Whether you're just exploring your first ideas or planning your next recording,
I'm confident you'll find my 40 years of composing experience invaluable.
At your very first session, we'll clarify your Vision for Your Music and create
a clear, prioritized Action Plan.
With that in place, your goals will feel much more within reach and rewarding!
That's why I've worked with so many people from all walks of musical life ~
from jazz, gospel, and pop to film, theatre, and world music.
Here are some of the tools we'll be using to create
Breakthroughs in Your Music:
  • Recognizing the Three Steps of Composing
    • allows you to create pieces much more quickly and to work on more than one piece at a time.
  • Learning How to Finish Pieces
    • builds your sense of satisfaction while inspiring you to share your art with others.
  • Discovering Forms
    • powerfully tunes you into the music that surrounds you and moves you
  • Clarifying Your Lyrics
    • gets your message to your audience with ease and clarity
  • Creative Arranging Ideas
    • highlights the tone and shape of your piece.
  • Rejuvenating Your Creative Source
    • enhances your ability to be joyously productive over a long period of time.

STYLE POSSIBILITIES
Jazz / Latin / World Music
Classical / Pattern / Musical Theatre
Gospel / Blues / Rock
Pop / Folk / Alternative



"Michael always gave me a lot of insight on my pieces. I was very impressed that he is comfortable in
the realms of jazz, classical, rock and world music! He introduced me to a lot of great
contemporary composers I had never checked out before. Each lesson was filled with musical information—
and new and different ways of approaching my compositions. Extremely worthwhile!"

-- Michael Udelson (pianist/composer)
"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."

-- Robert Schnitzius (composer/pianist/teacher)
I've been teaching privately and in universities since 1974 -- my two music degrees come from UC Santa Cruz. I draw from a wide variety of music traditions and creativity approaches, and have trained many Bay Area music teachers.

My works have been comissioned by Meet The Composer, National Public Radio, the Occidental Choir, UCSC Dance Dept., and numerous Bay Area solo vocalists. They've also appeared on the "Critics' Choice" lists for the S.F. Chronicle, S.F. Weekly, East Bay Express, KCSM-FM, and KPFA-FM.

I perform on piano & keyboards, hand & mallet percussion, voice, alto flute. My most recent appearance at Yoshi's Jazz House featured both my bands, the "KRIYA" Octet and "earPlay Jazzquintet" ~ a first for that venue!
Michael Smolens can be reached at (510)649-7993 /
if no answer, please try (510)684- 4852.

You can e-mail him or read more at his web site, www.SecondSightMusic.com

Unlimited support for your lessons: call or e-mail me
and I'll answer any of your questions that same day.
Great Berkeley location ~ just minutes from the Bay Bridge.

You can also read advice on practicing and musical creativity or read some of the Words of Appreciation.