It's an honor to help you on your guitar, bass, & songwriting music journey! I take pride in de-mystifying music for you in a modern rock and roll language! Your learning experience should be joyful not drudgery! We pinpoint your real music interests and inspirations and use them as our guide to build your music tool kit! 1 hour online music lesson semesters can be paid via VENMO (@theorangegoodness) or by the CC link below.
Music Coach-Music Mentor! Guitar, Songwriting, production, Performance
It's an honor to help you on your guitar, bass, & songwriting music journey! I take pride in de-mystifying music for you in a modern rock and roll language! Your learning experience should be joyful not drudgery! We pinpoint your real music interests and inspirations and use them as our guide to build your music tool kit! 1 hour online music lesson semesters can be paid via VENMO (@theorangegoodness) or by the CC link below. A full semester ( 8 weeks) is $560 and a half semester is $280! Thanks so much for working with me! Mike
I'VE Proudly TAUGHT MUSIC IN THE FOLLOWING SCHOOLs…
PIM Arts High School
MacPhail Center For Music
Carleton College - workshops
DeLaSalle High School - workshops
McNally Smith College Of Music - guest lecturer & panel judge
IPR College Of Creative Arts - workshops
Great River School
Lake Harriet House of Music
Barton School
Cadenza Music
Mike's Group Music Program Creations
IINDIE ROCK DEN - My music camp for adult musicians where we focus on learning and dissecting modern and vintage Indie Rock, Alt Rock & Americana songs!
ROCK FOR A CAUSE - Mike's live performance & empowerment camp for teen musicians
GET ON THE GRID - Minnesota's first ever live music matchmaking convention for hobbyist/weekend warrior musicians
ROCK CAMP FOR DADS - Minnesota's largest Rock Camp for adult musicians. Nationally recognized by NPR
PEACE DEN - Acoustic music camp dedicated to the songs and sounds of The Laurel Canyon Scene
SONGWRITERS CLUB
ROCK AND ROLL RHYTHM BOOTCAMP
FUN Music FACTS ABOUT Mike! YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS! EXPERIENCE MATTERS!
- Contributed songs and guitar to the “Today Was Yesterday Band” which features members of The Doors, Rush & The Robert Plant Band
- Was nominated Best Guitarist by the Minnesota Music Academy 2x
- Won Best New Band by The Minnesota Music Academy 2x
- Created Minnesota's first guitar festival, “The Modern Guitar Festival”
- Collaborated on over 150 recorded songs with many amazing artists like DJ ESP, Haley, The Unknown Prophets, Kraig Johnson (The Jayhawks) Dave King (The Bad Plus), Angelo Barbera (Robby Krieger Band/The Doors of The 21st Century), Ty Dennis (Booker T), Love Cars, Robert Skoro (Mason Jennings) , Chan Poling (Suburbs), Greg Schutte (Mickey Hart), Chris Morrissey (Nora Jones), Steve Goold (Sara Bareilles), Desdamona, Carnage, DJ ESP/DJ Woody McBride, The Bill Mike Band, The Orange Goodness, Iffy and many others.
- Cool places I've performed include Target Center, The Chicago Opera House, First Avenue (9x), The Metro Chicago (3x), The Sheldon Theater, The Viper Room LA, The Troubadour LA, The Mercury Lounge NYC (2x), CBGB's NYC, The Walker Arts Center (6x), Mpls Institute Of Art (2x), The State Theater (3x), The Fitzgerald Theater (3x), The MN Zoo Amphitheater, Cedar Cultural Center (5x), SXSW, CMJ (2x) & many other cool national music festivals
- Was a recipient of The McKnight/MacPhail Musicians Fellowship Grant
- Recipient of The Jonathan Grove Foundation Arts Grant
- Created my own rock guitar method called The Rock & Roll Diet which is featured on my SUBSTACK channel @therockandrolldiet
- Released several solo records but more infamously On The Mend, a nationally recognized record dedicated to auditory health
- Charted in the top 40 on the CMJ (U.S. charts for college & public stations) (4x)
- Scored multiple jingles for top corporations
- My original music has been featured on PBS, MTV & Democratica.org
- Co-wrote the original score for a new musical called SKOL with Collide Theatrical & Dance Co - Star Tribune's Top 10 of 2023!
- Was a music therapist at Fairview Riverside Hospital/Senior Treatment Center 5B
- Composed original music for Santa Clara University’s Theater Production of Saint Claire Of Assisi
- Had my first professional guitar session at age 21 with hit producer & remix master Mark Liggett (Bee Gees, New Kids On The Block)
- Worked as a roadie in LA and got to work for Lenny Kravitz, Los Lobos, Jimmy Page, Stone Temple Pilots and other rock stars
- Played guitar for Hippocrates Cafe! - a traveling MPR variety show for the medical world created by Dr. Jon Halberg (MPR/Mill City Clinic)
- Played guitar with world renowned choreographer Meg Stuart (Berlin) at The Walker Arts Center
- I record, tour and make weekly content for my groove-infused Alt/Indie rock band called The Orange Goodness!
Let Me Help You With Your Music Journey! My mission and creed
I'm a compassionate, non-judgmental music coach dedicated to helping teen and adult musicians develop their guitar, songwriting and performance craft. We are all unique human beings so I take an individualized approach to coaching and mentorship. With 24 years of experience in many classrooms, on many stages and a witness to every music situation imaginable on both coasts, I'm confident I can demystify your instrument for you at whatever pace you prefer. We collaborate as a team fulfilling your goals and music dreams with a pragmatic approach! Like any craft, getting to "the next phase" takes some work and dedication, but we should never forget that your music journey needs to be joyous and exciting too! Thanks for reading!
Contact me to set up online lessons or a consultation! Thanks!



