Michael McNeill:
Piano, Composer, Arranger
**CD Available For Purchase!
(Click for details)
Piano, Composer, Arranger
**CD Available For Purchase!
(Click for details)
Instruments/Talents:
Piano
Experience In The Music Field:
"I've played piano since I was five, and began playing seriously in my teens. I
play frequently in Buffalo, Rochester, and elsewhere. These days I mostly
perform jazz, but I also practice and perform classical music, and over the
years I've played rock, R&B, gospel, blues, country, church music, Broadway
tunes, pop, children's music, and totally improvised music. I earned a Master
of Music degree in Modern American Music from the Longy School of Music in
2007 (Cambridge, MA) and a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Theory from
Nazareth College in 2004 (Rochester, NY)."
I've taught music since 2000 and have had a regular "studio" of piano students
since 2003 (except for the first few months I lived in the Boston area). I've
taught at Pro Music since moving to Buffalo in 2008
Favorite Instrument:
"My favorite instrument to play is the piano - I love the way it feels, the way the
tones blend into harmonies, the variety of tone colors in a single note, and the
potentials of playing directly on the piano strings. (Incidentally - it's OK to play
inside the piano as long as you NEVER touch the dampers!) I could never pick
a favorite instrument to hear, though."
Why He Enjoys Teaching Music:
"I enjoy seeing each student meet and exceed my expectations for them. My
students continue to surprise me! I especially enjoy seeing beginners progress
from, at first, being able to play simple songs through imitation to, later, being
able to understand written music and have an understanding of how the notes
of a song work together."
Why Music Is A Passion:
"Music is full of new discoveries and challenges.
There is always new music to play and to write, new challenges to overcome
on my instrument, and new people to play music with. Through music, I can
also express ideas and feelings I can't communicate in any other way."
Musical Inspiration:
"I'm inspired by the music I hear around me and the music that I imagine
playing. I'm also inspired by the many fine musicians around me. I've been
privileged to play and collaborate with several of my very favorite musicians who
have also become mentors to me: the trumpeter Paul Smoker, the pianist
Beverly Smoker, the drummer Phil Haynes, and the bassist Ken Filiano.
Theirs aren't household names, but their music and their mentorship have
helped and challenged me (and, I think, many of their other colleagues and
students) to keep playing and learning."
Any Other Interesting Facts:
*2004 - Excellence in Musical Performance Award:
Nazareth College Music Faculty
*2003 - Theodore Presser Scholarship Award
Nazareth College Music Faculty
Piano
Experience In The Music Field:
"I've played piano since I was five, and began playing seriously in my teens. I
play frequently in Buffalo, Rochester, and elsewhere. These days I mostly
perform jazz, but I also practice and perform classical music, and over the
years I've played rock, R&B, gospel, blues, country, church music, Broadway
tunes, pop, children's music, and totally improvised music. I earned a Master
of Music degree in Modern American Music from the Longy School of Music in
2007 (Cambridge, MA) and a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Theory from
Nazareth College in 2004 (Rochester, NY)."
I've taught music since 2000 and have had a regular "studio" of piano students
since 2003 (except for the first few months I lived in the Boston area). I've
taught at Pro Music since moving to Buffalo in 2008
Favorite Instrument:
"My favorite instrument to play is the piano - I love the way it feels, the way the
tones blend into harmonies, the variety of tone colors in a single note, and the
potentials of playing directly on the piano strings. (Incidentally - it's OK to play
inside the piano as long as you NEVER touch the dampers!) I could never pick
a favorite instrument to hear, though."
Why He Enjoys Teaching Music:
"I enjoy seeing each student meet and exceed my expectations for them. My
students continue to surprise me! I especially enjoy seeing beginners progress
from, at first, being able to play simple songs through imitation to, later, being
able to understand written music and have an understanding of how the notes
of a song work together."
Why Music Is A Passion:
"Music is full of new discoveries and challenges.
There is always new music to play and to write, new challenges to overcome
on my instrument, and new people to play music with. Through music, I can
also express ideas and feelings I can't communicate in any other way."
Musical Inspiration:
"I'm inspired by the music I hear around me and the music that I imagine
playing. I'm also inspired by the many fine musicians around me. I've been
privileged to play and collaborate with several of my very favorite musicians who
have also become mentors to me: the trumpeter Paul Smoker, the pianist
Beverly Smoker, the drummer Phil Haynes, and the bassist Ken Filiano.
Theirs aren't household names, but their music and their mentorship have
helped and challenged me (and, I think, many of their other colleagues and
students) to keep playing and learning."
Any Other Interesting Facts:
*2004 - Excellence in Musical Performance Award:
Nazareth College Music Faculty
*2003 - Theodore Presser Scholarship Award
Nazareth College Music Faculty
