In Tune with Audi Lou

04/03/2025

I’m learning how to chord! 🎹

As a classically trained musician, whether playing by ear or chording is included in your lessons can be hit or miss.

This is unfortunate because most musicians would benefit so much from these skills! Yes, classical training opens a world of possibilities, but many musicians struggle to just sit down and play—especially without sheet music in front of them.

Have you ever felt this way? Let me know in the comments!

02/03/2025

Lately, I’ve been getting more and more comfortable with chords by learning my favourite songs on the piano. My classical training helps my fingers move quickly, but my brain still needs time to decide what my fingers should do.

My goal? To be able to sit down, play with other musicians, and feed off the energy of the moment. Because that’s what it’s all about! 🎶

What’s a musical goal you’re working on?

28/02/2025

Check out my interview with CBC Radio on the updated "About" page on my website! 🎶

Discover Pristine Pianos, led by Audi Lou Nordby, a Registered Piano Technician. Specializing in piano tuning in Saskatoon and area, with regular visits to Regina and rural Saskatchewan, Pristine Pianos brings passion and precision to every instrument. Enhance your music with expert care.

28/02/2025

As a flute player with a good ear, I can pick up familiar melodies quickly—on the flute or piano. But when it comes to the left hand on the piano or improvising harmony on the flute?

I can’t just do it on the spot. I feel quite unsure and it takes a while to figure it out.

How do you overcome the struggle of improvising? Share your tips in the comments!

P.S. If you're a flutist looking to uplevel your improvisational skills, check out my friend FLUTARIANS🟣HELPING FLUTISTS IMPROVISE🎵

25/02/2025

The ‘Golden Rule’ has diverse roots, but it’s commonly quoted in English as

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

I flipped this around: “Do for yourself what you would have others do for you.”

If I find myself expecting or wanting certain treatment from others, I turn inward and make sure that I'm treating MYSELF this way.

What’s one way you can treat yourself better today?

23/02/2025

Meal prep used to feel like a chore. Now it’s an act of self love. How do you show yourself daily love?🧡

21/02/2025

A common golden rule is to “treat others as you wish to be treated.”

But what if we flipped it? I’m learning to treat myself as I wish others would treat me, and it’s a game changer.

They say we attract who we are. What I’m noticing is that how I treat myself is shifting the world around me. The more love and compassion I show myself, the more I extend that to others. At the same time, I have less patience for those who create negativity in my life—whether they’re disrespectful or simply overwhelmed in their own world.

Giving myself love also means giving myself space. It’s not always easy. Old patterns and drama can be tempting. But this isn’t just about boundaries—it’s about truly changing the way I treat myself.

At this point in my life, loving myself means practicing presence and gratitude. Instead of resisting my emotions—whether warm and fuzzy or deeply uncomfortable—I choose softness. I choose peace over resistance.

What does loving yourself look like for you?

18/02/2025

Love isn’t confined to a single day—but sometimes, it’s easy to focus on what we’re missing or get caught in the trap of expecting love to look a certain way.

When I start feeling bitter, unseen, or frustrated, I pause and ask: What am I actually craving right now? What do I wish someone would do for me?

More often than not, I realize I’m longing for quality time, comfort, or a certain kind of care. And instead of waiting for someone else to meet that need, I turn it around and give it to myself.

It’s a mindset shift.

One that pulls me out of perfectionism and expectation and into a place of openness and self-nurturing. A shift from scarcity to abundance. The more I do this, the more I soften, and the easier it becomes to notice the love that is present, rather than fixating on what isn’t.

What’s one small way you can shift toward self-kindness today? 🧡

15/02/2025

Today, I’m choosing to fill my own love bucket 🩷

I’ve learned that when I nurture myself with care and kindness, I feel more open to love in all the ways it already exists around me. Whether it’s taking myself on an Artist’s Date, making a favourite meal, or simply giving myself the quality time I crave, I show up for me first, expressing self-compassion and softness from me to me.

And when my heart is full, any love I receive from others feels like sunlight on an already blooming flower—warm and welcome, but not something I’m grasping for🌻

How can you fill your love bucket today?

14/02/2025

I tend to romanticize spontaneous quality time with a romantic partner. It's kind of contradictory because I haven't really been allowing myself the flexibility to be spontaneous. I always feel like I should be doing something else... something more productive.

I inserted a bit of this desired spontaneity into my life yesterday. I watched the sunset at the ferry launch.

Did you know we have a ferry in Saskatchewan!?⛴️

13/02/2025

I read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron years ago and was introduced to the concept of an Artist’s Date—a solo date with your creative self.💖

I love this idea and have used it often, especially in February.

The 14th can come with so much pressure, especially around romance, but I’ve learned to shift the focus. Instead of chasing some idealized, Disney-like version of love, I prioritize the real, everyday, messier kind—which is often more meaningful anyway.

This year, I’m planning an Artist’s Date to celebrate me.

Have you ever taken yourself on a solo date? What would you do?🎨🧘‍♀️📖

13/02/2025

It’s ridiculously cold right now. My dashboard says -37°C, and honestly, I don’t even know if that’s accurate—it just feels way colder than usual.

On days like this, I take extra precautions to avoid getting stranded:
✔️ Full tank of gas
✔️ Emergency kit (sleeping bag, candles, lighter, toe warmers, ski pants, toque, mitts)
✔️ Food & water
✔️ Tire check before heading out

Even though I do some of these things in summer, too, it's extra important on days like this when it's life-threatening to get stuck on the side of the road.

Stay safe out there!❄