Michael Brian Miller

Ive been infatuated with the guitar since I was 14 years old, I come from a large cajun family in South Lousisiana where they don't ask you if you want to play music, you just do. I have been a part of several successful bands, Liquidrone which I started with my friend Clint Maedgen (Preservation Hall Band), toured the south for years to packed houses, Casey McCallister who was on keyboards now  plays with Longhorn Slim. My next band The Myrtles had a number one college radio hit "Oh Mercy", and are still in country alt rotation. My own band, Bones toured for years playing at Bonarroo Fest, and every dive bar in the US. My last band The New Orleans Bingo Show, was the most fun I've had as a musician, big band, dancers, we toured for years.

My unique teaching and playing ability is something I call Dead Thumb Fingerstyle. It's called this because the thumb is super stiff, It becomes the traditional pick we normally use. Then our first three or four fingers play our melody and accent notes. We can pull up or strike then strings with the back of our nails. (Think spanish guitar). The beat is heavy and we can play this style loud. It's super fun to teach and often my students find their own stamp to put on it, which as a teacher makes me smile.

Lindsey Buckingham, Mark Knofler and countless other guitarist use this style. The thumb drives the beat and the pointer and ring finger play accents. Kids and beginners do great with this style. We start with songs they know, and progress to writing our own songs. I embrace creativity in style and practice. We have fun.

We examine how we practice towards mastery, I am a student of my students, let's figure out how to get better at guitar, get better at life!

I myself struggled with WHAT to practice I knew I needed to practice, and I did, but where to start. Scales? Theory? It's easy to be overwhlemed by this.

I believe in getting a student to where they need to be - so my styles and lessons are flexible and intuitive. I listen to where the student is, we discuss where they want to go and then we reverse engeneer the lessons and practice to get them there.

I have 25 years of experience overcoming new student fears, we start rocking from day one!

I am living proof music can build a beautiful life. We challenge ourselves and become better. We live our dreams!!