Experienced tutor in Piano in Berkeley, Michael offers private lessons tailored to your needs.

"Sad but true. After eight years of voice lessons I felt less confidence than when I started. But my work with Michael was transformative! I remembered one particular piece of coaching he gave, it completely changed the quality of sound in my voice. I had never heard myself sound so good!"

"I took both piano and voice lessons with Michael for about a year-and-a-half. Michael is extremely talented and knowledgeable about so many facets of music. His teaching methods are unconventional, but really help develop many different areas of skills towards making & understanding music. I also greatly enjoyed the workshops he held with the other private students where we were able to share our progress and develop a small community."

"Michael's positive and insightful approach has helped many a student expand their idea of their musical identity and potential to a broader vision — often worlds removed from what they originally imagined. His 'Musical Creativity & The Art of Practicing' workshop is a life-changing event!"

"Michael’s workshop was like being at a listening party where the Host really knew their stuff. I appreciated his attention to detail, and his way of holding the space for careful listening. It’s a really special thing to be able to make new meaning of The Beatles' "White Album" with the other participants. Michael seems to not only welcome that sort of collective meaning making, but also to inspire it."

"Michael helped me get clear on my goals as they pertain to my different music related businesses — performing, teaching, and composing. Very shortly thereafter I was already able to make these goals reality! Through Michael's straightforward questions and expert eye for neglected details, he enabled me to see where I wanted to go and what I needed to do. Michael was also very helpful in improving the wording of my contracts, marketing materials, and biographies. The sessions are up-beat and fun and he shares his experience generously. Michael also presents a great music teaching business model through his own example."

"Music schools never taught me the business side of teaching music, and Michael is a real marketing professional. He has helped my ads tremendously, both on-line and in print, taking them through quite a transformation. Now I’m actually getting a response to my ads ! He has also helped me evaluate my professional goals and take the necessary steps for these goals to become realized. I would recommend that any serious teacher study with Michael to learn how to enhance their own advertising and teaching strategies."

"Thank you for all the great tips you've shared with me about bandleading. Your real-life experience in this area was just invaluable. How to negotiate with clients and club owners, hiring appropriate musicians and setting expectations with them, working out good set lists, along with promotion and marketing have all been excellent. No other teacher has covered this type of material in such detail in lessons or classes in my 15 years of study."

"Just wanted to say Thank You for your professional support and guidance in bringing our band, "The Derivatives", to a new level of competence. Your insight in reorganizing our rehearsal structure helped immensely in cementing our music sets. We also had a lot of fun with your ideas during our photo shoot which led to a much more professional CD jacket. And one of your chord exercises actually helped us to create a new song — it was a great inspiration to us all!"

"I'm a professional drummer, but new to jazz. My private drum lessons started to get my technique converted to jazz, but Michael was really great at helping me understand fundamental jazz approaches relative to what I was already familiar with. Actually, I had quite a mental block about jazz being hard. But Michael is very good at assessing each student individually, easing you into things, while challenging you at the same time. In his JAZZ CLASS we analyzed each piece in detail (melody, harmony, rhythm) as well as how to accompany better. We worked intensively on different soloing approaches for each piece, how to arrange them, and then put it all together with a recital at the end. This class kicked my butt (in a good way) and I ended up fitting in with the rest of the more experienced students in his class! I learned a huge amount and considering the time and energy that Michael puts into the class, the pricing is very reasonable."

"I feel very grateful for the time we got to spend together. You opened my ears and mind to the next logical steps in jazz and other types of improvisation. My ability to explore more interesting harmonic and melodic concepts has expanded into larger, more interesting melodic leaps plus more effective use of altered and whole-tone scales. As I come to terms with the role of the cello in both live and recording settings, I feel like everything we worked on is very present in my improvisational endeavors."

"Michael is a one of a kind teacher. His ability to get to the heart of the matter with clever analogies is uncanny. I have been studying with him for about three months now and have been stretched enormously by his teaching. No teacher before has ever delved this deep into what it means to be a practicing musician, and his three-part practice log is an invaluable tool. For a musician who is looking to clear up their misconceptions, develop a practice routine, and make a commitment to a lifetime of playing, Michael will get you there."

