Hit Life's High NotesMichael Carswell
Michael Carswell
Applied Instrument: Saxophone
Secondary Instruments: Clarinet, Flute
Campus: Buford, Lilburn, Johns Creek, Online
NSM Faculty: Since 2024
Michael Carswell II is a saxophonist in the Atlanta area. He has been playing saxophone since the 5th grade, taking up from his father, great grandfather, and mother. Throughout his precollegiate and collegiate career, he has had the opportunity to perform with the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, GSU Jazz Band, GSU Jazz Combos, and small bands throughout the metro Atlanta area. Within these groups, He has had the privilege to perform with Miguel Zenon, Sean Jones, Jeff “Tain” Watts, and Marshall Gilkes to name a few. Along with performing music, He has a deep passion for composing and arranging. He has composed works in a number of genres spanning from jazz to classical, and is moving forward to pursue a graduate degree in Screen Scoring to have beside his bachelor's degree in Jazz Studies. He has had the pleasure of scoring a few indie films and plans to score more in the future. Along with his playing experience, he has also taught at a number of high schools and middle schools as an LGPE and Jazz Band Clinician. He also comes into schools to teach private lessons to students with District/Allstate auditions and works with marching bands to help prepare them for competition. For all of his lessons, he aims to cater to the students' personal goals while expanding their musical skills. He often imbues his lessons with not only pedagogical technique but also basic music theory, improvisation, and compositional skills. He also breaks down and establishes quick and easy practice routines that will assist in learning the information and can be applied to other subjects outside of music! This ensures that the student gains a full understanding of the information and has the tools to cement them in their mind and fingers! Michael Carswell II’s goal as a teacher and teaching philosophy is to connect with his students and find creative ways to help them grow as not only musicians, but as people! Music is an intrinsically communicative art form, so to teach it well, you must work to understand your students beyond the instrument!
Applied Instrument: Saxophone
Secondary Instruments: Clarinet, Flute
Campus: Buford, Lilburn, Johns Creek, Online
NSM Faculty: Since 2024
Michael Carswell II is a saxophonist in the Atlanta area. He has been playing saxophone since the 5th grade, taking up from his father, great grandfather, and mother. Throughout his precollegiate and collegiate career, he has had the opportunity to perform with the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, GSU Jazz Band, GSU Jazz Combos, and small bands throughout the metro Atlanta area. Within these groups, He has had the privilege to perform with Miguel Zenon, Sean Jones, Jeff “Tain” Watts, and Marshall Gilkes to name a few. Along with performing music, He has a deep passion for composing and arranging. He has composed works in a number of genres spanning from jazz to classical, and is moving forward to pursue a graduate degree in Screen Scoring to have beside his bachelor's degree in Jazz Studies. He has had the pleasure of scoring a few indie films and plans to score more in the future. Along with his playing experience, he has also taught at a number of high schools and middle schools as an LGPE and Jazz Band Clinician. He also comes into schools to teach private lessons to students with District/Allstate auditions and works with marching bands to help prepare them for competition. For all of his lessons, he aims to cater to the students' personal goals while expanding their musical skills. He often imbues his lessons with not only pedagogical technique but also basic music theory, improvisation, and compositional skills. He also breaks down and establishes quick and easy practice routines that will assist in learning the information and can be applied to other subjects outside of music! This ensures that the student gains a full understanding of the information and has the tools to cement them in their mind and fingers! Michael Carswell II’s goal as a teacher and teaching philosophy is to connect with his students and find creative ways to help them grow as not only musicians, but as people! Music is an intrinsically communicative art form, so to teach it well, you must work to understand your students beyond the instrument!