy lies in finding out what works best for the individual.

Through her education, she has learned how to use her voice without exposing herself to strain and wear and tear.

– There is nothing I, as a singing teacher, can teach you that you don't already know. When you're singing, you don't notice that you're off-pitch. And when you're cheering at a party, you don't think about the fact that you're generating a lot of volume. The challenge is to get it done on command.

Lisbeth-Anita describes herself as the electrician who connects the wires together to a switch that should work nine times out of ten.
– The reason I don't say ten out of ten is that we are not machines. The last time was just bad luck.

A year that brings security

Lisbeth-Anita knows from experience how much a year without grade pressure can mean. In high school, she felt constantly rushed, and had no time for a year at folk high school. Before she went to the entrance exams at the music conservatory at NTNU, it was her own singing teacher who encouraged her to take just that.

– It was the best year of my life. I had time to stop, figure out what I really wanted – and realized that the world is much more than this constant stress.

When Lisbeth-Anita sits on entrance examination committees today, she notices the difference.