Plant City Music Lessons

Prague Film Orchestra. Even more recently I have been a teacher for the Flutes and Strings classes at Unison World School in Dehradun, India.

I have enjoyed having a very successful studio here in Tampa, and hope to enrich your life with music soon!

*** Lesson Details ***
My approach to teaching varies with the age level of each student. With younger students, imitation is often one of the best methods of learning and I prefer the Suzuki method for students up to age 8, especially with strings. For older children and adults, learning music notation and basic music theory for a full understanding of musical language are more important to get them to the level where they can learn any music that they want to play for fun. For students who wish to excel in their school band, a more practical approach with technique specific warm-ups and exercises seems to be the best in general.

*** Studio Equipment ***
The In-Studio lessons are taught in the living room which includes music stands, sheet music, whiteboard, video recording equipment and microphone, and seating for parents/students. No pets. Parking in driveway. Siblings are welcome.

*** Travel Equipment ***
I will provide metronome, and tools for minor instrument repair. Students should provide their own music stands and sheet music.

*** Specialties ***
Suzuki method, Hrimaly, Taffanel et Gaubert, Patricia George

laying with other musicians. You will learn to read music but I promise you will not be bored.

g chords to follow most any style. I also enjoy teaching some music theory (the rules of music) in written, sight singing, and piano chords, if requested. Music theory along with voice and instrument lessons can provide a further understanding of each musical concept.

My training first began in elementary school, in Virginia Beach, VA, when I took my first group voice lessons and concert band classes as a beginning flutist. I continued my study with a large home school band in the 7th grade. I was then chosen to play the flute in an All City Band in Virginia Beach, for excellence in my performance skills. From there I continued my study at a private school in Virginia Beach with many chorus, band, and youth band classes to further my music reading and improvisational performance skills. At age eighteen I moved to Tampa, FL and became a Liberal Arts major with a concentration in Music at Hillsborough Community College (HCC). I graduated from HCC with an AA in Liberal Arts/Music. I was then accepted to further my music study at the University of South Florida (USF). I studied voice and a sampling of other instruments in the Music Education program. I graduated with two and one-half years of music education training and another four years of voice training with a BA in Music Studies. Also, during my college years I participated in the elite USF Chamber Singers, the University Singers, the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, and many studio recitals. 

In 2013 I completed my fourth year of music teaching in a small private school in Tampa, FL. I have sang with Opera Tampa since their 2012-2013 season in the professional opera chorus for productions such as Carmen, The Magic Flute, and Madame Butterfly. I have continued to add new performance jobs with The Princeton Festival in Princeton, NJ (2014), St. Petersburg Opera in St Pete, FL , and the Tampa Spiritual Ensemble performing in the surrounding Tampa Bay areas. In addition, I continue my studies part time at the Patel Conservatory in downtown Tampa.  

I look forward to working with you to make all your music dreams come true! So, let's make beautiful music together very soon!  

*** Lesson Details ***
When taking lessons with me you can expect to learn in a very positive, encouraging, and laid back environment! I believe that learning is fun, very rewarding, and never stops. I plan to continue learning more about my craft for the rest of my life and I would encourage my students of all ages to adopt this mentality also. 

For voice lessons I like to begin with warm-ups and breathing exercises that can be modified to any style of songs. Then to song selections that will be enjoyable, yet helpful in making your voice better. For opera style I primarily use the G. Schirmer Opera Anthology books, and Hal Leonard published anthology series' for different art songs. For all other vocal styles I enjoy using various published individual-song sheet music or CDs and accompaniment tracks. Along the way giving all applicable tips for producing better sound, projection, breathing, phrasing, and musicality.

For flute lessons I would begin with scales or simple exercises. Then to specific pieces that you would want to work on or techniques from the Accent on Achievement or Standards of Excellence book series'.

For piano lessons I would begin with finger stretches, scale warm-ups and/or easy chords or pieces to get the fingers ready to practice. Then I would progress to your chosen pieces or a book from the Alfred or Bastien Piano Book series', which includes books for all levels and styles. 

*** Travel Equipment ***
I can provide CDs and/or lesson books, if needed.

*** Specialties ***
Vocal: Up to advanced level Classical, Jazz, Musical Theatre, R&B, Pop, Gospel, Sight-reading
Flute: Up to Intermediate level Classical, Sight-reading
Piano: Beginner & Intermediate levels Classical, Chord Theory, Sight-reading

usic? Will this be a hobby for you? Whatever your goals are, I am excited to know your story.

g other pro drummers or percussionists looking to learn more about the other side.

He has been trained in many different teaching methods and has since developed his own teaching method to enhance the students fundamental playing techniques, ear training, dexterity, basic music theory reading and transcription skills. His goals as a teacher is to help you achieve your goals as an artist musician and to take the principles learned through the study of the discipline of music into your life to help shape you into being a better person.

