mike@michaelteager.com                                                                                                 

http://michaelteager.com                                                                                                              



EDUCATION

B. Mus. (saxophone performance), Central Michigan University. Mt. Pleasant, Michigan (summa cum laude). December 2005

M.M. (saxophone performance), Michigan State University. East Lansing, Michigan. May 2008

 

AREAS OF INTEREST

Music appreciation for non-majors; American popular music; jazz (specifically Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and post-Coltrane lineages, e.g., David Liebman); Richard Wagner; the collaborative works of visual artist Matthew Barney and composer Jonathan Bepler; the saxophoneÕs use in popular music

 

LANGUAGES

English: native

German: reading, good; speaking, proficient

 

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

North American Saxophone Alliance

American Musicological Society

The College Music Society

Norman Mailer Society

AFM Local 92 – Buffalo MusiciansÕ Union

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2011-16             Instructor. Center for Integrative Studies in the Arts & Humanities, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

MSU Office of Study Abroad: Music, Art, and Language in Bregenz, Austria

IAH 241A: Integrative Arts and Humanities: Music in Western Europe and United States since 1500

¥ Music appreciation for non-majors, focusing on Western Art Music (i.e., classical music) from Renaissance to present, jazz, popular music, and folk music

¥ Format: One section of ~12-18 students, utilizing in-class and web-based environments. Study abroad course in Bregenz, Austria including live performances and field trips in Bregenz, Vienna, and Munich

2009-16             Adjunct Professor of Music. Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor, Michigan

            MUS 338: Instrumental Methods

¥ Instrumental methods for Music Education majors

¥ Format: Multiple students in an independent study format utilizing in-class and web-based environments

MUS 314: History of Western Music, 1750 to Present

¥ Historical survey of classical music from the Rococo and Classical periods through present day

¥ Format: ~20 students, utilizing in-class and web-based environments. Previously taught two students collectively in an independent study, utilizing in-class and web-based environments

MUS 313: History of Western Music to 1750

¥ Historical survey of classical music from Ancient Greece through the Baroque

¥ Format: ~20 students, utilizing in-class and web-based environments. Previously taught multiple students collectively in an independent study, utilizing in-class and web-based environments

MUS 310/210: Applied Saxophone Lessons

¥ Private saxophone lessons for music majors, music minors, and non-majors

MUS 152: Music Foundations

¥ Music appreciation for non-majors, focusing on Western Art Music from Antiquity to present, jazz, popular music, and folk music

¥ Format: Taught multiple sections ranging in size from fifteen to forty-five students each, utilizing in-class and web-based environments.  Courses included traditional fifteen-week terms, a four-week accelerated term, and a two-weekend adult program term

 

 

2006-09             Graduate Teaching Assistant. College of Music, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

IAH 241A: Integrative Arts and Humanities: African and African American Music

¥ Music appreciation for non-majors, focusing on folk and popular styles of African music, and folk and popular styles of African American music

¥ Supervisor: Dr. Mark Johnson

IAH 241A: Integrative Arts and Humanities: Music and Culture in the Modern World

¥ Music appreciation for non-majors, focusing on classical music from the Classical era to present, jazz, popular music, and folk music

¥ Supervisor: Dr. Mark Johnson

IAH 208: Integrative Arts and Humanities: Music and Culture (three semesters)

¥ Music appreciation for non-majors, focusing on classical music and art from Antiquity to present, and the parallels between the visual and musical arts

¥ Supervisor: Dr. Dale Bonge

IAH 208: Integrative Arts and Humanities: Music and Culture

¥ Music appreciation for non-majors, focusing on classical music and art from Antiquity to present, and the parallels between the visual and musical arts

¥ Supervisor: Dr. Carol Hess

MUS 211: History of Western Music to 1750

¥ Historical survey of classical music from Ancient Greece through the Baroque

¥ Supervisor: Dr. Kathryn Lowerre

1999-present       Private Saxophone Instructor

¥ Private and group instruction, master classes, and sectionals for beginners through college undergraduates in classical and jazz styles

 

PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE (professional)

2003-present       Soprano, alto, tenor saxophones, flute, piccolo, clarinet. Freelance saxophonist in classical, jazz, musical theater, and popular styles.

