Music often begins as a curiosity, but for some students it grows into a deep passion that tells who they are.
For senior Michael Rosenberg, creating music started as a way to put his thoughts into something. Over time, that work turned into years of dedication, artistic growth, and a growing audience that continues to support his work.
“I just kind of started making the music I wanted to hear because I started hearing certain artists and getting into certain artists that I really enjoyed,” Rosenberg said. “So I kind of just made music I wanted to hear, honestly.”
Rosenberg’s musical journey began with traditional instruments before moving on to electronic production.
“I started on drums first, before I started doing electronic stuff,” he said.
He credits much of his early learning to Pink Floyd and their drummer, Nick Mason.
“His articulation in the way he drums is really good,” Rosenberg said. “And I played a lot of Pink Floyd stuff.”
Over time, Rosenberg’s interest expanded into video game soundtracks and electronic artists such as Aphex Twin.
As his skills grew, so did his audience. When asked about his proudest accomplishment, Rosenberg pointed to his online success.
“Proudest has gotta be I have 1,000 subscribers, honestly,” he said, adding that he also has been consistent in continuing to make music.
Rosenberg is not limited to just one instrument. “I technically play two,” he said. While drums remain his best skill, he also plays piano.
“I’m not as good as I am at drums as I play with piano, but I definitely would say I could play some piano.”
Today, Rosenberg describes his music as mainly electronic, often inspired by video game soundtracks.
“I make electronic music,” he said. “It’s like video game music, almost basically all the time.” He explained that his creativity involves breaking instruments down into their core sounds and reimagining them in a digital format.
Beyond skill and style, Rosenberg views music as a meaningful outlet. When asked what he would be doing if he weren’t making music, he reflected on a personal impact it had on his life.
“That’s a tough question, probably nothing, or maybe playing video games or something like that,” he said. “Music definitely got me doing something else than sitting around the house. It’s actually a really good thing to put my thoughts into, because then I can get all the emotional side of music.”
Rosenburg’s passion and growth have not gone unnoticed. Band teacher Mr Greenberg has worked closely with him and has observed his development firsthand.
“I have listened to some of their music before,” Greenberg said. “I feel like he definitely has a very interesting style. It’s very rhythmically driven, is definitely the way I would describe it.”
Greenberg explains Rosenberg’s dedication and work ethic as a musician. “Mikey, he’s very dedicated and interested in music,” he said. “I’ve had him in Piano for his second year with me, he’s been doing drumset for band, he’s always really there, trying his best, and overall he’s very knowledgeable about music.”
Looking at the future, Greenberg sees a lot of potential in Rosenberg’s career. “Even though his style of music can be a little bit niche sometimes, I still feel like he has a lot of potential to reach a great audience,” he said. He added that continued learning, whether through college or independent study, will only help Rosenberg grow as a musician.
Greenberg also highlighted Rosenberg’s creativity and approach to making music. “He manages to find these very interesting ways and stories to go about making his music,” he said. “He takes live clips, rehearsal audio, and other obscure methods and puts that into his music.”
Through experimentation, discipline, and passion, Michael Rosenberg continues to shape a sound that is uniquely his own. Whether through live instruments or electronic production, his music reflects not only technical skill but also personal experience and a deep commitment to the art.
