Coaching for All Instrumentals

ALL INSTRUMENTALISTS (string, horn, and mallet players, guitarists and bassists, too)

ALL STYLES (jazz, Latin, African, funk, pop, classical) / ALL LEVELS (beginning through pro)

If you're just starting out your journey as an improviser, you'll love what happens when the doors swing wide open.

If you're already gigging and even teaching, you'll love the feeling of filling in all those "gaps" and blowing the lid off of what you thought you were capable of.

You'll be working one-on-one with one of the most experienced, patient, and richly trained musical coaches in Northern California. And you'll be meeting in the most luxurious and fully-equipped teaching studio around ~ great PA and recording gear, mallet and percussion instruments from around the world (including drum set), huge Yamaha grand piano and synthesizers, big CD and book library, and lots more! I can coach and accompany you from a wide variety of instruments (including voice) to match whatever playing situation you'd like to take on.

HARMONIC THEORY ~ navigate easily through different flavors of harmony and create your own harmonic colors "on-the-fly," even if the piece has no chord changes.

WESTERN & EASTERN SCALES ~ scales from the East are no longer "exotic," they're just guaranteed to spice-up your playing.

EAR-TRAINING & THE VOCAL CONNECTION ~ the fastest way to build your confidence as a player is to build "your ear" and let it come through your voice, you'll get hired more often, too!

TRANSCRIPTION ~ writing out tunes (as well as solos) that inspire you is a great learning tool and the next step for building your musicality.

RHYTHM & FIND Y0UR "GROOVE" ~ when your rhythm is solid everything falls into place as your phrasing takes on a
new freedom, regardless of the meter.

FREE IMPROVISATION ~ a great technique to loosen-up your creativity and create spontaneous music with friends that really works.

COMPOSING & ARRANGING ~ you've probably thought about it for a long time, now's the time to jump in and hear your creations played like you hear them.

You'll learn how to:

set-up an inviting practice environment

maximize your practice time

learn tunes from the "inside out"

(not some time in the distant
future, but right now)

I've been teaching IMPROVISATION CREATIVITY to folks from all backgrounds, skill levels, and interests for over three decades. I have published and lectured extensively on the art of practicing and am on the staff of Sonoma State University and JFK University. I've also studied with some of the most innovative jazz teachers today, including Art Lande and Kenny Werner. Currently, I am finishing my eighth CD of original works that feature jazz legends Stefon Harris (vibes), Paul McCandless (reeds), and Zakir Hussain (tablas).

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.

"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 a jazz setting,
I feel like everything we worked on is very present in my improvisational endeavors."

-- Sam Bass, cellist/recording and touring artist with Les Claypool

"Michael has been able to detect my strengths and weaknesses quite specifically and
pinpoint ways for me to improve. His approach is systematic and a good mix between
technical and artistic..."

-- Alan Wick (clarinetist)

*Intro Sessions are 45min., regular sessions are 90min.