What the critics are saying:
Tenor saxophonist Michael Fein…proves to be one winsome-sounding cat. His set on the Philly-based Dreambox label comes with a lot of heart and some cool compositions, too.  Fein, who writes for a septet including vibraphonist Behn Gillece, highlights some warm colors on "Ballad for Ella," and invites listeners to follow the boppish twists of "Sketch Me If You Can."  His solo take through Henry Mancini's "Days of Wine and Roses" represents a striking effort…he's consistently musical, and so is his well-schooled band, including trumpeter Chuck Gottesman…and alto saxophonist Stephen Selfridge.
Degrees & Certificates:
  • Bachelors of Music Education with Jazz from Rutgers University
  • Masters in Jazz Performance from Rowan University
  • TI:ME 2007 Teacher of the Year
  • TI:ME Level 2 Certification
  • TI:ME Instructor

Teachers:
  • Denis DiBlasio
  • Ralph Bowen
  • Anthony Pasquale
  • Gerry DeLoach
  • Roy Martin

Instruments:
  • Saxophones (alto, tenor, soprano, and bari)
  • Clarinet
  • Flute
  • Guitar

Current Teaching Positions:
  • Haverford High School - Music Technology and Jazz Instructor
  • VanderCook College - Music Technology and Jazz Instructor

Audio Recordings:
  • 2000 - Gotham City Swing
  • 2002 - Barbuda - The Highest Fi
  • 2004 - Lazy Bird - Feelin’ It
  • 2006 - Michael Fein - Four Flights Up

Text Publications:
  • 2009 - SoundTree Keyboard Lab Curriculum: High School Supplemental Lesson Plan Book by Fein, Frankel, Freedman, Martin, Rudolph, & Schonbrun- published by Alfred Music Publishing Company
  • 2010 - Making Music with GarageBand and Mixcraft by Hodson, Frankel, Fein, and McCready - published by Cengage Publishing
  • 2017 - Teaching Music Improvisation with Technology by Michael Fein - published by Oxford University Press
Michael Fein earned a Bachelor of Music Education with a Jazz Concentration from Rutgers University where he studied saxophone with Ralph Bowen and clarinet with Anthony Pasquale. He performed with the Rutgers Big Band, Jazz Combos, Wind Ensemble, Clarinet Ensemble, and Salsa Band. Michael also earned a Masters of Jazz Saxophone Performance from Rowan University where he studied with baritone saxophone legend, Denis DiBlasio.

Michael’s resume includes performances with Ralph Peterson, Stanley Cowell, Scott Whitfield, Ralph Bowen, Denis DiBlasio, local original rock groups (Fathead and Barbuda), Arden Theater Company, and lead alto work with the great Ray Charles.   Michael currently performs frequently with The Vibe Tribe at public, private, and corporate affairs.

Michael released his debut CD entitled Four Flights Up in April 2005. The CD features Michael and his jazz sextet performing original tunes and arrangements. The CD has been re-released by Dreambox Media in October 2006 and is now available for purchase through Amazon.com or streamed on Apple Music & Spotify.

Michael currently teaches music technology electives and the Jazz Ensemble at Haverford High School. The Haverford music program has doubled in size since the hiring of Michael and the creation of digital audio music electives.  Michael also teaches jazz and music technology graduate courses at VanderCook College in Chicago.  He previously served as an adjunct jazz saxophone instructor at Swarthmore University, music technology instructor at Central Connecticut State University, music technology / jazz instructor at University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and music technology clinician for SoundTree / Korg USA.

Michael was named TI:ME 2007 Teacher of the Year and he is TI:ME Level 2 Certified and a TI:ME Instructor.  Michael has published articles and lesson plans with Music Education Technology Magazine and Sound Tree. He has also presented numerous sessions at music and technology conferences including the 2005 National Education Computing Conference in Philadelphia, Music Player Live Ultimate Music Summit in New York, 2005 PMEA Conference in Valley Forge, and 2009 and 2010 TI:ME National Conferences in San Antonio, TX and New Brunswick, NJ.  Michael co-authored Making Music with Mixcraft and GarageBand (2010) and authored Teaching Music Improvisation with Technology (2017).
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