Guitar with John C.

After venturing through various hobbies, sports, and instruments, John’s fingers finally found a permanent home on the strings of a guitar in 8th grade. Having watched his older sister teach herself guitar, what started as just another activity turned into a lasting love for guitar music with all the symptoms of love at first “pluck”: late night serenades, long hours practicing and composing, and hands that could hardly put the instrument down. John first taught himself to play using videos from inspiring artists such as Trace Bundy, Steven Curtis Chapman, Andy McKee, Phil Keaggy, and John Butler, through which he discovered his natural bent for acoustic guitar and reached an advanced beginner level before taking lessons soon after. His style is a unique one that draws from a variety of traditions and genres, though his specialty style is an unconventional acoustic one that uses the whole guitar—body, neck, capos, and all—to create mesmerizing sounds. As an instructor, John Mark has a passion for teaching all ages and especially beginners in a relaxing, down-to-earth atmosphere as well as collaborating with artists of other instruments like violin, banjo, and drums. Quirky fact about me: my dream is to see ultimate frisbee regularly viewed on ESPN before I die. My only dessert weakness is hot, home-baked chocolate chip cookies.