I have enjoyed teaching and helping students of all ages for 22 years in achieving their goals in learning to play their instruments.  Educated at Columbus State University with a Music Education degree, I teach many instruments including piano, guitar, including Classical style, banjo, saxophone, clarinet and flute.  If you would like to start on the trumpet or trombone, I can help you as well.  I specialize in working with the novice musician, giving them a solid foundation in instrumental technique and musical knowledge.  I can also help the more accomplished player advance to the level he or she desires.

Marcus grew up in various cities along the Eastern Coast of the United States. Throughout his school career, he sang in choirs and ensembles, which helped to shape his love of music. At the age of 15, Marcus received his first guitar, and has never looked back. Marcus moved to Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C., where he sought to study under Jay Brighton. Jay had a profound influence on Marcus in the areas of music theory, ear training, and, most importantly, the discipline of practice.  After studying with Jay for a few years, Marcus moved to Virginia Beach, VA where he learned from players such as Scott Mishoe and Jay Rakes. In the mean time, Marcus began playing in various bands and recorded his first album Martian Landscape. At times, you would even be able to catch Marcus on stage with Paul Gilbert.  Upon graduating from high school, Marcus wanted to further his knowledge of the music industry, so he moved to Nashville, TN and attended Middle Tennessee State University to study Recording Engineering. During his college years, Marcus continued to play in several bands; he played on numerous recording projects; he taught private lessons; he played in musicals such as Little Shop of Horrors and Grease; and in his spare time, he studied under professional session guitarist, Gwain Reifsnider. Marcus is now working on new material, doing various studio dates, working with different bands and teaching private lessons in the Atlanta area.

I consider myself a professional in the industry. I am on time. I don’t drink or smoke. I don’t have hang-ups or personal issues. I play what is required (and only that). I have tons of references and connections in the industry. I am professionally trained by some of the top-knotch drummers in the industry, including a one-on-one lesson with Dave Weckl, the master himself.

I have been a professional musician and teacher for over 25 years. I have taught as an adjunct Professor of Jazz Guitar at Miami-Dade Community College. I have also taught as a general music teacher for the Broward Public Schools in south Florida and for the Cobb County District Schools in the Atlanta, Georgia area. I have studied guitar privately for 15 years with Vince Bredice who has published many books on guitar for Mel Bay Publishers, one of the largest music publishers in the world. I have done private studies in Early Music of the Renaissance period with Joseph Iadone a disciple of Paul Hindemith. I attended seminars in Jazz Guitar with legendary guitarists Joe DiOrio, Tal Farlow and Jack Wilkins. My philosophy of teaching is to help the student play the music that he or she wants to play and give the student a practical understanding of the guitar and music theory. I teach the skills that enable the student to apply themselves to all forms of music. Each student is an individual and is taught in a manner that inspires his or her personality.

I was born in the former Soviet Union in 1982. My family and I moved to the states in 1991 and have lived in the Atlanta area ever since. I have been classically trained in violin since the age of 3, and I also picked up the piano and guitar as I got older. I have been teaching music for 12+ years, and my instruments include: violin, viola, piano, and guitar. I also tutor in Music Theory and Music History.