Michael was trained as a double and electric bassist at Birmingham Conservatoire and Middlesex University Jazz courses, with a professional career spanning the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and on cruise ships worldwide. Michael has also worked with Grammy-nominated duo Walking Aurora and Brit Award winner Dizzee Rascal, and as part of Dordogne Jazz Summer School’s faculty.
He now works as a music educator and, most recently, a Director of Music, having pursued his PGCE at Middlesex University and MA at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, where his teaching focuses on practical music-making for learning music, improvisation pedagogy in the curriculum and ensemble contexts. Michael’s research and expertise have led him to contribute as a writer and workshop leader for Music Teacher and MTA’s Ensemble magazines, MTA Teaching Notes podcast, Music & Drama Expo and Curriculum Music conferences. His diverse music knowledge enables an appreciation for music with his students, inspiring them to explore their musical identities while emphasising creativity with pedagogy rooted in learning by doing, understanding how neurodiversity plays a role in learning and putting music making at the heart of his teaching.
‘I have the pleasure of knowing this outstanding musician and teacher. Despite a large number of students Mike always had time and patience for our needs and offered plenty of ideas to help us improve. He has a great understanding of music and how to perform it and would be very happy to have him again as a teacher.‘ Rainer Brower (Student at Dordogne Jazz Summer School)
‘With an excellent level of musicianship on double and electric bass combined with his enthusiastic and friendly personality Mike is a real pleasure to work with.’ Duncan Eagles (Partikel, Gary Husband, Mark Mondesir, Ola Onabule and Janek Gwizdala)
“Mike has excellent leadership skills and is a natural communicator. His kind manner to all of his students really helps him maintain command of class and his subject knowledge really sets him apart as an educator as well as his vision for lessons and making students feel valued.” Dr Deborah Mollison (award-winning film composer and educator)
“Who’s that mother****** on bass?!” Mornington Lockett (Ronnie Scott, Jim Mullen, Stevie Wonder, Ian Shaw, Stan Tracy, Jimmy Smith)
“MIke’s work is of vital importance, informed by educational research that sets it apart in jazz education and beyond.” (Simon Purcell, International Chair in Improvisation, Red Rodney, Kenny Wheeler, Eddie Henderson, Stan Sulzman)
Mike Wright Music Education 