2008-present       Soprano, alto, tenor saxophones, flute. Collaboration with guitarist/composer Matt Borghi (including Matt Borghi & Michael Teager, Teag & PK, Now Know Quartet, and Olagra); studio work and regular performances throughout the Midwest and nationally, improvised and original/arranged in various styles including ambient, electronic, and folk. East Lansing, Michigan & Buffalo, New York

2019-present       Tenor, alto saxophone, flute, piccolo. Boneshakers Blues Band; blues, rock, and pop cover band; live performance; Buffalo, New York

2012-present       Tenor, alto saxophone. White Gold Scorpio; rock band; studio work; Brooklyn, New York & Detroit, Michigan

2008-present       Soprano, alto, tenor saxophones. West Michigan Symphony. Muskegon, Michigan

2012-16             Tenor saxophone, flute. The Fencemen; indie rock band; studio work and live performance; Lansing, Michigan

2012-16             Tenor, soprano saxophones, flute. Levi Taylor & Friends; funk and jazz band; live performance; Ann Arbor, Michigan

2008-11             Soprano, alto, tenor saxophones, flute. The Elevator Conspiracy; rock-based ensemble featuring original and improvised music with regular performances in mid-Michigan. Lansing, Michigan

2010-11             Soprano, tenor saxophones. Zentropy; jam band with regular performances throughout the Houston/Galveston area. Houston, Texas

2009-10             Soprano, tenor saxophones, flute. First Flight; funk/fusion ensemble with regular performances throughout southeast Michigan. Ann Arbor, Michigan

2008-10             Tenor saxophone. Salsa Verde; salsa and Latin-jazz ensemble with regular performances and clinics in mid-Michigan. East Lansing, Michigan

2004-09             Tenor saxophone. The French Henchmen; jazz trio then duo emphasizing standards and originals with performances throughout Michigan. Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

2006-08             Tenor saxophone. Cosima Saxophone Quartet; chamber ensemble emphasizing contemporary music with regular performances and clinics locally and nationally. East Lansing, Michigan

2007                 Tenor saxophone. Lansing Symphony Orchestra. East Lansing, Michigan

2004/07             Tenor saxophone. Lansing Symphony Big Band. East Lansing, Michigan

2006                 Alto saxophone. Bijou Orchestra. Saginaw, Michigan

2006                 Soprano, alto, tenor saxophones, flute, clarinet; daily performances of jazz sets, production shows, and cabarets with a variety of guest artists. Regent Seven Seas Cruises M/S Seven Seas Navigator; United States, Caribbean, Europe

2005                 Tenor saxophone. Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra. Saginaw, Michigan

2003-05             Soprano, alto, tenor saxophones, flute. The Dirty River Jazz Band; jazz and fusion ensemble emphasizing original compositions and collective improvisation with regular performances throughout Michigan. Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

 

DISCOGRAPHY

2020                 Subterranean Bearings, Matt Borghi & Michael Teager; Slo.Bor Media

2020                 ÒVanishing Point,Ó Matt Borghi & Michael Teager; episode #89 of the Ambient Soundbath podcast

2020                 Vol. 1, Spirochete Session; Down Peninsula Audio

2016                 Lakshmi, Iam Saums; Kingdom of Sound

2015                 StarÕs End Special Edition: Winter Solstice 2015, Matt Borghi & Michael Teager; unreleased commission

2015                 Winter Eyes, Olagra; Slo.Bor Media, SBM046

2014                 Seek Harmony EP, White Gold Scorpio; Down Peninsula Audio 10311979

2014                 Shades of Bending Light, Matt Borghi & Michael Teager; Slo.Bor Media, SBM044

2014                 Old Slow Sad Ones 2002-2006, Sean Madigan Hoen; Down Peninsula Audio, DPA 10311977

2014                 Beyond the Borders: Ultima Thule Ambient, Vol. 2, Matt Borghi & Michael Teager; Ultimate Thule Ambient Media, UTAM 002

