The musical stylings of Michael Giles, lecturer in music and artist in residence, are distinct and recognizable, which he says is one of his biggest accomplishments because people want to hear his sound, not just another musician.

“It’s getting to the point that people want to hear me do something, or they want to hire me to do something because they want my particular voice on it,” Giles said.

Helping people, Giles said, is one of the reasons he decided to teach music — through this, it gives him a better understanding of music.

“I find that as I try to help people in a teaching situation, it further solidifies my opinion or it radically changes my opinions on music,” Giles said. “It also gives me a better understanding of what I think about music.”

Giles has taught saxophone and jazz studies at Iowa State since 2000. He directs the small jazz ensembles program, teaches jazz improvisation and leads the classical saxophone studio as well as coaching saxophone quartets.

Outside of Iowa State he plays and writes original music for a trio called The 3×5. He also freelances as a saxophonist and a pianist and plays gigs.

Giles also taught at the University of Wyoming, Grinnell College, Augustana College and in the Minneapolis Public Schools.

His résumé consists of many performances, including two overseas in Russia and Belgium. However, the two of his most memorable performances have been the Iowa City Jazz Festival where he played with a quartet and in Minneapolis where he played with a cover band at the National Aveda Convention.

Giles’ involvement in music began early in his childhood. He started playing the piano at the age of five and saxophone in fifth grade. Music has been a love ever since.

“I like performing and trying to express myself in an abstract way,” Giles said. “I like improvising and trying to create this intricate, solid, beautiful and unique thing instantly with whatever inspiration and tools I have at my disposal. It’s such a rush for me.”

Giles gets his inspiration from well-known artist Miles Davis because of his commitment to his music and his art form without being concerned with whether people are behind it or not, Giles said.

“[Davis] has such a recognizable voice. When you hear him play and you go ‘oh’ and you know exactly who it is,” Giles said. “I just want to be that original voice where people want to hear my voice — not just some saxophone or jazz guy. I want people to want to hear me do it.”

He doesn’t want to be a traveling musician on the road because he has a wife and children, but Giles enjoys being an artist in residence while teaching people about his own music.

“I like teaching my music and talking about how I write my music and perform my music,” Giles said. “If I can do that all the time all the time, I guess that is kind of my dream job. I just want to be an audience in residence and that’s how I view my time here at ISU.”

Giles hopes to continue making and playing music in 20 years — but in Europe, where he would like to live.

For new or future musicians, Giles advised to practice regularly, listen to a variety of music and be positive.

Giles can be seen performing the saxophone at the Lipa Electronic Music Festival on Oct. 23 in Ames. He has many more performances coming up and a CD to come out soon.

For information on Michael Giles’ upcoming performances, visit his Web site, www.creativemusicstuff.com.