Meet Mark – Maxx Music Guitar and Bass Guitar Teacher
Meet Mark, our new guitar and bass guitar teacher. We are very excited to welcome him to our Maxx Music family and know that he will become a highly valued member of our team.
Mark is brand new to Australia after growing up in the Philippines and spending the last 12 years in Dubai. Originally a mechanical engineer, Mark gave it up to pursue his passion for music. Having originally been self-taught on guitar from a young age, he studied with the Detroit Institute of Music Education to further hone his performing skills. The experience also opened up the world of teaching and music production.
Mark started his own music studio in Dubai, specialising in recording, mixing and mastering local artists and bands as well as his own students. His musical methods revolve around improvisation and the lost art of learning by ear making him great with kids who find sheet music challenging. As a teenager he was heavily into punk and shredding, but now leans towards rock, blues and country.
Why did you decide to teach music?
I’ve always taught guitar since I was at uni. And I also did it while I was working as a mechanical engineer in Dubai. There’s something about seeing a student improve and have that light bulb moment that makes me happy. After four years in engineering, I decided to do guitar teaching full-time, and that has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. I don’t feel like I’m “working” because I love what I do!
What are your top tips for getting the most out of practicing?
It depends on the student really. I for example have the type of brain where I can repeat small components of music, scales or exercises over and over again without getting bored or frustrated. Not everyone is like this though, so you have to first figure out what is motivating for you personally. In order to be successful in music, there’s no hack or shortcut, practice is essential even just 10min a day.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians based on your own experiences?
Have lots of fun with it. Don’t be hard on yourself if you make a mistake or struggling to play. “The guitar is an instrument that’s like: one day you pick it up and you feel like a great master. And the next day you pick it up and you feel like a fool. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just because we are different every day.” – Tommy Emmanuel
Who would you swap lives with for a day in the music industry?
Guthrie Govan. Hoping I could tap into his genius brain for a day and see how it works when he is improvising guitar solos. Imagine playing “Man of Steel” and Batman “The Dark Knight” live with a full orchestra, while Hans Zimmer is in front of you admiring your work. That would be awesome!
Have you been inspired to learn guitar or bass guitar? Book your trial lesson by completing our online form and one of our friendly lessons team will get back to you.
