Michelangelo Aligiannis
About
I'm Michalis , a Greek Musician , Composer , Bassist and multi-instrumentalist . I graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz studies, specializing in Electric Bass. My musical Backround includes jazz, Electric bass, Classical Double bass, And traditional Greek Music. I have studied with experienced professional Musicians in Los Angeles ( Bob Mintzer, Gerald Clayton) and Greece , and my professional experience includes performing , session work, composition , arranging , recording , and music production
My musical interests are broad , with a particular connection to jazz , rebetiko , greek traditional and popular music , Balkan Music and fusion . I enjoy exploring different musical traditions and finding ways to bring them together while developing my own musical voice .
Along side performing and creating music, i have been teaching electric bass and music theory online since 2020, working with students of different ages and levels
i believe that my experience as both a performer and a creator of music gives me a practical perspective that i can bring into my lessons
Teaching Style
I don't believe that learning music should be based on pressure or Harsh discipline . i believe that music requires discipline , consistency and dedication but i also believe that a student needs to feel comfortable and encouraged in order to truly develop. i want to create an environment where students feel free to ask questions , make mistakes , experiment , and gradually develop their own musical personality. i try to be as supportive and giving as possible while still encouraging students to take their musical development seriously.
my goal is to inspire something in the student that makes them want to pick up their instrument and practise on their own , rather than feeling that they have to practice because they are being forced to .
i believe that when a student becomes genuinely interested and inspired by what they are learning , discipline starts to come naturally . i want students to leave a lesson feeling motivated and excited to continue exploring music on their own
Curriculum
My teaching method depends on the level , needs , and goals of each student . I don't follow one fixed method or require every student to use the same book . i first try to understand what may be holding the student back . for example a student may have the musical ideas they want to express but lack the technical ability to recognize and reproduce what they hear .
A major part of my approach is listening , playing and ear training . believe that especially in jazz and improvisation , listening to music is just as important as practicing the instrument . we listen to recordings , study what we hear , and try to imitate musical ideas until the student can understand them and eventually make them part of their own musical vocabulary .
When appropriate we also work on sight reading . if a student wants to develop their reading skills , we can work with classical orchestral material written for double bass , as well as jazz material such as the charlie parker Omnibook. I also encourage students to become comfortable reading in treble clef as well as bass clef , depending on their goals and level
the material we use can therefore change from student to student . My aim is to combine technical development , reading , listening , ear training , and actual music making , so that these skills support one another rather than feeling like separate exercises .
I do not require a specific textbook. Materials are selected according to the student's level and goals
Credentials & Affiliations
Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies - University of Southern California (USC) , Jazz bass , 2026
Jazz Performance Studies - Codarts university of the Arts Netherlands , 2020
Traditional Greek Santouri - private study with Marios Papadeas 2008-2017
Higher education Certificate in Music Production - SAE institue Athens 2021
Trinity college London grade 8 classical Double bass - Distinction 2017
Certificate of Excellence - Outstanding Soloist , 2026 international collegiate Guitar Ensemble Festival , representing USC at Sunset Sound Studios , Hollywood 2026
Trinity college London exhibition award, Classical double bass grade7 7
Prodessional experience includes jazz performance , session work , composition , music production and teaching in Europe and the United States
