A Tribute: Linda Niamath
Canadian composer Linda Niamath was born in 1939 and grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, as an only child. When she was five years old, she begged her parents for a piano, and started composing with the encouragement of her first piano teacher, Miss Ward. At the age of sixteen, Linda composed the score for a ballet, Stanley Park Sketches, which was performed at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. After earning her ARCT in piano performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music, she earned her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of British Columbia.
Linda lived in Richmond, BC, since the mid-1960s with her family. She was an elementary school teacher for eight years as a music specialist at Queen Mary Elementary in Point Grey, and later taught from a private studio in her home. She was fond of myriad genres of music, but held Chopin, Ravel and Debussy in particularly high regard. She also loved the traditional jazz of her youth.
Ever an optimist, Linda became an enthusiastic trail blazer in the early 1980’s. Long before music software existed, Linda initially self-published her own compositions. These hand copied manuscripts were painstakingly crafted by her devoted husband, Kent. Soda Pop and Other Delights was her first collection, which came out in 1979, Marching Mice, which was commissioned by the Vancouver Branch of the Registered Music Teachers Association for its 1981 Student Performers Guild. Watermelon and Friends followed shortly after in 1982. Many pieces were written with colleagues in mind such as Linda Jentsch and Shirley Mann. Other colleagues including Mary Fraser, Edward Parker, and Mary Tickner ‘test-taught’ new pieces, and provided valuable suggestions. Over time she developed a relationship with Canadian publisher The Frederick Harris Music Company and the Linda Niamath Library was born.
While focusing primarily on composing for young pianists, she also wrote for ballet and animated films. She was a keen, life long learner and was extraordinarily passionate about early childhood education in all its forms. The charming illustrations of several albums, some drawn by her own children, invite students to use all their senses. Her philosophy was to provide captions and images to facilitate to a personal, multi-media experience, colouring the illustrations themselves to set their imaginations free.
At the back of each album is a much appreciated “Notes for Teachers”, which is an invaluable tool for both the novice or experienced teacher. Having the ‘considerations’ for each piece succinctly stated by the composer informs a more accurate interpretation of such classics as March of the Terrible Trolls, Spider’s Web, Big Teddy, Little Teddy and Sleepy Little Kitten.
Linda was a very kind, thoughtful and compassionate person; she also had a keen sense of humour. Her two daughters believe her to have been the best mother anyone could hope to have. She had many deep and enduring friendships over many decades and took great pleasure in connecting with others. She and Kent always took pride in living life fully no matter what they were doing. Growing vegetables, travelling to Hawaii or points more exotic, cooking, extensive reading (and underlining the important parts), or listening to music, they engaged deeply with their wide circle of interests, friends and family.
Recognized as one of North America’s leading pedagogical composers, her timeless, descriptive and finely crafted pieces will long endure. The number of her pieces that have appeared in the Royal Conservatory of Music series of albums is proof that her music has always been popular, pedagogically sound and untethered to passing musical fashions. It was always with great pride so many teachers, from coast to coast to coast, could point out that not only was a piece composed by a woman- a real living Canadian woman- she actually lived in Richmond.
As such a highly-regarded composer, Linda was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Conservatory of Music in 2018. 
Generations of children around the world have learned to play her compelling and expressive pieces in their early musical education. She is best known for her eleven albums of piano music for the young pianist—a rich legacy for future generations.
Linda Niamath passed away peacefully on September 16, 2020 in Vancouver, BC, at the age of 81. She is sadly missed by her husband of 55 years, Kent, daughters Wendy and Cheryl, son-in-law Paul Lesack and all the music makers who mourn her silence. Donations in Linda's memory may be made to your favourite charity.
By Tara Wohlberg who is honoured to have been Linda’s friend and colleague for over 25 years.