Foristell, MO Bluegrass Guitar Lessons

Award-Winning Teacher - Networked/played with members of Heart, Bad Company & Queensryche. Learn Your Favorite Songs Quickly & Accurately.

Bluegrass Guitar is one of my specialties..

Standard strum accompaniment patterns in various keys, alternating bass lines, walk-ups, hammer-on and pull-off embellishments, flatpicking melodies, banjo-style forward and backward rolls, “old-timey” and traditional tunes, and much more.

Flat pickin to finger pickin and even chicken pickin!

Lets get pickin!

I attended the Rockygrass Bluegrass academy in 1997 and have played hundred of bluegrass concerts since then.
I can teach everything form old school Bill Monroe/ Flatt and Scruggs, to modern new-grass.

A major priority of my guitar teaching is to have students making expressive music every time they touch the instrument.

I begin by working on tone production on the open strings of the guitar, so that students are able to produce a full, beautiful tone on the first day. From there, we study left- and right- hand techniques in the context of real pieces of music, giving students the chance to apply the mechanics of guitar playing to the expression of musical ideas. At the same time, I work with students through progressive studies and warm-up exercises that have built-in expressive goals, so that they can learn to rely on their own ears to further refine their playing.

As I believe that a good guitarist is, first and foremost, a strong musician, I fold a number of diverse activities into weekly lessons, developing skills in music theory, ear training, sight reading, composition, and improvisation, all of which reinforce the acquisition of strong technique.

I have been teaching music lessons to students of all ages for over 15 years, including private lessons and undergraduate courses. I thoroughly explore all aspects of each exercise or song that I present to my students, highlighting the most important elements and takeaway points. Through a combination of playing songs, music theory, ear training, and personally tailored exercises to fit your needs, we will help you cultivate your instrumental "voice" and playing style.

With over 15 years experience on the stage and in the classroom, Mark can taylor a lesson plan unique to the needs of the student. From all over the world, hobbyists, professionals, weekend warriors, all types of students have benefited from lessons with Mark. Sign up today!

Hi! Thanks for taking a second to read about me. I love music and that's why I'm here. Each instrument is a channel through which we individually learn how to interact with music. I chose guitar when I was a kid and never looked back. Now it's your turn to learn!

What I found most effective in my years of learning is what I'll teach you. Since every student is different, I'll listen for your cues and provide the guidance that you need. For example, some students simply want to play a few country songs and look to me for interpretation where other students what to understand the mechanics behind the theory and jazz.

I do believe some basic music theory will help you more quickly absorb all the music you hear around you and put it into a context so you can play it quickly, without reinventing the wheel every time. It's a great long term investment into simplifying music.

I'm great with beginners and I always learn something during a class too. I'm looking forward to ...

Hi fellow musicians! I am a professional touring musician, songwriter, and recording artist based in Austin, TX. I graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Mandolin Performance and a minor in American Roots Music from Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Every musician has their own voice in this world. I want to work with you to mold and develop that voice with solid fundamentals and understanding of how music works. We will go over music theory and how it applies to your instrument and we will also touch on the mechanics of being a proficient player. All these things lead to being the best musician you can be!