Your Music Teacher - Michael Lyngstad

I moved to Edmonton to pursue Jazz Guitar studies at MacEwan University in 1995 earning a Diploma in Jazz Guitar Performance with distinction as "Most Improved Student" in 1997. In 1998 I decided to continue my studies and explore my love of the classical guitar by attending the University of Alberta. While there, I studied with Carl Lotsberg, professor of classical guitar and lute who has studied guitar under students of classical guitar legends Andres Segovia and Ida Presti. I graduated from the U of A with a Bachelor degree in Music with Dean's List and First Class Standing on Classical Guitar in 2001 and a Bachelor degree in Secondary Education in 2003.

Since graduating from university I have attended numerous concerts and master classes presented by the worlds leading classical guitarists and have continued to expand my knowledge of technique and performance on the guitar.

In April 2020 I completed a Master of Education degree at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario. My specialization is in alternative and holistic educational theories, which I now bring to my music teaching. Currently, I am involved with PhD studies in Education at Lakehead and expect to graduate in 2024.

I began teaching music professionally at Visionary College in St. Albert, Alberta in 1997. From 2005 to 2012 I worked at MacEwan University in Edmonton as a music teacher of all ages and abilities in both group and private lessons. While at MacEwan I was a guest lecturer on Acoustic Guitar Methods at MacEwan University summer music workshop between 2007 and 2011.

In the fall of 2011, I stood as the Adjudicator of Classical Guitar at Alberta College Conservatory of Music.

I moved back to Swift Current, Saskatchewan in 2012 and began teaching private guitar lessons out of my home studio. While in Swift Current my teaching practice expanded to include offering ukulele workshops and guitar/bass mentoring through the Chinook School Division, ukulele workshops at the Lyric theatre, annual guitar and ukulele workshops at the Swift Current Branch of the Chinook Regional Library, and a position as a music teacher at Maverick High School. Since moving to Thunder Bay in 2018 I have been employed as a guitar, bass, and ukulele instructor at Coran's Music Education Centre.

While I was a student at MacEwan, I played in Jazz and Rock bands and worked as a session musician in Edmonton

After playing in chamber music ensembles at University, I formed the Rosette Guitar Duo with my colleague Kevin Marsh in 2001-performing our own original compositions alongside Classical repertoire.

The Rosette Duo released 4 recordings with regular rotation on National CBC Radio, Toured Western Canada 3 times, had a special CBC Radio broadcast performance at Edmonton's Winspear Centre for Music, and have played hundreds of professional-level concerts in and around Edmonton

The Rosette Duo have performed at Folk and Jazz festivals in BC and Alberta including performances for the Swift Current Allied Arts Council, for the Blenders series at the R.C. Dahl Centre and at the Medicine Hat Jazz Festival

I also have a singer-songwriter streak and create original songs inspired by the beauty and history of Canada's National Parks under the alias "McCoy Simonson". I have written albums dedicated to Jasper National Park and Elk Island National Park. My current performance opportunities are with the bands "Cold Lake Sun" and the Thunder Bay/Montreal project "The Zeldas"

In addition to my formal music projects I have appeared at a number of events as a jazz guitarist, classical guitarist, folk/pop performer, lutenist, banjo player, ukulele player, and guqin performer including receptions at the Art Gallery of Swift Current, events at Swift Current's Lyric Theatre and for private functions. I performed regularly as a soloist and with the Swift Current Jazz Orchestra as well as heading up an ad-hoc jazz ensemble from time to time playing guitar or banjo.

Summary