Meet Mike Effenberger

Mike Effenberger is a recording and performing artist who has been living in the NH Seacoast since 2007. He received the Young Beacon in Jazz award from New School University in New York City, from which he graduated in 2005. While there, he studied with diverse artists including Jane Ira Bloom, Kenny Werner, John Hollenbeck, Reggie Workman, Fred Hersch, and Joanne Brackeen. Mike has curated an unmistakably individual voice that draws on gospel, minimalism, jazz, and 20th century music.

Mike plays throughout New England with a variety of bands including fiveighthirteen, Jazzputin and the Jug Skunks, the secular roots and gospel choir Rock My Soul, OURBIGBAND, Sad Bastards / Loose Standards, Showmen’s Rest, and Dan Blakeslee. He leads Weird Turn Pro, which plays his original music. When not in the northeast, Mike performs internationally with Bing and Ruth, and plays throughout the east coast with Soggy Po’ Boys. Mike appears on countless recordings from independent releases to larger labels, including 4AD and RVNG Intl, and is also active as a producer. His work has been written about in international publications including the Paris Review, The Guardian, and Pitchfork, as well as appearing on nationally syndicated media including NPR’s All Things Considered and PRX’s Echoes. When not at a piano bench, he can typically be found in the woods.

Mike’s Teaching Philosophy

Mike approaches every student individually, meeting them where they are and sending them where they want to go. His students range from children to older adults and run the gamut in genre and musical background. Frequent areas of study include:

• Classical piano
• Jazz improvisation
• Ear training
• Music theory
• Composition and arranging
• Gospel and Spirituals
• Audio production, synthesis, and music technology
• Beginning through intermediate accordion