mike berube - Guitar
Michael is a registered member of the Registry of Guitar Tutors and offers London College of Music examination courses in electric, bass, and classical guitar, as well as Popular Music Theory. He has over 30 years of playing experience and over 20 years of teaching experience. Michael was born and raised in Northern Ontario.
At a very early age (likely pre-natal) he was exposed to music. "I can remember parties with relatives and friends singing and playing guitars, violins (fiddles, my grandfathers instrument), spoons, bongos.... If it made a sound or it could be played it was in."
He started playing guitar at age 10 when his cousin’s best friend showed him four chords. The song was "Love is All Around" by The Troggs and he hasn't stopped since. He studied saxophone in school, both baritone and alto. Played bass and guitar in groups since he was a teenager. He studied guitar with Ben Rinaldo at the Guitar Clinic (Mr. Rinaldo is presently Jazz guitar professor at Huntington University) where he eventually began his teaching career about 23 years ago.
He attended Trebas Institute of Recording Arts in Toronto, providing him with a good foundation for understanding the "business of music", as well as mixing and recording sound. He had a strong desire to improve on his lyrics for his original compositions and attended Woodsworth College at the University of Toronto in the University English Course but when he was done he found he still couldn't sing. So he writes instrumentally for the most part.
He's had the good fortune to play and work with some incredible people over the years. George Simkew (engineer-Trooper) Ron Laframboise - bassist / guitarist, who recently toured Canada with Mick Taylor (ex Rolling Stones guitarist) Bob Chalifoux - drummer extraordinaire (Robert Paquette, Nobody Special and loads of session work). Margaret Chrystal an unbelievable singing talent in the folk field. He's performed with many groups through the years that provided him with practical experience in many areas and styles of music. Experienced in performance, composing, recording and sound, he is a well-rounded and knowledgeable musician and teacher / tutor.
He is a full time musician, composer devoted to exploring sounds and writing in different styles (check out some of his compositions on his Downloads page). As a tutor and instructor he has a strong desire to pass on his knowledge and experience to others. He has studied a number of methods through the years. To name a few, popular theory, solo guitar playing, duet and improvisation (solo).
Creating chord, melody and bass parts simultaneously. Right hand finger styles like Travis picking, claw or classical method, tapping (right and left hand, independently and simultaneously), slide guitar, open tunings. He's also retained his bass guitar knowledge and skills.
As mentioned he is a registered member of the Registry of Guitar Tutors, Canadian Guitar Payers Association and the Canadian Songwriters Association. He is currently working on a compilation of his compositions he's amassed through the years.
He's also experimenting with sound texture to create more ambient and mood altering pieces with his focus on film.
Click here to visit Mike’s web site.