Mark C
Instruments: Drums
Styles: Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Musical Theater, Latin, Funk, Hip Hop, Electronic, Salsa, Showtunes, Reggae, Merengue, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul, Marching Band, Punk
Mark C
Instruments: Drums
Styles:
Jazz, Pop, Rock, Blues, Folk, Country, R&B, Musical Theater, Latin, Funk, Hip Hop, Electronic, Salsa, Showtunes, Reggae, Merengue, Latin Jazz, Swing, Samba, Bossa Nova, Soul, Marching Band, Punk
Where I Teach:
Online
Ages Taught: 7-70
ABOUT
Degrees / Training / Special Info:
Berklee College of Music, Performance Major
Awards:
1987 - Berklee College of Music Scholarship
Overview:
I've been teaching drums for over 25 years now. While enrolled at Berklee College of Music I studied with Gary Chaffee who also taught Steve Smith (Journey), Vinnie Colaiuta (Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck), Kenny Arronoff (John Mellencamp), and Joey Kramer (Aerosmith). My other instructors included: Tommy Campbell (Stanley Jordan), John Ramsey (Wynton/Brandfor Marsalis), and Ed Uribe (Michel Camilo, Randy Brecker). I've been performing onstage with national acts since the late 1980s and continue to share the stage with national acts such as: Marshall Tucker, The Outlaws, Molly Hatchet, Dickie Betts, etc. here in NJ.
EXPERIENCE
I've been teaching drums since 1988. I worked for a music store called "Wood & Strings Music" in Arlington Mass., while attending Berklee. I taught at a private school (Belmont Hill School), as well as in students homes for 3 years before moving out of Boston. I taught privately for years following and also taught at Big Beat Music Studio in Neptune City in the late 90s. I also worked as a drum instructor at Guitar Center in Ocean NJ since we opened the store. I’ve taught online and in the studios for years. I joined Musika in December of 2012 and have been teaching for them since.
METHODS USED
I teach double bass techniques, as well as stick twirling/flipping tricks. I have a structured solo approach also. I can teach many styles from rock to jazz and many other styles (funk, fusion, latin, etc.) in between. I know how to read and write drum notation. I have a large knowledge of music theory also. While attending Berklee I learned how to play the piano and also owned a midi studio and synthesizer. I'm also savy on electronic drums and programming drum machines. I get the students learning to play from the first lesson and slowly introduce the reading and writing aspect later.
LESSON STYLE
I usually let the students play first and then I evaluate the level of instruction needed from the initial lesson. I get them playing a beat right away and also some basic snare rudiments. The idea is to have fun while learning and avoid pressure on the students. I usually ask the student what style they'd like to learn or what songs they want to learn also. Playing along to your favorite songs are one of the best ways to learn drums! If they’re a more advanced student I would get them involved in “odd time” beats. I can get them started on basic counting exercises and then apply the beats and show the relation to some very complicated songs!
PHOTOS & VIDEOS
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