Michael Smolens ● Voice, Piano, Percussion & Improvisation/Theory/Songwriting

Teaching Experience: I have been teaching privately & group classes, and at universities since 1974, and teaching other freelance teachers since 2000.  Also a vocal clinician/consultant for SoVoSo, A Cappella Summit, Sonoma State University, East Bay Center For The Performing Arts, and S.F. & Marin City colleges.  Though I work in depth on vocal technique, improvisation and theory, my speciality is helping students see the interaction of those three skills while they're actually singing.  My other specialty is helping students maximize their practice time at home with state-of-the-art practicing tools to design & track their practicing.

Teaching Style/Philosophy: "I use the best of Western & North Indian techniques, along with scatting, song interpretation, vocal percussion, and real-time looping. Theory & improvisation is presented in a way that avoids information overload; and songwriting & arranging is demystified."