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Michael Strening Jr. returns to our space of contemplation with “Within,” a solo piano piece that feels less like a composition and more like a quiet revelation. If his previous work, “Into The Light,” led us toward illumination, Within invites us to pause — floating between memory and presence, melancholy and solace. Strening’s artistry isn’t just about playing the piano; it’s about uncovering the subtleties of existence through sound. His music exists between breaths, footsteps on damp forest paths, the hush of a coastal morning, and the sigh of waves dissolving into mist. In Within, he captures the Oregon coast’s ethereal beauty, translating its drifting fog and shifting tides into a melody that moves like a whispered reflection. The performance is masterful in its restraint. Each note is given the space to unfold naturally, like ripples in a still pond. The phrasing is deeply expressive, allowing listeners to sink into a moment of stillness. Dynamics are handled with care — never rushed, never forced — encouraging introspection as the melody rises and falls with the elegance of a tide. From a production standpoint, Within embraces a clean, intimate sound. The piano is recorded with exquisite clarity, its resonance warm and full-bodied. No artificial embellishments interfere with the organic purity of the piece, allowing its emotional weight to speak for itself. The space between notes becomes just as significant as the notes themselves, amplifying the theme of contemplation and inner journeying. Strening continues to shape a world where music is more than mere sound — it is a sanctuary, a moment of breath amid the noise of life. Within is a quiet invitation to let go, listen, and be.

— Michael Jamo, songweb.net

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Strening’s piano compositions feel so peaceful, and calm your nervous system when we are used to always being stressed and in a rush. This melody feels like a breath of peace, and like a mantra in this classical piano composition. This is what I love about classical music and their sweet melodies like this one; your imagination goes away to another world and can create any story you like - and the stories you create while listening to this are about love and calmness. This is such a beautiful piece!

— Andrea Alcalde, Music Journalist @alcaldesa.a

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There is always a beautiful delicacy to his music: I have listened to two songs and the feeling is always the same, that is, listening to music created by a sensitive person, who is not afraid of his fragility, who knows how to be moved and who knows how to make the listener move. He is truly a talented artist.

— Francesco Casuscelli, distopic.it

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Sua música segue com muita sensibilidade, a faixa ta muito bem produzida, passa muita tranquilidade e ao mesmo tempo essa melancolia que você quis trazer para ela. The music is very sensitive, the track is very well produced, it conveys a lot of tranquility and at the same time a melancholy that the artist wants to bring to it.

— peneiramusical.com

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Beautiful music as ever, so immersive and moving — simple but captivating as it rolls along.

— Rebecca, stereosticman.com

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é un bel brano, molto intimo, sentito, commovente. It is a beautiful song, very intimate, heartfelt, and moving.

— pakomusic.it

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Good mood set throughout the song..Love that breathy instrumentals sound. Good stereo separation… overall great song.

— sleektunez.biz

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Bellissima traccia una bellissima suonata di pianoforte molto piacevole da ascoltare che riesce a creare una bellissima atmosfera. Beautiful track, a beautiful piano texture that is very pleasant to listen to and manages to create a beautiful atmosphere.

— Vincenzo Cannone, espressionimusicali.it

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"Within"  is a beautiful piano composition. Simple, but well done. All the melancholy the piece asks for goes away.

— hominiscanidae.org

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A very atmospheric piece and very calming. I enjoyed listening to this.

— David Weddle, musicnewsmonthly.com

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"Within" is a beautiful solo piano single by pianist/composer Michael Strening Jr. that was inspired by the drifting mists along the Oregon Coast — something I'm very familiar with! Depending on the wind, those mists can range from wispy and graceful to much denser and more forceful, and Michael's musical interpretation is on the gentler side, providing a soothing invitation to deep reflection and self-discovery. Quoting Michael Strening Jr.: "Not all parts of our journey are filled with happiness. Sometimes, we are met with challenges and sorrow, but these moments can lead us to incredible strength if we trust in ourselves and embrace the lessons they offer." The rolling broken chords on the left hand evoke images of the the movement of the mists or of a calm ocean below them while the simple but heartfelt melody gracefully takes us inward. "Within"  will be released on February 21, 2025 and will be available on all major streaming services. More links will be added on the release date. Highly recommended!

— Kathy Parsons, MainlyPiano.com

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"Michael Strening Jr. isn’t just a composer; he is a curator of tranquility, a master of music that speaks to the soul’s need for calm. His pieces transcend the everyday rush, offering a space to breathe, reflect, and heal. Released on October 4, Michael’s new single “Into The Light” is a glowing example of this intention; an instrumental that feels like a warm embrace for our minds and spirits.

