Mark M
Instruments: Drums, Mallet Percussion, Conga
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Musical Theater, Latin, Funk, Salsa, Showtunes, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul, Marching Band
Mark M
Instruments: Drums, Mallet Percussion, Conga
Styles:
Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Musical Theater, Latin, Funk, Salsa, Showtunes, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul, Marching Band
Where I Teach:
In Your Home
My Studio
Online
Ages Taught: 6-80
ABOUT
Degrees / Training / Special Info:
BM, New England Conservatory, Jazz Percussion
Awards:
2001- Recorded &/or performed with James Williams, Tiger Akoshi & Bobby Watson in Portland, ME. 1987- Performed with Cab Calloway in Austin, TX
Overview:
After graduating from the Conservatory, I taught privately and performed in the Boston area as well as touring throughout the United states. After moving to Maine, I was hired to teach private lessons and assist with faculty and student performances at Colby College. In addition to teaching at Colby, I performed with orchestras, jazz ensembles, pop bands and African drum ensembles in Maine & Europe. Currently, I am living in Connecticut and teach at Miss Porter's School and privately at my home studio, as well as performing with a jazz group and a pipe & drum marching band.
EXPERIENCE
I have been teaching since 1977. I have studied with the late, great Tony Williams and Alan Dawson, Fred Buda, Ed Soph and composition with Steve Grover. I have taught private lessons, small group ensembles, elemntary music theory, orchestral percussion and voice coaching. I have taught in public schools, private prep schools and college. I have performed in the United States and Germany and the Netherlands. I have recorded with Tiger Akoshi, David Mallett and The Novel Jazz Septet. I have composed and recorded several songs.
METHODS USED
I have taught students from ages 6 to 60. my approach is to help each student with the proper grip and posture and to learn to adjust there instrument for maximum comfort. I begin each lesson with rudiments/rolls and spend equal time on basic music theory(beginner) and sight reading(advanced), 4-way coordination(beginner) and transcribing recorded music(advanced). My goal is to help each student progress on there instrument and learn to blend with other musicians. Books that I use, or have used are; Syncopation-Ted Reed, Alfreds Beginning Drum Set Method, Vic Firth's Snare Drum Method, Afro-Cuban Grooves-Goines/Ameen, Funk Drumming-Mike Clark.
LESSON STYLE
My approach to teaching is to try and understand each students level of musicianship and evaluate their weaknesses and strengths. I believe that repetition and the reduction of speed are essential for learning, mastering and remembering technique and the nuances of music. I encourage each student to explore the style or genre of music that is most appealing to them. As well as experiment and persevere through new challenges of unfamiliar works or styles, such as classical, jazz, African and Latin/Cuban.
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