Tradition and technology happily coexist in the music of guitarist Michael Carenbauer. His repertoire ranges from Bach to contemporary American music. He began playing guitar at age 19 while attending Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. He received a performance degree in Jazz Guitar from Berklee College in Boston, where he studied with jazz great Pat Metheny, and a Masters of Music in Classical Guitar from the University of South Florida. He is currently Professor of Music and director of Guitar Studies at the University of Arkansas/Little Rock. Michael has performed internationally in Italy, France, Austria, Mexico, Canada, and Hong Kong. His original compositions and arrangements for the guitar and guitar synthesizer were featured at the Chitarra 98 Festival in Montreal. He is the recipient of numerous grants and awards for music performance, composition, and education, including a Faculty Teaching Excellence Award from the University of Arkansas/Little Rock and a Fellowship for Music Composition from the Arkansas Arts Council. His progressive use of technology in teaching was acknowledged with the first place award in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's first Teaching with Technology fair.  He has served as a presenter on multiple occasions for at conferences and conventions for the American String Teacher's Association and the Guitar Foundation of America.

Endorsements

excerpts from professional endorsements...

Radko Tichavsky, Director of School of Music, Universidad Regiomontana, Monterrey, Mexico

  "Michael Carenbauer's course was very motivating for our students in two ways: because of his great human quality and receptiveness, along with his ability to communicate; and his professional and unconditional commitment to teaching."

El Norte, Monterrey, Mexico

"el artista demostro un dominio que se transformo en un inspirado mensaje musical."

Philip Hii, Director of Guitar Studies at Delmar College and Corpus Christi University, Corpus Christi, Texas; editor of the guitar forum for the American String Teachers Association..
"Like a fine actor, Michael Carenbauer is able to assume all of the necessary characteristics of a role, and deliver it with conviction." 

Gene Bertoncini, jazz recording artist, instructor at Eastman School of Music, former NBC staff guitarist on Johnny Carson's "Tonight" show...  
"The popularity of the guitar makes it necessary for music departments to seek out teachers-performers versed in all aspects of the guitar, a most difficult task indeed...Michael Carenbauer is such a person.  He has full command of the classical guitar repertoire, and is a fine jazz guitarist...he is a dedicated teacher with a giving, open mind to the differing levels and musical directions of his students."

Norman Fagan, Commissioner of the Department of Culture and History of the state of West Virginia...
"The enthusiasm, energy, and knowledge Michael Carenbauer projects is electrifying and inspiring to future musicians, as well as appealing to the audience".

Stuart Work, Director of the National Cathedral Middle School, Washington, D.C...
"Outstanding!..One of the best musical events we have had at the school in a long time..Mr. Carenbauer brought them into the performance with warmth and humor..."

Annette Hall, Head, Department of Fine Arts, Univ. of Arkansas/Monticello

  "The recital was outstanding!  You played so beautifully with sensitivity, attention to detail and flair...thank you for being such a dedicated musician and role model to our students...

John Ellis, Director of Stifel Fine Arts Center, Wheeling, West Virginia...

  "Thank you again for your sensational performance at the Stifel Center...your excellent rapport with (the audience) contributed to the enjoyment of the evening...

Gerald Klickstein, Co-Director of the program for guitar at the North Carolina School of the Arts

"Michael Carenbauer has grown to represent the leading edge in guitar pedagogy and will set new standards for excellence into the 21st century."

Template Options

Page Borders - control the thickness and/or visibility of all borders and rules in the template.

Canvas Style - choose the layout and logo position inside the header area of the site.

Header Subtitle - select the type of content that should be shown directly below (or above with Canvas Style change) the logo.

Banner Alignment - aligns the text when displayed inside the Page Banner area.

Social Icon Style - sets the template specific (non-social icon block) social icons style. 

Hide Social Icons - hides the template specific (non-social icon block) social icons links.

Hide Info Footer - hides the special Info Footer showing social icon links and latest single blog post.

Hide Page Banner - disables the display of the Page Banner area (page thumbnail, title and description).

Hide Page Title - hides only the title inside the Page Banner area.

Hide Page Title Underline - toggles the display of the miniature underline beneath the page title inside the Page Banner area. 

Index Styles

Index Thumb Title Color - sets the color of the thumbnail title for each index item.

Index Thumb Background Color - sets the color behind the thumbnail image for each index item.

Index Thumb Titles - choose the font and size used for the thumbnail title text.

Index Sidebar Width - sets the width of the sidebar displaying the title and description of the item.

Thumbnails Per Row - controls the number of columns used on your Index page.

Thumbnail Ratio - sets the size and shape of the thumbnail images based on a ratio. 

Thumbnail Padding - controls the amount of space in between each index item thumbnail image.

Thumbnail Opacity - sets the initial amount of transparency that should be used on index item thumbnail images.

Thumbnail Hover Opacity - sets the transparency of the thumbnail image on hover.

Project Layout - determines the position of the sidebar displaying the title and description of the item.

Thumbnails on Open Page - show or hide the index thumbnails at the bottom of an index item view.

Hide Thumbnail Titles - toggle the display of the thumbnail title for each index item. 

Blog Styles

Blog Post Title - sets the font of the article title.

Blog Page Width - determine the width for the blog content area different from that of the page content width.

Blog Post Spacing - controls the amount of space between each blog post on the list view.

Hide Article Author - toggles the display of the article author with the date under the article title.

Product Styles

Product Background Color - sets the color behind the product image.

Product Overlay Color - sets the color of the overlay when product list titles are set to 'overlay.'

Products Per Row - determines the number of products shown per line on the product list.

Product List Titles - controls the position of the product title on the product list.

Product List Alignment - sets the text alignment of the product title on the product list.

Product Item Size - select an image ratio for the product photo on the product list. 

Product Image Auto Crop - determines whether product images fill the image area or fit within.

Product Gallery Size - select an image ratio for the product gallery on the product item page.

Product Gallery Auto Crop - determines whether product images fill the gallery area or fit within.

Show Product Price - shows the price on the product list page when enabled.

Show Product Item Nav - shows the 'back to shop' link on the product item page. 

Event Styles

 Event Time Format - toggle between 24 hour or AM/PM for event times.

Event Icons - enable icons on the address and event time display.

Event Thumbnails - show an image thumbnail in list view.

Event Thumbnail Size - controls the size (ratio width:height) of the event thumbnail image.

Event Date Label - enable date overlay on top of event thumbnail.

Event Date Label Time - include the time of the event with the date overlay.

Event Excerpts - show optional excerpt text of events on the list view when present.

Event List Date - show the full event date (day, month, year) of the event on the list view. 

Event List Time - show the time range (start time-end time) of the event on the list view.

Event List Address - show the event location address when present.

Event iCal/gCal Links - show links to add events to Apple or Google calendars.

Event Like and Share Buttons - show Squarespace simple like and share buttons on events.

Event Calendar Compact View - enable a simpler calendar view optimized for smal

Event List Compact View - enable a simple stacked view of events in the list view.

Event Calendar Compact View - enable a simpler calendar view optimized for smaller areas. 

In Depth Guide

Our Customer Care team has created a very useful guide on Using the Montauk Template if you'd like a more in-depth look.