Genres that Michael is experienced in range from Pop, Jazz, Rock, Funk, Electro, Soul, R & B, and New Orleans 2nd Line on drum set, West African Folkloric/dance such as Soli, Kuku, Dunungbe, Mendiani, Kakilambe, Marakadon on djembe, as well as Afro-Pop such as Nigerian Afro-Beat, Mangambe, Doudoumba, Mbalax and Bikutsi on drum set and hand percussion; Brazilian Samba & MPB such as Bossa Nova, Baiaó, Afoxé, Partido Alto, Coco, Xaxado, and Maracatú on Brazilian percussion & on drum set, Egyptian Classical and Folkloric bellydance rhythms such as Maqsoum, Saidi, Masmoudi, Baladi, Sombati, Fallahi, Chiftiteli, Ayoub, Samai and Malfuf; North African Gnawa, Rai & Chaabi on North African percussion & drum set; Bomba, Plena, General Cuban /New YoRican"Salsa" such as Son, Som Montuno, Mambo, Cha-Cha-Cha, Rumba Guaguancó, Songo, Timba and Mozambique, but also Cuban 6/8 such as Guiro & Bembé, Rumba Yambú, Rumba Columbia, Abakuá Lokua Fun and Dominican Merengue on latin percussion and on drum set where appropriate.

Michael is an expert transcriber for drum set, marching percussion and hand percussion, creates his own exercises and creates breakdowns of rhythms and rudiments to better enhance the student's learning. He can also create practice audio tracks for the student to use in their individual practice time.

Michael spent 1 year at HCC studying music but realized that he was getting much better instruction through (6 years of instruction) from great teachers such as Mark Thurston, Paula Williams, Benja Russel, Tim Church, Eddie Capps, Diaz Clark, Joe Southard, Eugene Fambrough, Tom Mazzeo, Paul Gansmer, Jack Starling, Mark Smith, Rob Minier, Rick Adams, Mike Neidhart, Dino Riccio, Jody Dunwoody, Steve McNeely and William Meyers within the drum corps idiom performing with Suncoast Sound and The Spirit of Atlanta. With the skills he learned and worked diligently on, he was graced with the opportunity to perform as a percussionist at Tokyo Disney Land in 1998 and 1999 and then again at Tokyo Disney Sea from 2005 to 2010.

Most of his percussion study was done with artists/musicians who are deeply rooted in specific types of music and the culture it came from during their childhood or teen years and not from a college professor who learned it from their professor out of a book but have yet to actually perform these styles outside of their class room.
During his time in Tokyo, he took every opportunity to go see concerts at The Blue Note, Tokyo Forum, Bunka Kaikan, The Billboard Club, The Cotton Club, touring Cirque du Soliel
shows and many other venues with top quality world renowned artists. On his free time from performing at Disney, Michael was fortunate to study with great percussionists such as Christopher "Kit" Chatham (of Blast & Shockwave) and Christopher Hardy both of Cirque de Soliel and also Abdou Bayefall and Abdoulaye Sarr Ndiaye of Senegal, Africa. Later back in the US, he studied and worked with Abdel Tahour of Morocco, took a workshop with Orlando Cotto of Puerto Rico and is currently learning from Jessica D Albino folkloric dancer/drummer of Puerto Rico.

He has traveled to Cairo, Egypt to study middle eastern music, to Colombia to teach marching percussion and learn their folk music and also to Bali, Bangkok, Costa Rica, Panama, much of the Caribbean, South Korea and Madrid to photograph in the streets and absorb the rhythm, art and cultures of those places.

***Equipment***
Masterwork Cymbals 24", 22" rides (2), 20" rides (5), 16" crashes (2), 14" hi-hats
Ludwig late 60s green & olive badge 22"x14" bass, 12"x8", 13" x 9", 14"x10" tom and 16"x16" floor tom
Ludwig mid 70s Acrolite 14"x5" snare drum
Ludwig 2015 Rocker steel snare 14"x5"
Ludwig USA free-floating Marching Snare drum 14"x12"
Sonor Force 3007 Jungle kit 16"x16" bass, 10"x8" tom, 14"x10" floor tom
Canopus Maple snare drum 14"x5.5"
Yamaha Birch Custom Absolute 14"x5" snare drum
Gawharet El Fan doumbek (mylar head)
Gawharet El Fan riq (mylar head)
Meinl Percussion Turkish style darbuka  5 7/8" & a 7 1/4"
Meinl Percussion Doumbek (2)
Meinl Percussion Mizhar (2) 18"x4" with a thin calfskin & a mylar true feel head
Meinl Percussion 20"x2.5" Tar
Meinl Percussion Daf 20" with synthetic head
LP Matador congas 11" quinto  and 11 3/4" conga
Persian Dayereh 15"x2.5" with a goat skin head
Senegalese djembe and tama (talking drum)
2 Pandeiros 10" one carnival style with lugs and a mylar head, one handmade in Rio old Capoeira style
RMV tambourim 6" 
Hand percussion: assorted shekere, caxixi, guiro, bells, blocks, karkabou, tingsha, sea shells, seed pods, kashaka, Meinl stage (metal) and studio (plastic) shakers etc..

I will help you get there! If your goal is simply to play for fun and have music be an integral part of your life, I can help you do that as well! Many of my students have gone on to top music schools and been finalists in national competitions, and many just play for fun. However, one thing they all have in common is a passion for personal communication through music-making! Shoot me a message and let's work together to help you meet your goals!