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Music Background
A Bachelor of Music Degree from Berklee College of Music pretty much says it all. Michael began his music career at age 6 with the usual.. piano lessons. And yes.. his mom made him practice.
By age 12 Michael was a bit more passionate about music, and school band seemed like a good ECA. Unfortunately piano wasn't one of the instruments offered, so he decided to add the saxophone to his list of merry-music-makers. He continued playing sax throughout high school (first chair in the band) and even managed to win awards in the solo and ensemble competitions.
Age 15, marked Michael's indoctrination into the world of (ooo so scary) RoCK MuSiC, this of course after buying his first KISS album. Rock inspired him to want to make much loud noise (and also to wear a KISS costume for Halloween)... and, It was then he decided he wanted to bang the drums. And he did.. he played a drum set for 3 years and also played triple-tenors and snare drum in a nationally completive drum & bugle corps called the Blackhawk Voyagers. Blisters Calluses and Mega-hard Chops! That was word, for the day.
But one day, while watching some older boys in a jam session (playing Queen's Another One Bites The Dust) he was completely mesmerized by the low rumbling tones and warm thumpy vibrations of an electric bass guitar. As fast as you can say "pump up the.." he traded his drum set for a BASS. (Later he would sell his saxophone to buy a bass amp). Well all those years of music study paid off, cause it meant Michael could buy the bass on Friday, sit down with a method book over the weekend, and lean to play and read music for the instrument by Monday. Tuesday he joined the school's Jazz Ensemble. A few months later he started his first band... Hard Tommy.
Michael played bass from age 17 to the present, and spent 7 years playing in Professional Rock and Metal bands. Concurrently he studied music and the bowed stringed-bass, at the University of Wisconsin, together with Classical Voice and Piano, and he continued to participate in college Jazz Ensembles, Pep-rally bands, Swing-choir bands, and Musicals.
Around age 20, money became more important.. to supplement the pittance earned from playing gigs, he taught guitar and bass lessons at a music store, and even did manual labour jobs like working in a lumber yard and at a factory, packing trucks full of exercise equipment (great exercise by the way).
Between the years of 1982 and 1986 Michael played professionally in two very successful bands. Sweet Talker was regionally popular and had the interest of major production companies and booking agencies. Of course when the drummer decided one-day he'd rather play guitar, this pretty much was the end of that band. But Michael soon joined his brother's band called Raven Bitch, which was fast gaining a following and substantial recognition from the Metallica fans, partly due to the release of a 4 song EP. This EP can still be found in underground circles and has gained popularity world-wide, despite the band having disbanded in 1986.
It was in 1986 that Michael and his brother Greg Kalember decided to move cross-country and attend Berklee College of Music, where they both majored in Music Production and Engineering. After that Michael moved to Singapore and Greg moved to New York. While at Berklee Michael also studied and dual-majored in performance on the Electric Bass.
Singapore's music scene in the 1990's was not too hot, so Michael concentrated more on IT-music. MIDI and keyboard programming became more of the musical norm for the next 8 or so years, as the only real opportunities in professional music were in the production, composition and arranging fields. It wasn't until about 2001 that Michael decided to focus more fully on his guitar playing. Of course with his music background and years of playing in bands, guitar was already an instrument in his vocabulary, but in 2001 Michael set out to become a master of it.
Considering himself more of an 'advanced student' than a true 'master of technique', he generally refrains from taking on those who term themselves.. 'shredders'. This said, he will gladly teach any other student, from basic to advanced levels. Pop, rock, folk, country, jazz, or classical styles are not a problem for Michael, and when he teaches, he incorporate elements from all styles of playing.. together with a good core music education.
As an instructor Michael is more than qualified to conduct music lessons, and as a guitar (or bass) teacher, he has years of experience and a great musical 'feel' to share. He is able to explain the intricacies of playing, and guide students to becoming top-quality musicians. As a 'student of himself' he learns at a rapid pace. And, can confidently teach at a more advanced level of musicality then even the best of shredders. By the time his students are ready for sweep-picking, chord solos, high-grade classical pieces, etc., he will have mastered those techniques, and will be ready to take on the challenge of imparting them to advanced students.
Lessons Offered/ Current Student Intake
- For now.. I only take up to higher intermediate-level guitar students, but will happily take advanced bass students, or advanced guitar students who are not interested in advanced right-hand technique. I am happy to teach individuals or small groups at my home.
- I will also take-in Piano students (ABRSM syllabus), or any students wishing to learn electronic music composition, arranging and sequencing techniques using keyboard.
- Drum students are welcome if they have access to a rehearsal studio with a drum set or have drums at their home and wish to conduct the lessons at their residence.
Also...
- For those studying multimedia, digital audio, video production, recording engineering or music production skills.. I am happy to provide tutoring services and personal coaching.