"Having taken lessons throughout my life (including a vocal performance major in college), I can say with confidence that Michael is one of the best vocal teachers I've had the pleasure to work under. He is the only teacher whose approach has actually gotten me to practice on a regular basis and make me accountable ! Michael isn't just giving me singing lessons — we're working on theory, composition, piano, and even percussion—as well as developing my bandleading skills. (I know his skills here are sound because they come directly from his own professional experience). He has been compassionate every step of my way and guided me through the moments of fear and frustration with absolute kindness and support, and best of all, no bull****. People look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them I drive one hour each way from San Jose for just for my lessons, but let me tell you, Michael is well worth it !"

"Thank you for being an incredible teacher with the most amazing array of skills and talents, who also manages to figure out what I need in any given moment. The journey with my vocal technique & improvisation, percussion, performing, theory, composition, along with music history has been wonderfully rich. It has been an honor and great pleasure to study with you for the last six years."

"He listened to the opening of my film score and told me it was a mixture of two composers that might, in theory, clash. The green light came on when he said: "But it works . . ." The rest of the session was super helpful, point-blank, give and take. An approachable, serious, but fun guy, you can only get better with Michael's helping hands (tremendous piano skills) and ears (big history buff). Prices are reasonable. Highest rating."

"For over eight years Michael has helped me expand my 'palette' of composition tools to a dramatic extent, suggesting creative ideas I wouldn't have come up with on my own. With his coaching I now have a much broader understanding of vital concepts such as creating contrast, melodic development, and several others. I receive many compliments on my songwriting, and I attribute a significant degree of that to the instruction I have received from Michael."

"I had no idea that working with my rhythm as a vocalist would reveal such important physical issues. Like my poor 'computer wrist' that was sore and barking every time I sat down at the piano. The sequence of stretches and exercises you had me do were almost magical in their effect. When we moved to playing percussion, the vibration of the drumsticks just woke up the sensation in my hands and arms so when I sat back down at the piano, voila, no more involuntarily curling up right index finger ! I could press the keys down normally, first time in a long long time. I'm totally convinced. Thanks very much, again."

"I took both piano and voice lessons with Michael for about a year-and-a-half. Michael is extremely talented and knowledgeable about so many facets of music. His teaching methods are unconventional, but really help develop many different areas of skills towards making & understanding music. I also greatly enjoyed the workshops he held with the other private students where we were able to share our progress and develop a small community."

"After years of touring, recording and performing I have worked with many vocal teachers and coaches. Michael was extraordinary at quickly identifying and moving me through my current set of limiting constraints. In a short period of time, my voice improved greatly and I gained an excellent education and ability that I had not previously gotten from my formal training. His expertise of the voice was apparent quickly and his ability to personally pinpoint and apply the right techniques to my needs was very impressive.”

"Sad but true. After eight years of voice lessons I felt less confidence than when I started. But my work with Michael was transformative! I remembered one particular piece of coaching he gave, it completely changed the quality of sound in my voice. I had never heard myself sound so good!"

"Michael's ability to play full drum set and vocalize a bass part greatly enhances my piano lessons. After being taught a new chord progression, way of improvising, or comping pattern, I can instantly try it out as part of a 'trio'. And somehow while juggling the drums at his hands and the bass in his mouth, Michael still has ears open to hear and respond to what I'm playing. It adds up to much quicker assimilation of new concepts and technique for me, and is fun for both of us!"

"I've been taking piano lessons with Michael after a 20-year hiatus from the instrument and the lessons are fun and friendly! His approach is unique, with carefully thought out pedagogy that really works. He is probably not the right teacher if you're just looking to learn a few tunes, but if you want to learn to play piano with real fluency and ease, he is excellent at what he does. His knowledge of music is broad and deep — across instruments, genres, cultures, and personalities, and he has no shortage of interesting stories and tidbits to share. He also runs periodic workshops for his students, which are a great way to build other skills. The best part of studying with Michael is the way that you see your progress at the instrument accelerate. The early months are hard work, but it pays off as you start noticing how easily you improve from there. He also is committed to making your music integrate holistically and practically with your life, without unrealistic expectations about practice time. Finally, Michael's prices are reasonable and his policies and availability have been great for me."