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Send A Song To "I commend you for your hard work as an educator and send my best wishes." - President Bill Clinton "It is comforting to know that the future of our nation is in the hands of such inspired young people. Thank you Michael Miles." - President Jimmy Carter "We are encouraged knowing we have your support." Miles’ song, “If I Were The President,” is designed as a collaborative work that makes room for student ideas. Students answer the question, “If you were the president of the United States, what would you do to make the world a better place.” Student ideas are then inserted to the song and sent to the president. PHILOSOPHY AND INTENT Miles’ goal is to further awaken the political voices of the students--to let them know that no matter how old they are, their opinions really matter. The president (Republican or Democrat) needs and wants to hear from them. America is a great country because we can freely share our opinions with one another, and sometimes disagree out loud.
PREPARATION This project be can be accomplished with entire schools or individual classrooms.
4. This can be done quickly (1 hour) or extended with class discussions of current events and and actual letter writing. HISTORY OF PROJECT HELPFUL PDF DOCUMENTS |
(Above: Video from Chicago sent to President Bush in 2008) (Above: Rehearsing song with Chicago students, 2011) (Above: Performance video of students in UK, 2011) |
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.
