Dr. Michael Day

Having grown up on the south side of Chicago, and been exposed to the unavoidable reality and disparity between the hyper segregated populations of the city, I decided to push the cities longstanding racial codes, and endeavored to engage and learn from my ethnically diverse neighbors. This choice, including the early decision to play in gospel churches and to interact and perform with musicians from other inner city ensembles proved paramount to my early musical development.

After learning Spanish in college prep, I studied traditional folkloric music at the National School of the Arts in Havana Cuba, and soon developed a passion for different cultures and ethnic identity. Most recently I performed traditional medieval Cypriot music alongside the nations most celebrated vocalists before the president and other foreign dignitaries.

I currently preside of multiple sections of undergraduate students whose nationalities quite literally span the entire globe. I presently teach Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, South American, Russian, Turk, African, African American, and many other gender identities participating in my classrooms. Diversity is welcomed. The students’ musical differences are celebrated, and often explored. This welcomed cohabitation is how our nation arches toward the promise of our more perfect union.

Prior to any collegiate education, I was a student in one of this countries top college preps, St. Ignatius in downtown Chicago. It was there that as an artistically gifted, but scientifically and mathematically lacking student I learned the art of careful and considerate pedagogical stewardship. My Father, who often worked 14 hours a day six days a week would sit with me every school night and tutor me in both science and math. His ability to see into my strengths as a student have never left me. In many respects it is with his memory close at hand that I work with my students. His patience, and his kindness offer me a clarion viewpoint for which to assess those that may by struggling with challenging theoretical devices.