Drawing on 30 years as a musician and music instructor, he tailors lessons to the individual. He currently has students ranging in age from six to seventy six.

Mark was originally self-taught with an inexpensive banjo he received when he was eight. For a few years he had been listening to old 78 albums he found in a barn outside of Dufur, Oregon. He soon migrated to a Gibson Mastertone RB-250 banjo and started playing at bluegrass jam sessions. He got his first guitar, an older Epiphone, when he was 12. He now plays a Martin D28, bought when United Airlines broke the neck of his guitar in 1984. Later he studied music theory and began teaching guitar and banjo when he was sixteen.

His lessons emphasize learning to play by ear and with other musicians. He begins by teaching chords and rhythm. Students are encouraged to learn the music they want to play. Lessons progress to include melodic and improvisational styles, as well as theory.