B.Mus (Carleton)
Michael Magliaro is a Toronto based guitarist, performer and composer. Growing up in the Greater Toronto area, he performed in a variety of musical groups including Choirs, Concert Bands, Rock Bands, Theatre Pit Bands and Jazz Ensembles. After enrolling and graduating from the St. Thomas Aquinas Pathway for the Performing arts he moved on to Carleton University where he graduated with a B.MUS Honours in Jazz Performance studying with the likes of Juno award winner Jesse Stewart, Wayne Eagles and Dr. James Wright.
He began performing live music in Toronto at the age of 16, playing in Rock cover bands with high school friends. Since then he has played everywhere from dingy bars to public theatres and private art galleries. Michael is currently involved in multiple groups that perform locally, around the GTA and from time to time, as a solo singer songwriter.
Michael’s approach to teaching is based on treating music as learning a new language, “You have to learn to read, write, and speak properly in order to best express yourself.” With a strong background in Music theory, Michael is an advocate and firm believer that a well-rounded Musical Education can help anyone of any age hone the skills they need for everyday life.
Hobbies: Sports (hockey, Soccer, Golf etc.), getting exercise and DIY projects around the house
Get to know Michael…Beyond the Bio!
Musical influences: Frank Zappa, John Pelosi, Wayne Eagles, Michel Delage and Miles Davis
Favourite Food: Anything Mom makes
Least Favourite: I’m usually too hungry to be picky!
Favourite Music: Queen, AC/DC, Frank Zappa etc. It really depends on my mood.
Favourite Song: That’s a tough one, right now I’d say “Good old Fashioned Lover Boy” by Queen
Favourite Movie Music: Loved the Soundtrack in Guardian’s of the Galaxy 2
Favourite Musical Theatre/Opera: The Marriage of Figaro
Best Quote from your Teacher: “Try to hear everything before you play it”
Favourite Quote: “Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is THE BEST.”
Favourite Book: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Best thing about teaching at ABC: Doing what I love and sharing it with others!
Latest Homework from Michael
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Director’s Note – Teacher Changes
Hello Everybody!
As we enter into the spring, we have a few notes for you about your teachers, Michael and Dan. Both will be ending their teaching at ABC at the end of April.
Michael will be pursuing some new opportunities, and Daniel received an excellent music contract with the Armed Forces at their music school training camp at CFB Borden, near Barrie.
We are currently hard at work looking for excellent teachers to pick up and continue their work with you, but at this time of the school year, this may not be possible.
ABC has a standard transition procedure that assures students’ experience of the new teachers that come in is as close to seamless as possible. Your existing teacher plays an active role in communicating this to the new teacher, so that work that is ‘in-progress’ continues smoothly.
We will keep you posted about this as the situation develops, and if you have any questions, please call the office directly at 416-651-7529.
Many thanks!
Barn.
Week of Feb 26th
Carson
Continue to work on the Weezer tunes O Girlfriend and Say it Ain’t So. Remember to practice alternating between barre chords slowly going over the same two before moving on to the next pair.
Lili
Keep working on the strumming patterns we went over this week. Remember to angle the guitar pick appropriately especially on the upstroke to get an even sound when strumming. Always practice with a metronome when you can.
Mysha
Continue working on the assigned tunes in your guitar book as well as getting down the chord changes we went over. Remember to play the chord melodically while listening for any dead notes, this will tell you if you need to adjust your hands or use more pressure.
Trinity
Keep working on the assigned tunes in your guitar book. Remember to always practice with a metronome when you can and to say and play the notes. When practicing the finger picking pattern the key is to take it as slow as possible, this will ensure you develop the muscle memory in your hands.
Director’s Note – Teacher Changes
Hello Everybody!
As we enter into the spring, we have a few notes for you about your teachers, Michael and Dan. Both will be ending their teaching at ABC at the end of April.
Michael will be pursuing some new opportunities, and Daniel received an excellent music contract with the Armed Forces at their music school training camp at CFB Borden, near Barrie.
We are currently hard at work looking for excellent teachers to pick up and continue their work with you, but at this time of the school year, this may not be possible.
ABC has a standard transition procedure that assures students’ experience of the new teachers that come in is as close to seamless as possible. Your existing teacher plays an active role in communicating this to the new teacher, so that work that is ‘in-progress’ continues smoothly.
We will keep you posted about this as the situation develops, and if you have any questions, please call the office directly at 416-651-7529.
Many thanks!
Barn.
Preferred Books for Michael’s Students
Click to buy them here, and they’ll come right to your house! What could be easier?
Hal Leonard Guitar Method
The second edition of this world-famous method by Will Schmid and Greg Koch is preferred by teachers because it makes them more effective while making their job easier. Students enjoy its easy-to-follow format that gives them a solid music education while letting them play songs right away. Book 1 provides beginning instruction including tuning, 1st position melody playing, C, G, G7, D7, and Em chords, rhythms through eighth notes, solos and ensembles and strumming.
Hal Leonard Guitar Method COMPLETE
The Hal Leonard Guitar Method is designed for anyone just learning to play acoustic or electric guitar. It is based on years of teaching guitar students of all ages, and reflects some of the best teaching ideas from around the world. This super-convenient Complete Edition features the new and improved method books 1, 2 and 3 spiral-bound together.
Easy Pop Melodies
Play your favorite hits from the Beatles, Elton John, Elvis Presley, the Police, Nirvana and more! The 20 songs in this book are presented in order of difficulty: All My Loving * Can You Feel the Love Tonight * Dust in the Wind * Every Breath You Take * I Get Around * I Shot the Sheriff * I Walk the Line * Imagine * Let It Be * Love Me Tender * Maggie May * My Cherie Amour * My Girl * My Heart Will Go On * Nowhere Man * Smells like Teen Spirit * Stand by Me * Walk Don’t Run * We Will Rock You * Your Cheatin’ Heart.