Mike Regish
(he/them)
INSTRUCTOR
Mike Regish is a jazz guitarist and aspiring composer with a deep interest in ethnomusicology and the musical practices and aesthetics of cultures around the world. He picked up guitar in the early years of high school and soon gravitated toward the flashy fingerstyle playing of guitarists like Andy McKee and Don Ross. After several years focused on this style, he decided to pursue music school with a focus in jazz, aiming to demystify his understanding of improvisation. While attending Holyoke Community College, Mike developed a strong command of jazz theory and particularly strong sight-reading skills, while also expanding his abilities on bass, piano, and voice. Today, Mike teaches guitar, piano, and ukulele, bringing his background in jazz theory, improvisation, and diverse musical traditions to students of all ages and levels.
Birthday – October 11
Where I grew up – South Hadley, MA
Instruments Taught – Guitar, bass, piano, ukulele
Favorite music to play – Jazz, fingerstyle, classical, sometimes a bit of rock/metal/hardcore
Favorite music to listen to – Anything novel to me! Since I was a teenager, I’ve developed and fostered a love for music which falls outside of my perspective. Anything from catchy pop and hypnotic electronic music to more abrasive, abstract, and avant-garde experiments; classical and art music of all disciplines; or folk and traditional music of far-flung cultures. I love to take any music for what it is and keep my perspective and taste broadening at every opportunity.
Favorite music to compose – Jazz fusion, neosoul, electronic, chamber
Musical Inspirations – Chick Corea, Joe Hisaishi, Claude Debussi, Thelonious Monk, Justin Vreeland (aka Disasterpeace), Ryuichi Sakamoto, Klaus Schulze, Pat Metheny, Glenn Branca, Mort Garson, Toby Driver, Hakushi Hasegawa, Keith Rankin
Other interests – Astronomy, language learning, anthropology, fitness, nature, film, fashion
Pets – My dog Oud and my cat Calliope
Practice philosophy – Learning and growing at any craft all comes down to the closeness of the attention you pay it. If you can look closely and clearly enough, you can learn it.