Piano with Mark M.

Highly motivated music professional with many years of music education, instruction, and performance experience. B.A. Music/Business from St. Joseph's College, Rensselaer, Indiana. Post-Undergraduate studies in Music History and Composition, Marygrove College, Detroit, Michigan. I implement my performance and composition skills into the students' lessons by giving them a desire and drive toward musical goals. Trained classically from age 6-22, Mark soon discovered popular music while rifling through the record collections of his 7 older siblings. The Beatles, Hendrix, The Who, Santana, Yes - these were the sounds that formed Mark musically. He has performed with many bands and has played many styles over the years. In the 90s, Mark played with the JJ Band playing classic rock and blues in this Eastside outfit opening for Humble Pie and the Amboy Dukes among others. From there, it was a venture into the then-bustling Detroit blues scene. Mark played with GEM recording artist Glen Eddy primarily, covering all the top clubs and casinos in SE Michigan with their signature Texas blues and funk. He also played along with many local blues outfits including Detroit Blues Band, Redford Steve, Eastside Swing Lords, Dave Mac's True Blue, Butler Twins, and many others. 2005 signaled a daytime job change that sent him to Chicago. What happened in Chicago? Mark went Country! Joining Scott DuBose and the 101 Ranch and opening for country greats Gretchen Wilson, Montgomery Gentry, Lee Greenwood, Chris Cagle and Toby Keith from 2007-2011. Mark returned to Detroit in 2012 and presently teaches piano, organ, guitar, bass, and voice throughout the Tri-County area. He brings some solid keys work to the Under Pressure Band and you may even find him singing a song or two. *** Lesson Details *** I offer a lesson which covers a wide array of musical tools. Performance, theory, technique, flash cards, scales, intervals, and ear-training. I like to keep the lesson laid-back but busy with this wide array of learning techniques. The student and I have fun, but learning is most important and I like to keep the experience very interesting. I like to play along with my students on either guitar or recorder to give them the feel of playing in an ensemble at an early age. I like to implement ethnic music into my lessons as well. *** Travel Equipment *** I do have a keyboard and guitar. I expect the student to have an instrument on which to practice. *** Specialties *** Classical, Rock, Pop, Jazz, Ethnic, and much more.