Contemporary Music Instruction and Mentoring
Irv's Biography
Get to know your teacher
I am Dr. Irv Nelson. I have 60 years of musical experience, and 50 years of performing experience. My main instrument is piano, and it is the only instrument for which I have ever taken lessons. All the other instruments I play I have taught myself. These include all types of keyboard instruments, including electric piano, electric organ, analog synthesizer, digital synthesizer, digitally sampled keyboard, and pipe organ. I play acoustic guitar with both fingerpick and plectrum styles. I also play bass guitar and electric guitar. I played viola (many years ago!) in high school. I can read music and also play by ear (I can play just about any song after hearing it once or twice). I am a tenor vocalist who has performed with many bands and in many choirs, as well as in lead roles in musicals. I am also a choral conductor. I have been an organist in my church for 50 years.
My musical experience spans a wide variety of musical styles, including classical, musical theater, sacred, rock, pop, and country. I have played in bands for five decades and am currently a member of Holidae classic rock & pop band, and Relic acoustic band. In the past I have been in dozens of bands and performing groups, including Alex Sharpe's band, Kenadi Dodds' band, The Fender Benders classic rock band, and many others. I also perform with Cristina Edlund in a vocal/piano duo, and I often perform with my students. I am a composer and arranger, whose arrangements have been performed by the USU Chorale and Chamber Singers, as well as other prestigious soloists and choirs around the world. My hymn compositions and arrangements, which have received widespread acclaim, are available for free download at IrvNelsonMusic.com.
I hold a Ph.D. and have many years of teaching experience in a variety of settings. I have published peer-reviewed, academic articles on how students learn and how to structure the learning environment to help them learn better. I love music and I love teaching, and I couldn't tell you which of the two is my greatest talent or which I love more.
IRV'S MUSICAL JOURNEY Link here to read a short history about my musical activities through my life
IRV'S KEYBOARDS Link here to see the various keyboard instruments I have owned and played through my career
IRV'S GUITARS and BASSES Link here to see my guitars that I have owned and played
RELIC Link here to go to the web site of my acoustic band
CRISTINA EDLUND & IRV NELSON Link here to go to the web page of my vocal/piano duo act
IrvNelsonMusic.com Link here to go to my web site for free compositions and arrangements of LDS/Christian sheet music)