Michael has been a drums/percussion/guitar and Chess instructor for over 8 years. Having studied and performed all styles of music, from Jazz, Blues, Rock, Symphonic Band and Marching Band music, he has a firm knowledge of varies styles of music and techniques.
Michael currently works as a percussion instructor for UW-Waukesha and Wauwatosa East High School. He has also been a private instructor at White House of Music, Uncle Bob's Music Center, the Theater on Main in Oconomowoc and currently owns and operates Sound Check Studios in West Allis, WI.
As a Chess instructor, he has worked and managed Checkmates Chess Academy in Milwaukee since 2008. He works exclusively with schools districts like Wauwatosa, Hartland, Milwaukee and many private schools for their after school chess program.
*** Lesson Details ***
The lessons with Michael will cover a wide variety of topics and areas. Each lesson will focus on at least 2 different topics with an emphasis on what the student would like to work on.
Drums/percussion: Main areas of focus will include rudiments, basic drum set patterns, reading music, proper technique and what the student would like learn.
Guitar: Areas of focus include open/bar chords, strumming, scales and applying those lessons to the music a student likes and wants to learn.
Chess: Based on experience, students will learn basic movement to advance strategy. Maneuvers like Forks, Pins, Skewers, openings and end game are all included in the essons.
*** Studio Equipment ***
Sound Check Studios is equipped with everything needed for each student. All supplies and major instruments provided. Sound Check Studios is NOT a basement or private residence. Sound Check is located in the main business district of West Allis along with 80 other businesses.
*** Specialties ***
Drums: reading music, rudiments, proper technique. I teach mainly out of the book Basic Drumming by Joel Rothman
Guitar: Open chord and bar chord strumming that applies to learning the songs a student wants to learn.
Michael has been the percussion instructor for Wauwatosa East High School for the past 4 years. There he worked with a variety of their students for marching band, Jazz Band, Symphonic Band and also WSMA Solo and Ensemble competitions.
Michael began playing guitar at age 12. He has played in multiple bands over the years playing guitar and also taught many students the basics and essentials to picking up the guitar for the first time.
His current roster of students enjoy working on the materials they want to learn while also learning how many basic essentials apply to the guitar.
As an after school chess instructor, Michael has worked with class sizes as large as 40 children down to one-on-one lessons with an individual student. Local school districts have repeatedly used our program and specifically requested Michael as the instructor for numerous years for multiple schools.
Michael has worked as a private drum instructor for a variety of Milwaukee based music stores and lesson studios since 2008. Since 2008, Michael has worked with over 150 students and maintained many long lasting relationships with his students.
In 2013 he opened is own lesson studio location in West Allis to better serve his students and create an environment that inspired, but was also family friendly.
