Michael S
Instruments: Guitar, Bass Guitar, Ukulele, Mandolin, Music, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Latin, Funk, Reggae, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul
Michael S
Instruments: Guitar, Bass Guitar, Ukulele, Mandolin, Music, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Latin, Funk, Reggae, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 10-80
MM. Northern Illinois University, Jazz Studies (Mandolin and Guitar) BA, Southern Illinois University, Music Business (with a minor in Classical Guitar Pedagogy)
2014 - The Savvy Musician in ACTION, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, Full Scholarship 2009 - Mandolin Symposium, Santa Cruz, CA, Full Scholarship, First Chair 2003 - American Mandolin and Guitar Summer School, Bristol, RI, Hibbard Perry Scholarship, Second Chair 2003 - Mandofest, Lawrence, KS, First mandolin section
I have been studying and performing music for nearly 20 years; this includes many styles ranging from classical to jazz, funk to folk, and jibaro to choro. I strive to be a versatile and compassionate artist and educator. I began my professional career at age 16, and I have performed throughout the United States in various touring bands, which has also included mandolin orchestra performances in Providence, Rhode Island; Lawrence, Kansas; and Santa Cruz, California. I was the recipient of the Hibbard Perry Mandolin Scholarship (2003) and the Mandolin Symposium Scholarship (2009). After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Music Business with a concentration in classical guitar from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale (2006), I moved to Nashville, Tennessee where I held the position of Finance Coordinator at Sony Music Entertainment. In 2008, I relocated to Chicago to continue performing in various ensembles and was awarded a Masters of Music in Jazz Studies from Northern Illinois University in 2016, where he I studied jazz mandolin and guitar under the tutelage of virtuoso guitarist Fareed Haque.
I have been teaching and tutoring private students of all ages for over fifteen years. I take great pride in seeing my students succeed and have great performances; whether it be in front of thousands of fans at a venue, or for their family and friends in the living room. I am a life-long student of music and it has enhanced my life in a way that only the arts can, and I love sharing and providing this experience with all of my students. Having had the opportunity to perform and study many styles throughout my career, I have been able to pick up a lot of great lessons along the way and I look forward to passing these on to anyone who is ready to learn.
No two students are exactly alike. Studies have proven that we all interpret colors differently, and it is the same for music and how we learn it. Though there are standard commercial methods that will help keep lessons focused, the goal is to find the best and most creative ways to use that information which will help build our understanding of music on a very personal level and not just teaching with a "learn this etude and come back next week" mentality. Every student decided to learn music for their own reason, and I want to help every student fulfill that desire to be the musician they want to become.
Music is not a sport. Learning music takes patience, from the student and the teacher, and time. The joy of music comes from continually moving forward, and ever closer, to the ultimate goal of learning a song or piece and having the confidence to perform in front of family, friends, and even fans. No two students learn the same way, and will never sound alike, no matter how hard they try. Discovering the unique strengths of the student is extremely important to me. From day one, we will work together to find your sound, your style, and your place in the music world.
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