The TEACHER profile picture

The TEACHER

I am here for Friends

About Me

LET ME HELP YOU UNDERSTAND MUSIC.
READ MY BLOG ENTRIES. My name is Mike Ellis. I have been teaching music in Dallas for 34 years. Prior to being taught HOW to teach, I played by ear for eleven years. I have authored two online theory courses, CHORDMASTER Chord Theory for Keyboard and CHORDMASTER Chord Theory for Guitar and been interviewed by Kirk Dunn at radicalguitarmethod.com , have been published on musicmatttersblog.com and I am a member of the International Society for Music Education (ISME.org) .I am currently teaching Guitar, Piano, Bass, and Banjo at Mike Ellis Music Instruction at 9450 Skillman, Suite 103, Dallas, Texas 75243, 469.855.6865.
I have recorded with Buford Jones (FOH Engineer for Pink Floyd, James Taylor, David Bowie, George Harrison, Linda Ronstadt and many more), Gospel groups, Rock groups, played country songs with Robert Duvall, and have a CD at michaelandjohnellis.com . You can also by individual tracks at soundclick.com/michaelandjohnellis . I have performed radio spots on guitar, bass, and sitar (an Indian instrument for those who don't know).I have taught alongside folks like Chuck Rainey (recorded with Aretha Franklin, Ricki Lee Jones, and a host of others), Greg Bissonett (UNT drummer who went on to play with David Lee Roth, Ringo Starr, and many more), Mac Dougherty (jazz guitar teacher at Berklee College in Boston), and Christopher McGuire (classical guitarist extraodinaire who auditioned for Andres Segovia in Spain).As a member of the ISME, it is my goal to promote music education around the world. As a human being, it is my goal to revolutionize music education in America. In this effort, you will notice some ranting and anger about the way music is being taught in our schools and universities in America today, because frankly, it is the most rediculous situation I have ever encountered and SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT!If you care about music and the way it IS taught and the way it SHOULD BE taught, read my blog entries. A splendid time is guaranteed for all!

My Interests

Music, Music, Music, all instruments, vocals, theory, understanding, and the JOY of what music can really be.

I'd like to meet:

Every university music professor in America, to give them all a good slap! hahahahaha.

Music:

All kinds.

Heroes:

George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Ravi Shankar, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkle, Keith Richards, Joe Perry, David Gilmour, Alvin Lee, Carlos Santana, Robert Johnson, B.B.King, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, George Benson, Taj Mahal, John Mayall, Hank Williams Senior, Chant Duplauntier, Cedric Goodman, Jerry Smith Junior, John Ellis, and many more.

My Blog

Its Official

Well, it's now official (and I'm a bit late in posting it).  My son and recording partner, John, is now officially working for the Gaylord Texan Hotel, Glass Cactus Venue, as one of only two in t...
Posted by The TEACHER on Wed, 05 Sep 2007 09:40:00 PST

"The Advocate" magazine article has been published.

For those of you who don't get the "Advocate Magazine," the article they did on me has been published in the July issue, but can also be viewed by going to my website (http://www.ellismusiclessons.com...
Posted by The TEACHER on Sat, 30 Jun 2007 11:18:00 PST

I had a Photo Opportunity! ;-)

Well, I did the photo shoot for the article for "The Advocate Magazine" article last Tuesday, the 29th.  Turk (the photographer) was great and said the article should be published in the July iss...
Posted by The TEACHER on Tue, 05 Jun 2007 08:29:00 PST

Another great night! I met Larry Carlton!

Well, my son, John, came through again.  He's the Sound Production Manager for Sambuca Restaurant in Addison and did the backline setup and helped run the sound for Grammy Award Winner, Larry Car...
Posted by The TEACHER on Thu, 24 May 2007 10:45:00 PST

Interviewed Again

Today I was interviewed by a freelance writer for The Advocate Magazine, a Dallas magazine.  I was interviewed because of being in the Lake Highlands area and starting my new Mike Ellis Music Ins...
Posted by The TEACHER on Sun, 20 May 2007 06:18:00 PST

The Art of Playing Lead Guitar

Well, I'm still working.  I'm up to 51 students and still growing.  The new location and new students have inspired me to begin work on a new course, "The Art of Playing Lead Guitar." &...
Posted by The TEACHER on Thu, 26 Apr 2007 11:08:00 PST

The Art of Playing Lead Guitar

Well, I'm still working.  I'm up to 51 students and still growing.  The new location and new students have inspired me to begin work on a new course, "The Art of Playing Lead Guitar." &...
Posted by The TEACHER on Thu, 26 Apr 2007 11:07:00 PST

Our Universe is God's Symphony

Our Universe is God's Symphony By Mike Ellis © 2006                Regardless of your religion, the people of the world have all always belie...
Posted by The TEACHER on Sun, 17 Dec 2006 10:20:00 PST

Expand Your World

Expand Your World ©Mike Ellis 2006           Sometimes I like to think back on my studies in ethnomusicology, if for no other reason than to refresh myself, mus...
Posted by The TEACHER on Thu, 16 Nov 2006 09:53:00 PST

My Letter to ClearChannel

I wrote this email to Lowry Mays, Chairman of the Board, at ClearChannel Communications.  I hope you enjoy it.  I doubt that he'll even get it, but if we all speak up, maybe someday somethin...
Posted by The TEACHER on Tue, 14 Nov 2006 11:26:00 PST