As a passionate educator, Michael (aka. Mr.Woodnote) takes great joy in delivering workshops and masterclasses to students and audiences of all types, ages and abilities.

As a professional and touring musician for over 25 years, Michael has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience and has developed several lectures and masterclasses to share his ideas, philosophies and inspiration.

 

The Paramountcy of Tone and Intention aims to illustrate that the musician themselves and their ideas are more important than anything else and that every aspect of the 'music industry' is of secondary consequence. Michael's delivery is both inspirational and humorous and engages the audience to explore ideas of 'tone' and to recognise this as inherently unique to each musician and a depiction of themselves. Michael uses visual and audio aids to demonstrate each point along with both profound and funny examples to carry his message.

 

The second half of The Paramountcy of Tone and Intention discusses the artist's intentions and that our making of conscious and intuitive decisions is what our audiences are most affected by. Michael addresses how we perceive mistakes and accidents in practice and performances and explores philosophies on playing with purpose. Michael encourages the audiences to theorize and speculate on these ideas and to assist with demonstrations.

 

You Know Too Much is Michael's latest workshop aimed towards an audience of already accomplished and proficient musicians. In this talk, Michael reminds the audience that music is a universal language that has captivated souls throughout history. Classical and jazz music, in particular, have been shaped by the virtuosity and genius of countless musicians and composers. However, there is an intriguing paradox that exists within the realm of trained musicianship: the difficulties they face when trying to be truly creative.

Trained classical and jazz musicians invest years honing their craft, immersing themselves in the vast world of music theory and technique. They study the works of legendary composers, learning to analyse complex harmonies, dissect intricate rhythms, and master their instruments. This rigorous training equips them with a deep understanding of musical structures, but it can also become a creative burden.

The weight of tradition and the expectations set by musical giants can inadvertently stifle creativity. The trained musician may find themselves confined by rules and conventions, afraid to deviate from the established norms. Moreover, the pursuit of technical perfection can overshadow the exploration of innovative ideas and self-expression.

When delivering You Know Too Much, Michael talks about his own journey from the conservatory to the street performances and to performing on some of the biggest and best festival and club stages in the world. Michael shares his story and what he has learned about how to both use and sometimes disregard much of the dogma laid down by musical institutions.

Probably Michael's favourite type of engagement is with with bands and ensembles. In these situations he will often attend an ensembles rehearsal and discuss their individual situation eg. what they are working towards (usually a performance) and the specific material they are working on. Michael initially listens and observes and then gets involved with the rehearsal by ways of encouragement and questioning. Both energetic and positive by nature, Michael can often help ensembles improve technically by giving objective feedback on specifics but he can also affect a group dynamic with philosophical discussions and artistic ruminations. These sessions are intended to be particularly fun in the hope that the ensemble leaves feeling inspired and cohesive as a group.

 

For bookings or any further information please email:

info@mrwoodnote.co.uk

 

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