The first note, “Into The Light” creates an atmosphere of gentle elegance. The neoclassical piano melodies ebb and flow with a grace that soothes the senses, making it a perfect backdrop for relaxation, meditation, or quiet focus. Strening’s performance is tender yet purposeful, each note carefully crafted to guide us deeper into a peaceful contemplation state. There’s a timeless quality here, reminiscent of some of the greatest composers, yet distinctly modern in its clarity and serenity.

However, beneath the piece’s simplicity lies a subtle complexity. The production is crystalline, allowing every gentle keystroke to shimmer. My emotional depth was elevated further while immersed in its beauty in the midsection.

“Into The Light” does precisely what its title suggests: it guides us into a space where everything else fades, and we can be. Michael Strening Jr. has given us a piece that reminds us of the beauty that exists in quiet moments, for that, he deserves a spotlight."

— Michael Jamo, songweb.net

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"When the gift of music shines its light through just a solo performance on a single instrument, it holds the power to remind us of the essence of our being – the simplicity of life that can feel far more rewarding and fulfilling than anything overly loud or complex.

Solo pianist and composer Michael Strening Jr. captures precisely that quality, with the easy rise and fall of his melodically and rhythmically evocative Into The Light.

Balancing the quickness of chords on the one hand, with the delicacy and story of the other, Into The Light is both familiar and fresh as it fills the space around you. With less than two minutes of playtime, the minimalism is rather essential to the effect, and Strening Jr. seems sharply aware of this fact, and proceeds to enchant his audience in a concise and lasting way.

A respectably humble yet deeply moving audio venture, crafted out of the pure and unplugged charm of human expression and art."

— Rebecca, stereostickman.com

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"Into the Light begins with the title track, a beautiful piece with a simple, heartfelt melody supported by a lively left hand rhythm. The overall effect is thoughtful and poignant, but that underlying energy very effectively moves it forward — a great start! "Windswept" also has a lively left hand supporting a simpler yet very emotive melody. With less than a minute left in the piece, it starts to slow, changing to a series of quiet chords and trailing off at the end. "Lift In Air" makes me think of a soft spring breeze that gently ruffles the leaves and blossoms of plants and trees as they come back to life after a long winter. "Fly Away" is possibly the most energetic of the tracks, but the hypnotic motion of the left hand keeps the music relaxed and peaceful. The 3/4 rhythm of "Cloud Waltz" is steady and predictable, but the right hand dances freely, much like the graceful movement of fluffy white clouds "waltzing" across a bright blue sky. The closing track is "Floating." Like its title implies, the piece is very free-form, meandering around the piano keyboard while suggesting the movement of floating on a cloud or on a lazy river — no rush, no final destination planned, just the freedom to relax and enjoy."

— Kathy Parsons, MainlyPiano.com

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"I do have a place in my heart for Neo-Classical, especially the kind that can express emotion so clearly as I felt on 'Into the Light'. There is an ebb and flow, a slowing down to our day and with it the movement and innocence of a piece of music that strips it all back to a more tender reading of music for the soul. So, Michael Strening Jr. is capable of evoking the human condition via his composition and I for one am banking Into The Light alongside my other favourites from this genre. 

— Kevin, from mp3hugger

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"Michael composes and records music for massage therapy, having found this calling when massage therapy provided clinical and quantitative healing which literally saved his music career. …With each new play, you'll notice another layer you missed previously." 

— The Massage Toolbook, massagetoolbox.com 

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"Michael Strening Jr.'s Falling Water: Music For Relaxation is a collection of piano solos he composed specifically for massage therapy. (A Chicago schoolteacher by day, Strening was able to return to his piano playing after massage therapy helped his carpal tunnel syndrome, and this collection is part of his payback.) Put on these nine original songs—romantic melodies played with grace and finesse—and let the music work its quiet magic, relaxing and unwinding tension in the room and within the listener. Strening's luminous melodies embody the intuitive skill and gentle healing of many massage modalities. The synergy between the two art forms — music and massage — makes this collection an exquisitely sensitive companion to healing work." 

— Clare La Plante, Massage Therapy Journal, Winter 2009 

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"I am not a professional music reviewer, but I will tell you why these albums are great for a massage. Both albums are piano solos. Nothing more. Simple and easy. Both albums are over 75 minutes. One is not better than the other in my opinion, both are equally impressive. This is music a majority of clients will appreciate. It is not New Age, ocean noises, Celtic drums, Indian guitar, or a babbling brook. Just beautiful piano solos. Like a massage, the music is soothing, therapeutic, and calming from beginning to end.This is music a majority of clients will appreciate. It is not New Age, ocean noises, Celtic drums, Indian guitar, or a babbling brook. Just beautiful piano solos. Like a massage, the music is soothing, therapeutic, and calming from beginning to end." 

— Ivy Hultquist, massage & “bloggywork”