2014                 Ambient Music to Heal: An Album for Our Wounded Warriors, Matt Borghi & Michael Teager; Wayfarer Records, WR 051714-27

2014                 Awaken the Electric Air: Live on StarÕs End, 10.20.2013, Matt Borghi & Michael Teager; Slo.Bor Media, SBM043

2013                 After Otherwise, Matt Borghi; Mareld – Substream, mareld57

2013                 Convocation, Matt Borghi & Michael Teager; Slo.Bor Media, SBM042

2012                 2012 Holiday Sampler, The Fencemen; Suburban Sprawl Music / Neighbor Neighbor LTD, NNLTD-002

2012                 Halloween Island, White Gold Scorpio; Old Point Light, OPL-002

2012                 Times Are Alright, The Fencemen; Neighbor Neighbor LTD, NNLTD-001

2012                 3-Way Singles Club, Vol. 10, Teag & PK; It Takes a Village To Make Records, ITAV #20

2011                 Metal & Fire: Songs That Low Taught Us, Cardboard Academy; It Takes A Village To Make Records, ITAV #016

2010                 Amidst the Drifting Symmetry, Matt Borghi & Michael Teager; inaugural release of VagueTerrainÕs Audio Editions

2010                 Live at WCBN 04.28.10, The Elevator Conspiracy; independent release

2010                 Sky Tunes, First Flight; independent release

 

MEDIA

2018                 Hearts of Space (Hearts of Space). Featured artist on episode #1180, ÒFLOATING WINDS.Ó

2016                 Critical praise and comprehensive review by between sound and silence: ÒMatt Borghi & Michael Teager: Illuminating Through ShadowÓ

2014                 Critical praise of Shades of Bending Light on StarÕs End, textura, and The Hypnagogue

2014                 Hearts of Space (Hearts of Space). Featured artist on episode #1035, ÒSAXOPHONIC.Ó

2014                 Critical praise of Awaken the Electric Air from Disquiet, StarÕs End, textura., and Hypnagogue

2014                 Echoes (Public Radio International). Featured artist on 01.09.14 podcast including in-studio interview in support of Convocation.

2014                 Echoes (Public Radio International). Featured artist on 01.08.14 episode including in-studio interview in support of Convocation.

2013                 Echoes (Public Radio International). Featured artist on 11.06.13 episode including Living Room Concert in support of Convocation.

2013                 Critical praise of Convocation from textura, Hypnagogue, StarÕs End, and Aural Innovations.

2013                 StarÕs End (WXPN; Philadelphia, PA). Live in-studio performance on 10.20.13.

2013                 StarÕs End (WXPN; Philadelphia, PA). Convocation selected as a ÒTop 15Ó album for March 2013.

2013                 Echoes (Public Radio International). Convocation selected as a ÒTop 25Ó album for March and November 2013.

 

ADJUDICATION

2010-15                         Woodwind – Solo & Chamber. Jackson Area Home Educators Solo & Ensemble; Spring Arbor University
2013                 Senior Woodwind – Solo. State Competition (Michigan); Music Teachers National Association

 

HONORS AND AWARDS

2006-09             Graduate Teaching Assistantship, Michigan State University

2005                 Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society

2005                 Robert Hayes Jazz Award, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

2005                 Outstanding Soloist, Elmhurst Jazz Festival, Elmhurst, Illinois

2002                 National Society of Collegiate Scholars

2001-05             Music Scholarship, Central Michigan University

2001-05             Michigan Merit Award

 

SERVICE

2020-present       Secretary. Town of West Seneca CitizensÕ Budget Advisory Group, West Seneca, New York

2014-16             Vice Chair (2016), commissioner. City of East Lansing Arts Commission. East Lansing, Michigan

2008-09             Graduate student representative. Michigan State University College of Music Academic Integrity Committee, East Lansing, Michigan

2006-08             Secretary, representative. Michigan State University College of Music Student Advisory Council, East Lansing, Michigan

2006-08             Student representative. Michigan State University College of Music Graduate Committee, East Lansing, Michigan

2007-08             Steward. Michigan State University Graduate Employees Union Stewards Council, East Lansing, Michigan

 

WRITING

2010-present       MT-Headed Blog. (http://mtheadedblog.com) Music-centric and pan-stylistic blog with international readership. Essays cover topics including performance, pedagogy, business, criticism, and reviews. Administrator and writer. Articles have been featured by PRISM Quartet, Dave Liebman, Tord Gustavsen, Etymotic Research, Inc., University Musical Society, Chicago Lyric Opera, The Wagnerian, and LansingÕs City Pulse.

