Songs to Learn By writes songs with students and teachers about the subjects they are studying. These residencies have yielded over a hundred songs covering subjects as diverse as the circulatory system, spelling, geometry, asteroids, the concerns of bullying and building good character traits, all using the students’ ideas, words and sounds. A CD of these educational songs, Living Together on Planet Earth, has received rave reviews from The School Library Journal. The focus is not limited to songs, as sound discovery and soundscapes all play into enhancing the areas of study. 

Michael Stanwood leads two acclaimed bands, The Buzz Band and Yeahbut Shoehead, and has been awarded five Westword Magazine’s “Best of Denver” for his performances and recordings. He has toured extensively for the State Department throughout Southeast Asia, where he also picked up many of the ethnic instruments he now plays. He has composed scores for theater, dance, and film. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his residencies, as well as a strong sense of play, by making connections between curriculum and the personal lives of the students. He has done residencies across the country and has been a presenter at the Arizona and Colorado Music Educators Conferences. He is on the faculty of Swallow Hill and has also been teaching artists at several Aesthetic Education Institutes in Colorado