Mike Zimmerman
Mike Zimmerman began playing classical guitar over 35 years ago. His love of music led him to the College of Music at the University of North Texas, one of the premiere music schools in the US, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Music (BM) degree and an all-level teaching certificate. As a Guitar instructor registered with the Suzuki Association of the Americas, he has attended Suzuki Teacher Training at the Chicago Suzuki Institute and the Colorado Suzuki Institute, where his instructors were David Madsen of Connecticut and Andrea Cannon of Texas. Mike also has a Master of Arts degree from Ball State University.
Mike has been a member of the Colorado Springs Guitar Society since 1999, shortly after moving into the Colorado Springs area. He has held the positions of Treasurer and Newsletter Editor, and has been the President since 2001. He has been the director of the Colorado Springs Guitar Ensemble since 2000. A need for more guitar ensemble music got him started arranging works for the CSGS Ensemble and his students, a favorite pastime and diversion in his busy schedule. In 2005 he founded the Foothills Guitar Duo, a classical guitar duo performing in the Colorado Springs area, playing a wide range of music from the Renaissance to contemporary compositions.
Mike spent 23 years in the Air Force as an instructor navigator and staff officer. His last assignment was at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs as the Deputy Director of International Programs in the Office of International Programs. He speaks German fluently and was an Adjunct Instructor of German in the Department of Foreign Languages.
Mike is the director of Foothills Guitar Studio in Colorado Springs which he opened in 2003, where he teaches classical guitar using the Suzuki Method to students ranging in age from 3 to adult. He has taught guitar enrichment classes in an Academy District 20 elementary school, at Air Academy High School, and has been featured on KCME radio (88.7 FM) “Kids of Note” program with host Michael Campion, where he explained and demonstrated the classical guitar. Mike is a certified K-12 Music teacher in both Colorado and Texas.
Memberships and Affiliations:
Member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas
Member of the Suzuki Association of Colorado
Member of Pikes Peak Suzuki Music Association
Member of the Colorado Springs Guitar Society