2015-2017          East Lansing Info. (http://eastlansinginfo.org) Non-profit citizen-run local news cooperative of the people, by the people, and for the people of East Lansing, MI providing free, local, non-partisan news. Citizen-reporter contributing original reporting on government and the arts.

 

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

2008-present       Business Manager. Up and Running Software, Inc. Ames, Iowa (telecommute)

                        ¥ Manage accounting processes; coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure prompt

processing

                        ¥ Work with CEO to manage business (administrative, sales, marketing, accounting) operations

                        ¥ Work with project managers to track workloads and tasks at the employee and client levels company-wide

                        ¥ Produce and edit copy for internal (administrative) and external (marketing, sales) efforts

                        ¥ Manage distributed team; coordinate, assign, and monitor tasks

                        ¥ Work independently and collectively with internationally distributed coworkers in a virtual environment

 

PERFORMANCES AT CONFERENCES

2008                 Quartet performance of William AlbrightÕs Fantasy Etudes. Biennial conference of the North American Saxophone Alliance, Columbia, South Carolina

2007                 Solo performance of Augusta Read ThomasÕs Chant and Daniel GonkoÕs Two Movements for Saxophone. Quartet performance of William AlbrightÕs Fantasy Etudes for saxophone quartet.  Regional meeting of the North American Saxophone Alliance, Chicago, Illinois

2007                 Quartet performance of Robert SchumannÕs GesŠnge der FrŸhe [transcription], ensemble performance with Michigan State Saxophone Collective. United States Navy Band Saxophone Symposium, Washington, DC

2004                 Quartet performance of Jakob ter VeldhuisÕs Pitch Black, solo performance of Benjamin BooneÕs Election Year. World Saxophone Congress, Minneapolis, Minnesota

2002                 Quartet performance of Russell HowlandÕs Quartet No. 4. National meeting of North American Saxophone Alliance, Denton, Texas

 

ACADEMIC RECITALS

2008                 Solo recital, classical. Works by Thomas, Berio, Cornelison, Albright, Bennett. Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

2008                 Saxophone quartet. Works by Schmitt, Donatoni, Adler, Scarlatti, Albright, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

2007                 Saxophone quartet. Works by Albright, Maslanka, Dubois, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

2005                 Solo recital, classical and jazz. Works by Albright, Desenclos, Gonko, Shorter, Young, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

2005                 Solo recital, classical and jazz. Works by Albright, Berio, Coltrane, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

2004                 Solo recital. Works by Dahl, Torke, Poulenc, Heath, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

2003                 Solo recital. Works by Desenclos, Muczynski, Heath, Villa-Lobos, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

 

MASTER CLASSES

02.12.08                        Christophe Bois (Donatoni: Rasch)

11.30.07                        Jean-Michel Goury (Adler: Line Drawings)

10.12.05                        Claude Delangle (Albright: Sonata)

04.02.05                        Timothy McAllister (Albright: Sonata)

04.08.03                        Otis Murphy (Veldhuis: Pitch Black)

 

PRIVATE STUDY

2006-08             Joe Lulloff, Distinguished Artist Professor of Music – Saxophone, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

2000-05             John Nichol, Professor of Saxophone, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

2003-05             Robbie Smith, Associate Professor of Jazz Studies, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

12.10.05                        John Sampen, Bowling Green, Ohio

08.26.05                        David Liebman, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

05.23.04                        John Harle, London, England

05.21.04                        Gerard McChrystal, London, England

10.16.03                        James Umble, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

 

REFERENCES

Available upon request