Mike
Guitar, Bass, Drums
Mike is a Conservatory trained guitarist with more than 35 years of playing and
performing experience. A multi instrumentalist, also proficient in bass and drums, he began
performing at various venues in his hometown music scene at the age of 14, often with
players more than twice his age, in what was the greatest part time job a high school kid
could hope for. The gigs, and the job, would continue virtually unabated for more than 20
years. While continuing his studies in jazz and classical guitar, Mike attended Fanshawe
College for its audio engineering and production program. The knowledge gained there
allowed Mike to write, record and produce music that has been licensed and sold around the
world for music compilations, film and television. In addition, Mike spent the last 10 years
doing voice over work for TV, web and private enterprise. One constant through all of this has
been education, both in terms of learning for himself and teaching others. He began teaching
in high school and it carried on through college and then into the community in Toronto and
back home in Niagara Region. The son of a former teacher and choir director, music
education has been a part of his life since before he started playing.
Mike’s guitar, bass or drum lessons aim to help students feel a connection to the music and their instrument through a balanced approach that includes fundamentals like reading notation and theory, developing
ear training and rhythmic feel and just enough technique to get where is needed. There is
also a large focus on learning songs that students love and, most importantly, having fun.
While Mike specializes in students of all ages, in the early stages of their musical adventure, if
you’re a more seasoned guitar player looking to add something new to your bag of tricks -
whether that’s blues or chicken pickin’ licks, some fingerstyle for the acoustic, or maybe to
take those cowboy chords and move them around a bit, even add some jazzy notes to them,
Mike would love to help.
“I have a huge passion for music, especially the guitar, and I’ve learned some pretty cool and
useful things in my long journey so far. I truly believe that learning to play music is one of the
most fun and rewarding things that a person can do for themselves. Whether it’s their first
steps, or simply another step on a long road, I love helping students find the fun and reward in
learning and playing so that their musical journey is a lifelong one. Let’s play some music, and
have some fun together.”
