About Michael J. Miles

• Musician

• Composer

• Performing Artist

• Musical Playwright

• Educator


When Pete Seeger first heard Michael Miles, he sent a letter to Michael saying that "in all my 70 years this is among the most beautiful recordings I’ve ever heard...it is enough to make me want to learn the banjo all over again.”

Michael Miles is one of America’s most inventive clawhammer banjo players.   Add guitar, vocals, jazz instruments, orchestras and complex historically-themed theatrical presentations to the mix and, two decades later, Michael has a critically acclaimed catalog of original compositions, stage performances, music CD’s and music instruction books.
 

Michael Miles performance credits include the Kennedy Center, Smithsonian Institution, Ravinia Festival, Harris Theatre in Chicago, American University in Beirut, and the Royal Opera Theatre in Marrakesh.

From 1984-1998, Michael served as the Program Director at the Old Town School of Folk Music bringing the school to international acclaim.   Under his guidance the student population grew from 200 students to over 4000.  From 2005-2007, Michael was honored as the school's first ever Artist-In-Residence. He remains as active member of the faculty teaching clawhammer banjo and fingerstyle guitar.  
 

With an MA in Music Performance and Pedagogy, Michael is also a music educator whose work ranges from introducing kindergarten students to their earliest musical experiences to leading postgraduate study for professional musicians and music teachers.
 

Current projects include new fingerstyle guitar arrangements of the Great American Songbook and the works of Stevie Wonder; new compositions for the banjo and expanded ensemble; and new stage productions.
 


 

Residencies
“Michael was outstanding--maybe the best we had at Butterworth Elementary”
   - Elementary School Prinicpal

“Thank you for putting my idea on the board! Your music made me feel delighted with joy. I just wanted to say thank you.”
   - Megan, 3rd grade

“I liked composing our own song, him playing his banjo for us and having the opportunity for an expert guitar player to come.  I look forward to learning harder and more challenging things and hearing him play again next year.”   - Susan, 7th Grade

FORMATS
Depending on budgets, availabilities, schedules etc, residencies can run as short as a few days or as long as a few months.  What’s most important in creating a successful residency, is developing a partnership with the classroom teachers.  This is essential.  Miles recognizes his role as a guest in your world, and brings his creative and musical expertise in ways that compliment and expand the classroom activities. 

I.  MUSIC & LITERATURE  (all grades)
Miles has a BA in Oral Interpretation and an MA in Music performance.  Miles has created numerous shows with professional artists  blending music and literature on stage.   He has brought this to classroom settings where students bring literature to life by staging stories and creating accompanying music. 

Recent examples include:  The Tiny Seed, Holes. Why Do Mosquitoes Buzz in Peoples Ears, Mufarro’s Beautiful Daughter, and Where The Sidewalk Ends,  and The Cat in the Hat

II.  SONGWRITING FOR SPECIAL EVENTS & TOPICS  (all grades)   These special events can be Black History Month; to create an official school song; to supplement DARE programs in schools; to celebrate a season; to prevent bullying.  One class set the Gettysburg Address to music, another wanted to write a song about arthropods.  The sky is the limit!  Songs have a particular power of communication.  Miles has created dozens of songs with students of all ages.  

Here are the words to one song created for Black History Month:   

"Do What’s Right"
Do what’s right, yeah yeah yeah yeah. 
Do what’s right.   
Do what’s right, do what’s right
and don’t do wrong

Stand up for yourself, do you best everyday.
Use your words, not your fists,
Martin Luther King did say (to chorus)

Ruby Bridges prayed for the people
who hated her
She said, “Please forgive these people
even if they say bad things.
They don’t know what they’re doing.  
They don’t know what they’re doing."
(to chorus)

Rosa Parks in Montgomery Alabama where
black people had to sit in the back of the bus   
We are tired of being treated badly  
Rosa said, “its time to change, it’s time for us.”
(to chorus)

 III.   SEE ALSO  
Guitar Program Residencies where Miles works with young guitarists.

Global Voices where Miles connects students across the world. 

Send A Song To The President where students share their ideas for a better world.

Students gain confidence for solo performance.
 

Students sing selection from "Carmen." 
 

In Beirut singing "We Will Build A New World."
 

Students in Chicago sing "My Favorite Things."