Rod Russell brought music to the Peace when he opened up the first music store on the Alaska Highway in the 60s. Now he’s bringing the same love to the world with online piano lessons.
While an accomplished live player, Russell is also a teacher of piano, reaching more than 70,000 people with his lessons. He breaks it down.
“This is really an easier way to read music. There are a million notes on each and every page, but playing a melody line with your right hand and chords with the left has always worked for me.”
He says new work in improving the minds and moods of adults is seeing dividends.
“Most people just want to sit down and play some tunes – and we’ve been finding out is that many just want to play some music, their stress goes down, loneliness disappears and moods are raised. It gives the brain a workout, but this is creative at the same time,” he says.
“Millions of adults have taken Conservatory-like lessons and can’t play. Those types or lessons are great for those wanting to be a classic pianist. Most don’t want to do that. Here, the left hand plays chords and the right hand harmony. That’s it in a nutshell.”
Russell opened the first music store on the Alaska Highway in Fort St. John.
“I’m from up in that neck of the woods. I opened the first music store in Fort St. John in the 60s and did lots of playing in that area before building a restaurant in Kelowna in the mid 70s,” he explains.
“My band played in Dawson Creek for about a year and a half in Di’s Pizza and Steak House as well as at many other events in DC.”
Russell expects to see 20 odd live dates himself this fall. He wants to up the crowds.
“We’ve been playing 500 seat venues, it’s time to take it up to 700 or 1,000.”
