Music Organizations
that have hosted Michael as a clinician
Jeff Langley, PhD
(Chair of Music Dept., Sonoma State University/composer/author)
Michael's positive and insightful approach has helped many a student expand their idea of their musical identity and potential to a broader vision — often worlds removed from what they originally imagined. His teaching approach extends far beyond the principal instrument of study to cover every conceivable aspect of the student's development . . . His “Musical Creativity and the Art of Practicing” is a life-changing workshop!
Rev. Carolyn Douglas
(Senior Minister, Illuminata Center for
Spiritual Living)
Michael, I just want to make sure that I tell you how much I got out of the workshop on Sunday. You are an excellent teacher! You worked with us individually to experience the components of our chant. Genesis was happening for each of us, and we all got something to finish or continue refining. I learned how everything just seems to come to me and I hadn't really taken the time to separate the beat from the rhythm of the melody — I just let them blend. Well, a big THANK YOU to you AND I want to do it again.
Doug Goodkin
(Orff Method pioneer & author/composer/
arranger/multi-instrumentalist)
Michael completed both the Orff Schulwerk Level I training at Mills College and my “Jazz and Orff Schulwerk” Course. It was humbling for me to teach such an accomplished musician, but I believe both experiences helped sharpen his intuitive sense of how to involve children (and adults) in music-making in a way that has carried over in his concert lecture demonstrations. Michael returned twice to my jazz course to present his [“earPlay Jazzquintet” and 17-person “Mirabai” choral] ensembles and was enthusiastically received both times.
Dr. Helen Dilworth
(Vocal Instructor, City College of San Francisco
and the College of Marin)
Since I've adjudicated many artistic competitions, such as The Califorinia Arts Council and Grants to Touring Artists, I can compare Michael Smolens and ”The Mirabai Ensemble” to the best in California. They are wonderful performers, highly educational, marvelously entertaining, and they make beautiful music over an awesome range of styles.
Brenda Chinn
(Concert-Lecture Coordinator,
City College of San Francisco)
Bravo! That was a spectacular performance. Thank you all for an evening of unique music and vocal improvisation. Our City College audience thoroughly enjoyed the entire program — the perfect showcase of your extraordinary talent. The workshop of the presentation was equally fine.
Bob Athayde
(Stanley Middle School Music Chair/
arranger/pianist)
As the world gets increasingly smaller from a cultural standpoint, the “earPlay Jazzquintet” is helping to foster greater understanding while heightening students' aesthetic awareness and creativity. I would highly recommend Michael Smolens and this ensemble to any school who wants to enrich their students' (and faculty's) lives.
Jeff Morton
(Homestead High School Choral Director, Sunnyvale)
Thank you again for coming! The students, and I, got a lot out of your visit. I really appreciated that you took time to focus on one thing — it was a nice reminder that to get a point in, you've got to spend time with it. I thought that your [recommended] listening list was excellent, and I played different pieces from it in classes following your workshop and at lunch last week.
Students appreciated that you had a different approach with each singer, and thought that you were very skilled at assessing their improvisation skills quickly and building off of where they were at. They also really appreciated that you called on everyone to do it, and didn't allow anyone to say "I pass" — something that isn't good for anyone in the room when I do that.