Bio
Mike Frasier is a tubist, pianist, bassist, teacher, writer,
composer, arranger, producer, web developer, and entrepreneur based in
Chicago. As the tuba and piano player for Presidio Brass—an XO Brass
ensemble managed by ECE Touring and Allied Music Group—he has performed
in hundreds of concert halls, theaters, and music schools across the
country. He has also entertained audiences across Europe, Canada, and
China, and performed with such groups as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra,
Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Adrian
Symphony Orchestra, and Evanston Symphony Orchestra.
Mike enjoys making music in a wide variety of professional settings, which
can range from classical to jazz, from hard rock to smooth R&B,
and from slick mainstream pop to raw experimentalism. He is in active demand
as a freelance performer in the Chicagoland area, and can be found
playing with local groups like Ricky Liontones & the Feline Grooves, the
Chicago Freedom Ensemble, Alley Light, The Taylor Street Organ Trio, It Takes 2,
and Axeman Surdu & yer Friends' Friends.
A devoted educator, Mike serves on the faculty at Saint Xavier University
where he teaches music theory and brass methods. He has appeared as a clinician at the National
Association for Music Education Conference, the Midwest Clinic, the Tennessee
Arts Academy, and several state Music Educators Association conferences.
He has also presented masterclasses at dozens of higher institutions including
the University of Michigan, Florida State University, the University of Missouri, the University of Central
Florida, and the University of Southern Mississippi.
He has partnered with VH1 Save The Music to bring music performances to underserved
school programs, in addition to providing music lessons to foster children with Care2Rock.
He currently maintains a private studio in Chicago where he teaches tuba, piano, and
bass, as well as offering music tutoring for students
ranging from beginners to doctoral candidates.
As co-founder of Slapsauce Music, he has produced over a hundred music
videos and live events for independent musicians in the Chicago area,
including the viral Internet video series “Smooth Tuba Tuesday” which he
stars in every week. Slapsauce also makes custom merchandise for musicians,
and offers a wide range of audio/video production services.
Born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Mike began studying piano with
Diana Munch at age 6. By middle school he had picked up the tuba and was
trying his hand at composition, premiering the piece “Genesis” in
collaboration with professional recording artist Randy Scott. He would go on
to earn two Bachelor of Music degrees from the University of Michigan and two Master
of Music degrees from Northwestern University, each in music performance and
music theory. In addition to studying tuba with Fritz Kaenzig and Rex Martin,
he gained a wealth of experience teaching advanced music theory concepts to
undergraduate and graduate students. He has since presented lectures on
musical topics ranging from the role of body awareness in music performance
to the hip-hop music of J Dilla.
An active fitness enthusiast and former personal trainer, Mike enjoys
running and cycling through the city of Chicago, swimming in Lake Michigan,
and working on his jump shot. He also enjoys
volunteering in his free time, and appears regularly with the Chicago
Freedom Ensemble to bring positivity through music to various mutual aid
initiatives in Chicago.
It’s been a little over a week since we lost a smooth legend in Roy Ayers. His passing inspired me to post the first new installation of Smooth Tuba Tuesday in a long time, a tribute to his hit song “Everybody Loves The Sunshine.” After the hiatus, it felt great to be making this content … Continue reading "Return of Smooth Tuba Tuesday"
Last weekend I got to take on yet another new role: clinician for a rock band! I’ve been a judge and clinician for the annual music competition hosted by George Westinghouse College Prep, and this year the fine arts faculty expanded the competition to include two groups full of great young rockers. I didn’t know … Continue reading "New Stuff"
Once again I’ve taken on the mantle of another new band. Led by Ricky Liontones, this outfit performs as “Lions of the Tone Age”, featuring songs from every era of the legendary hard rock band Queens of the Stone Age. We have a few shows lined up in the coming months, which I’ll be able … Continue reading "(Another) New Band"
Happy New Year! 2024 has been a fun ride for me across 20 different states, with performances in at least half of them. In my travels I got to see a lot of new places and meet a lot of new people, and there will be many more in 2025! In 2024 I really dove … Continue reading "Happy 2025!"
As school rolls into finals week and my teaching duties lighten up going into the holidays, I have some time to reflect on the wild year I’ve had so far. Interestingly, my “Spotify Wrapped” playlist consists almost entirely of music that I’ve had to learn for a gig or class, and so it provides a … Continue reading "December Shows"
It’s been a wild few months for me, hosting a music festival with my girlfriend and company and spending two weeks touring the country with OPLIAM. I’ve gotten to see and explore some places I’ve never been before, including Seattle, Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam, and Arches and Red Rock Canyon National Parks. I’ve learned … Continue reading "Private Performances This Weekend"
This summer, as always, was full of exciting adventures around the country! Here are some of the highlights: I celebrated 5 years with Zoe by spending a romantic weekend in Milwaukee and dinner at Petite Vie Brasserie. I saw Aurora Borealis for the first time in my life in northern Michigan, and visited Arches National … Continue reading "Summer Music Roundup"
It’s that time of year again, and the summer festivals are back! I’ve already played my fair share of outdoor gigs this year, including a couple of shows at Boat Drinks at Burnham Harbor right on Lake Michigan. This weekend, though, I’m kicking things up a notch with back-to-back headlining festival performances. The first show … Continue reading "Festivals This Weekend, Summer Tour Dates TBA!"
Summer is here in Chicago! Time to post about some fun shows coming up in the next couple weeks. May 24 – Boat Drinks May 25 – House Party (DM for address) June 2 – Boat Drinks June 8 – Andersonville Midsommarfest (Berwyn Stage Headliner) June 9 – Imperial Oak Brewing Come see me perform, … Continue reading "Summer Jams"
It’s been a while since I posted here! In fact, my overall online presence has been a bit lacking these days… Smooth Tuba Tuesday has been on its longest hiatus since I first created the series in 2019 😞, and I haven’t been uploading much of anything else either. I haven’t been lacking in things … Continue reading "Three shows, three different bands this week!"
