Lessons Offered
Piano, Music
Where are Lessons Offered
In Teacher Studio
In Student Home
Virtual / Online
About Me
Mark Deffenbaugh is an innovative and provocative Jazz Artist and Educator. As a keyboardist, composer and producer, he has turned the heads of many of the most talented and famous personalities in Jazz, Rock, Hip Hop, and R&B.
Mark began his career at the early age of 16. He started played gigs in the Washington D.C. area and within a few short years, he had numerous television and live performances to his credit.
While attending The Berklee College of Music, Mark studied with Jazz Great, Gary Burton. Gary took Mark under his wing and became an important figure in Mark's life. Through this mentorship, Mark developed relationships with such names, as McCoy Tyner, Michael Brecker, Peter Eirskin, John Schofield, Carla Bley, Makoto Ozone, Steve Swallow and others.
Mark returned to the Washington D.C. area after an injury to his hands. He spent many years rebuilding his chops, working as a music teacher, studio engineer and producer. Mark has composed hundreds of pieces of music, including Sonata for Vibraphone and Guitar and numerous pieces for the various world famous acts and groups that he has worked with over the years. He has created lyrics and arrangements for live shows and recordings that have included the most recognizable names in the popular music world.
Mark also served on The Board Of Directors and the Musical Director of The Ben E King Stand By Me Foundation for five years.
His list of performance credits include: Ben E King, The O'Jays, Baby Washington, Lloyd Price, Gary US Bonds, Chuck Jackson, Bill Pinkney (The Original Drifters), Little Anthony and The Imperials, Bobby Bennett, The Spinners Fay Hauser-Price, Clifton Davis, Don Gardner, Jerry Butler, Gene Chandler, Louis Price (former lead singer The Drifters/Temptations), Beverly Crosby, Mavis Staples, Richard Roundtree (Shaft), Speedo and Cadillacs, Peabo Bryson, Shirley Alston Reeves (The Shirelles), Charley Thomas (The Drifters), Martha Reeves (formerly of the Vandellas), Freda Payne, Gerald Alston and Blue Lovette (The Manhattans), Chuck Barksdale and Vern Allison (The Dells), Dennis Edwards (formerly of the Temptations), Harvey Fuqua (Moonglows) and Maxine Brown.
Mark is currently maintaining a busy teaching schedule, producing new music for a solo projects and has founded the experimental Jazz group Kaos Theory. He is also the CEO of DreamLand Records, an independent record label dedicated to Jazz and Electronic Music, located in the Washington D.C. area.
My Musical Education Background
Jazz Performance Degree from Berklee College Of Music
Extensive Jazz Improvisation Studies with Jazz Great Gary Burton
Genres and Subjects Taught
Classical, Jazz, Rock, R&B, Funk, Soul, Hip Hop, Music Theory, Composition, and Improvisation
Lesson Rates
35 per one half hour lesson
$70.00 per one hour Lesson
Ages / Skill Levels Taught
Beginners to Advanced
My Certifications and Awards
SAW Jazz Composition Award
My Musical Influences
JS Bach, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Bella Bartok, Carla Bley, Duke Ellington, T. Monk, John Cage.....just to name a few
Service Area
Student Reviews
Jesse
Alexandria, VA
I interviewed pretty much every music teacher in Alexandria before deciding to go with Mark. There are two types of music teachers I've found - amateur musicians who play guitar in their own band and think they can teach any musical instrument, and professional music teachers who don't have a lot of musical authority. Mark is a musical authority - a professional musician, with solid credentials, and he's an excellent teacher. I really feel like I'm training from a master and not just from an old-fashioned teacher who's stepping me through an instruction routine. He's been able to bring me up to speed on piano very quickly with no pressure. He explains musical techniques and concepts so that they're clearly understood and easy to learn. Jesse S.